Pexel.com: Photo by Kourosh Qaffari
For many people struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the road to recovery often includes therapy, medication, or a combination of both. But for Melissa Saleh, a former journalist and lawyer turned entrepreneur, the path to healing was entirely different. Saleh credits a unique form of meditation—not the traditional methods often associated with wellness and mindfulness—for helping her reclaim control of her nervous system and her life.
“When I tell people that I kicked PTSD without going on medication, they typically respond with one word: ‘How?’ The answer is meditation—but not in the way that the wellness or medical communities talk about meditation,” Saleh explains.
Her journey began after experiencing an unimaginable series of life-altering events. The loss of a child, a painful divorce, and a drastic cross-country move forced her to confront an overwhelming amount of trauma. Like many trauma survivors, Saleh found herself trapped in a relentless cycle of emotional upheaval.
“When you are traumatized, your nervous system has been hijacked. You have no control over what it responds to, and how forcefully. So you’re basically living on a rickety roller coaster that’s always at full speed and is always seemingly one hill away from crashing to the ground,” she shares.
In the depths of her distress, the standard advice to meditate seemed impossible. The idea of sitting in stillness and clearing her mind felt unrealistic, even counterproductive. She needed something more structured, something that could guide her through the chaos rather than just ask her to observe it passively.
“So how the hell are you supposed to sit there on a cushion and meditate?” Saleh asked herself.
The answer, she discovered, was visual meditation—a practice she first encountered at a small center in Brooklyn. Unlike traditional transcendental meditation, which often requires an extremely calm state to be effective, visual meditation provides clear instructions, objectives, and a structured approach to reprogramming the subconscious.
“The answer was something called visual meditation. I first learned it at a small center in Brooklyn. It’s not exactly transcendental meditation—I did that too, though when you’re traumatized you often need drugs to calm your nervous system enough to get into a transcendental state,” Saleh explains.
“No, this form of meditation had a clear set of instructions, goals and timelines. It is sort of like a master’s program for your subconscious.”
The approach resonated with her in a way that other wellness strategies had not. Rather than simply aiming for relaxation or detachment, visual meditation offered her a roadmap for actively rewiring her thought patterns. By immersing herself in guided imagery and structured exercises, she was able to gradually regain a sense of control over her emotional and physiological responses.
Determined to master the practice, Saleh dedicated five years to honing her skills, integrating them into her daily routine, and customizing the techniques to fit her personal needs.
“After learning the techniques, I spent five years relentlessly practicing and perfecting them to work for me. This tactic has enabled everything that I have accomplished after losing Mia at birth.”
For Saleh, visual meditation was more than just a coping mechanism—it was a transformative tool that reshaped her entire outlook on healing. Through it, she found not only relief from PTSD but also a renewed sense of purpose. Now, she hopes to share her experience with others who may be struggling, offering an alternative to conventional approaches that may not work for everyone.
Her story challenges conventional narratives around PTSD treatment, highlighting the power of alternative methods tailored to the unique needs of trauma survivors. While medication and traditional therapy remain essential options for many, Saleh’s experience underscores the importance of exploring different pathways to healing. Her success with visual meditation offers hope to those seeking new ways to reclaim their lives after trauma.