On the fast track to recovery

Two runners’ groups aim to help people with PTSD face their problems, not run away from them.

By ALLON SINAI
Rami Yulzari ran his first marathon in 2011. (photo credit: Courtesy)
Rami Yulzari ran his first marathon in 2011.
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Most of those participating in the fifth Jerusalem Winner Marathon will be doing so for fun. But for some, running has a far greater significance.
It is not just a matter of enjoyment or a healthy lifestyle.
Running helps them overcome traumatic experiences that have been buried deep in their psyche for many years.
Israel is at the forefront of post-traumatic treatment and research, as many thousands of Israelis are suffering from the consequences of their battle experiences while serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
However, there are those who are trying to provide another layer of support beyond the classical medical approach.
Rami Yulzari, who has been dealing with post-trauma since his experiences in the First Lebanon War in 1982, pioneered the use of a running group as a support structure for those dealing with post-traumatic symptoms.
In August 2013, he set up with NATAL (Israel’s Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War) a long-distance running group called Running with Rami to help combat veterans suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“When everyone came home from the First Lebanon War, I found I was back home but I did not return from the war, it came home with me,” says Yulzari, whose symptoms include agoraphobia, nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia and various physical problems.
Despite his being out of shape at the time, Yulzari decided five years ago that he would run a marathon. He did so a year later, completing the 2011 Tiberias Marathon.
However, while training, he soon discovered that after a couple of hours of running, a curious phenomenon would occur where he would experience disturbing flashbacks from his combat service.
“I can’t really explain why it happens,” says Yulzari.
“Perhaps after you run for several hours, the combination of a high pulse rate and the pressure results in flashbacks.”
But the 51-year-old did not steer away from running, choosing instead to embrace the sport and try to use it to his advantage.
“One choice is to view running as a threat. The other option is to think positively and understand that running is an opportunity to fight through my symptoms and be in control of my flashbacks instead of letting them control me,” he explains.
Following his first marathon, Yulzari established Running with Rami to encourage other combat veterans suffering from PTSD to join him and reap some of the physical and psychological benefits that he had experienced.
“I think that on the one hand there is the healing power of running. People who have no connection with post-trauma say that running has changed their lives and made them mentally stronger,” Yulzari says. “Our group is also special in that it allows the participants to feel that they belong, and that isn’t trivial. People who suffer from post-trauma are not usually good in groups or crowds.”
There are currently around 30 people between the ages of 25 and 67 who take part in the weekly Running with Rami training sessions in Tel Aviv. The group also meets once a month for a social gathering, which includes cooking courses and bowling.
Following in the footsteps of Yulzari is 31-year-old Yaron Edel, who has set up a running group along similar lines in Jerusalem as part of the Resisim project he founded last year.
“We are trying to bring about a cultural shift in the way we as Israelis treat the battle experience,” says Edel.
Edel, who took part in battles in the second intifada and the Second Lebanon War, believes that a far more comprehensive program is required to combat the effects of such frightening experiences.
“It is amazing to see how many people suffer from symptoms of post-trauma but don’t seek treatment,” he says. “In a way, there is a conspiracy of silence. That creates a double problem. For example, I became more and more frustrated after not talking about or sharing what I had experienced. Ultimately, these frustrations also affect the way people behave in public, whether it is on the road or waiting in line.”
There are nine runners in the Jerusalem group, but Edel believes it will grow with time. The Jerusalem resident says that a lot more can be done to encourage people to talk about what they went through in battle.
“The current situation discourages people from talking,” he explains. “Unless you are a retired general or you received a citation or were seriously wounded, no one encourages you to talk, and you are left alone with your nightmares or frustrations.”
Resisim operates three main programs. It holds events in which people share their combat experiences in the hope that it will inspire those in attendance to open up as well. The organization also arranges cultural activities, and it is aiming to set up an archive of combat stories. A new website is scheduled to be launched next month.
More than 30 volunteers help run the project, and Edel left his full-time job to focus on his work with Resisim.
Mayor Nir Barkat lauded the work of Yulzari and Edel.
“Far beyond the run itself, the daily challenges faced by Rami, Yaron and their friends, and the important work they do to create awareness about the phenomenon of post-trauma are inspiring,” he said. “The Jerusalem Marathon is Israel’s biggest social marathon. Alongside groups like Running with Rami and Resisim, there will be 6,000 runners looking to raise awareness and funds for various charities and nonprofit organizations.”
The work of Yulzari and Edel has already helped them change their own lives and those of many others.
However, so much more can still be done.
“We are changing lives, and we aspire to set up more groups and increase our influence,” says Yulzari. “We want to reach as many trauma victims as possible. I feel that we have only scratched the surface.”