Theory about PTSD -- what do you think?

Hello,

I've been researching about nutrition, stress, and nutritional ingredients (vitamins, minerals, oil, etc.)  Something I read got me thinking...

PTSD -- Is this considered a breakdown in your body's coping skills to handle stress?  And is it caused by depletion of the body stores of nutrients that handle stress?  Did the rate of nutrient drain from stress EXCEED the refill of nutrients?



Based on this:

"Magnesium: The Stress Reliever"  by Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N. (online article)


"Under conditions of mental or physical stress, magnesium is released from your blood cells and goes into the blood plasma, from where it is excreted into the urine. Chronic stress depletes your body of magnesium. The more stressed you are, the greater the loss of magnesium. The lower your magnesium level to begin with, the more reactive to stress you become and the higher your level of adrenalin in stressful situations. Higher adrenalin causes greater loss of magnesium from cells. Administering magnesium as a nutritional supplement breaks this vicious cycle by raising blood magnesium levels and buffering the response to stress, building your resistance.
. . . .
It appears that the body's magnesium economy is an integral part of the stress response system. When stressed for any reason, the body's hormonal reponse causes an outpouring of magnesium from cells into plasma. This outpouring is a bit like taking magnesium by injection, except the source is internal. The effect of the sudden increase in magnesium is both energizing and calming. Magnesium is needed to burn sugar for energy; it also calms the excitation of cells produced by the stress-induced release of calcium. If there is insufficient dietary magnesium, or if there is insufficient rest in between episodes of stress, the body's magnesium stores are slowly *depleted*. The hormonal *response to stress disintegrates*. The plasma magnesium does not elevate in response to stress as it should, so that the energizing/calming effect of magnesium is not present to counter the nerve-jangling effects of adrenalin and other stress hormones. Consequently, the disorganizing effects of stress are intensified and *coping is impaired*. ...."

Sounds like PTSD, nervous breakdown, psychosis, etc.  Just a losing function.

[drifter0213]

Wow ! very interesting facts :)

[paranoid_cataclysm]

Interesting read.

[70s80soverlander]

I can tell you from experience that magnesium tablets are quite useful for PTSD. Start with 1 of any kind of OTC magnesium tablet at supper; about 4 days later try taking a tablet twice a day; etc; etc. The limiting factor is getting loose bowels -- stop short of that. Folks I know are taking between 3 and 6 tablets per day -- sometimes with at least 1 calcium/ magnesium tablet -- or, better yet, 1  calcium/magnesium/zinc combination tablet.

[compnet]

Checking with your doctor first...

There are other forms of magnesium that are safer and way more effective than the common forms available.  Some include: Taurate, Glycinate and Citrate.

As for the laxitative effect, some forms are more of a problem with that than others.  Such as Citrate, it can be laxitative.  Also, super high doses can cause diarrhea.

[compnet]

I find that websites/articles refer to something that can happen with magnesium deficiency, as: "emotional instability" and "nervous sensitivity".

[BlueRoan]

All very well and good and true but chemicals and hormones are not the only thing that regulate stress response. The environment and traumatic events affect the mind also, not only the response mechanism. It can't be totally relieved with diet alone........................PTSD is more than what you say. It is a symptom of mental and emotional response that won't fo away with pills nor diet alone. Remember that. We are more than the sum of our parts.

[Gigaquest]

I think people like us that have PTSD need a little hope and being optimistic about the situation can always help BlueRoan I'm willing to take anything that helps and this seems good enough for me so telling me that pills or diet won't make my PTSD better than what do I have I am not trying to start an argument I just think a little optimisum can go a long way.

[MZLAUREL]

Hi
PTSD is the rerunning over and over, of the fight/flight/freeze reflex.
Trauma causes one of the above to happen. If the peson is not helped to process the trauma, it can be set up in a kind of loop. Where some aspect of the original trauma triggers future fight/flight/freeze episodes.
The response becomes "hardwired".
Many people "forget" the trauma, but their body does not.
Because my Dad would yell when he beat me with his belt or a whip, I developed a trigger to yelling, and loud noises. I feel like I am ducking and covering to being startled.
I have spent much time trying to make it all go away due to some nutritional disorder or something.
I had to realize, that if my Dad were to beat the crap out of me today, he would be arrested. I just thought everybody took off their belt and whaled on their kids.
It would be nice if it could be waved away with a magnesium pill.
It would be interesting to find out how hard it is to deplete the body's magnesium.
I think the term stress disorder is misleading.
Too much stress, (like working 100 hours per week) is not what causes PTSD.
Major trauma like rape, assault, forced captivity etc., or a series of traumas, or neglect and child abuse is the source of PTSD. Combat PTSD is from being in "harms way" where a soldier is in danger of losing his life. My BF has Combat PTSD from being a decoy on the rivers of Vietnam. They went out in boats to draw fire, so the air cover could come in and route out the "enemy". He did 2 tours of duty (13 months) doing this.
The constant fight/flight/freeze adrenalin drip hardwired him to keep the adrenalin dripping. I am sure he would scarf down the magnesium, if they said it would help.
What really helps at this late date is EMDR and DNMS therapy.