Spirituality can help people cope with trauma, but little is known about this relationship in those with severe psychiatric disorders, who often have trauma histories and identify as spiritual or religious. In a qualitative study of people with co-occurring psychiatric disabilities and trauma histories, participants used spiritual coping strategies such as prayer, meditation, and spiritual readings. One participant worked through spiritual struggles by shifting from a belief in a punishing God to seeing oneself as part of oneness with humanity. The study also examined meaning-making and posttraumatic growth, noting unique challenges like intrusive ruminations and voices with spiritual themes.
Yoga can aid healing for survivors of complex interpersonal trauma, a condition with symptoms beyond standard PTSD. In a qualitative study using transcendental phenomenology, five participants shared their yoga experiences through narrative interviews. Themes emerged including transformation, holistic benefits from different yoga styles, community and relationships, and trauma healing. These findings support incorporating yoga as a therapeutic intervention in clinical social work practice.
A qualitative study of a 16-week group yoga program for people with PTSD found that participants' descriptions of their experience spontaneously reflected all eight limbs of yoga, including the five yamas and niyamas, even though the program taught only postures, breathwork, intentions, and relaxation without explicit instruction in yoga philosophy or Sanskrit terms. Of 108 people randomized, 67 completed the intervention and follow-up surveys; most were men (70.2%) with combat-related trauma (62.7%), and the average age was 52.4 years. The findings suggest that a posture-and-breath-focused yoga intervention may still engage the broader philosophical framework of yoga.