I’m aware of a number of modalities, tools and programs that will help our Veterans. Please let me know if there are other worthwhile programs I should list here.
New Mexico Military Order of the Purple Heart Mentoring Program
“The New Mexico Military Order of The Purple Heart intends to provide a Mentor to assist returning New Mexico OIF/OEF Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guardsmen, and Reservists to find and obtain the necessary requested resources to successfully reintegrate back to their Units and/or civilian life.”
Military Order of the Purple Heart (National)
“Chartered by Congress in 1958, The Military Order of the Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat. Although our membership is restricted to the combat wounded, we support all veterans and their families with a myriad of nation-wide programs by Chapters and National Service Officers.”
Iraq Vets Stress Project
America abandoned a generation of Vietnam veterans.
What will we do with those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan?
“Hundreds of thousands of US military personnel are returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones. An estimated 300,000 of them suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. One of these is former Marine Blake Miller, pictured here after the 2004 Battle of Fallujah.”
“Our society did little to rehabilitate the veterans returning from Vietnam. The result was thousands of lives ruined by alcohol and drug addiction, mental illness, suicide, and spousal abuse—to say nothing of the high emotional and medical costs borne by society as a whole.”
“We now face a stark choice. Will we repeat this mistake with our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan? Or will we help them heal?”
“The Iraq Vets Stress Project is determined to make a difference. It offers returning vets free or low-cost sessions using Energy Psychology, a method which many therapists and coaches are using to help veterans with PTSD to get their lives back.”
National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center
Angel Fire, New Mexico
veteranswellnessandhealing.org
“The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire, Inc. (NVW&HC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated as a result of a study conducted by the Village of Angel Fire and the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, alongside Angel Fire business and community partners. The mission of the NVW&HC is to establish an environment that is responsive to the needs of veterans and military families using creative therapies and processes that focus on emotional and physical healing. In 2009, NVW&HC began retreats for veteran families who had been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Eleven veterans and their spouses successfully completed the week-long retreat and have been celebrating their success since.”
EFT for Vets
Anger Management for PTSD: Three Steps to Transforming Rage with EFT Coaching
“Anger Management is a very important skill for returning troops and their families, as well as those who want to help them.”
…
“EFT4Vets.com is not affiliated with the VA or the military.“
“It has been created by healing professionals who specialize in EFT-Emotional Freedom Techniques , a unique combination of acupressure, affirmations and coaching, which has often shown to bring instant and lasting relief from traumatic memories.”
Guided Imagery
&
Mediation
by Belleruth Naparstek
A lot of Troops are finding that Tai Chi, Breathing, De-Stressing CD’s and other topics on this website are workin’ to control their Beast…maybe even help get some sleep at night without those damn nightmares. So check this Guided Imagery topic out! You ain’t got nothin’ to lose but lettin’ your Beast run point for you in the land of endless Baby Wipes. There’s even a free, 15 minute download to see if it makes sense in your brain-housing-group!
Fatigues Clothesline Project
Offering MST survivors a change to be heard discreetly…
“Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Affects All Ranks, Gender, and all branch of service. It affects everyone. In unpublished data, 15.1% of women and men 0.7% have reported MST; and women are “4x more likely,” and men “3x more likely” to end up with PTSD as the result of an MST assault. If you know someone or are the person who has experienced Military Sexual Trauma, I am offering a chance to show the public in numbers and in a discreet way what happened while serving. We have a voice and that voice deserves to be heard.”
Paws and Stripes
“On average, it can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 for a service dog. Health Insurance does not cover these costs for PTSD and other “cognitive” disorders, and veterans are more than likely unable to cover such a financial blow. Paws and Stripes provides these dogs interactively with no cost at all to the veteran.
“Every dog in our program originates from local shelters and foster homes rather than from breeders. There are enough homeless dogs in the country that need homes, and we strive to help alleviate this problem rather than add to it. This also allows the veteran to meet and actively choose what dog is right for him/her, regardless of breed.
“Providing service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and other psychiatric and mental impairments provides a sense of safety, stability, and camaraderie that help make society seem less threatening and stressful.”
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Warrior Resilience Training / Warrior Resilience & Thriving (WRT) |
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Here is some excellent material that may be very useful to families, veterans, and active Military. This program is by Major Thomas A. Jarrett, “an Army licensed clinical social worker, executive coach, rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) doctoral fellow, and former Special Forces noncommissioned officer”. Click on the links below to get a PDF file of either the paper or presentation.
- “Warrior Resilience Training …” is a paper published in the July-September 2008 issue of The Army Medical Department Journal.
- “Warrior Resilience & Thriving (WRT)” is a PowerPoint presentation in use by the Fort Sill Social Work Service & Outreach Program. (Updated May 20, 2010, and July 11, 2010)
Understanding the Causes of Combat Trauma
A New Tool in Overcoming the Effects of Combat Trauma…
More Effective Solutions to Overcoming Combat Trauma: A Primer on How to Use The Warriors Guide to Insanity… A White Paper
Dr. Rossi model
Overcoming Combat Trauma
COMBAT STRESS: Resilience and Restoration
Understanding Modalities (to be provided)
“Providing an online delivery of recovery support services, The Woman’s Heart has been operating since 2002, attracting hundreds of women in search of crisis support services. A significant data point was the frequency of women veterans disclosing their chronic use of alcohol and drugs as a means of coping or self-medicating their symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and military sexual assault. The online crisis ratio trends show 8 out of 10 women veterans are in crisis at the time of contact.
“This brought about our greatest initiative, Grace After Fire (“Grace”). Grace is designed to serve women veterans from all eras and branches of service (currently 1.8M), and is preparing to meet the high numbers of women (approximately 14 percent of the armed services) currently serving. Although women veterans represent less than 6 percent of veterans accessing VA healthcare, 71 percent of the women who do use the VA System have a mental health concern. Unfortunately, a challenge that can occur in offering VA services to women is providing accessible gender-responsive and trauma-informed care at all locations.
“Grace is a virtual organization reaching across the nation, and is already engaging with women veterans still in theater as they prepare to come home. Grace’s Board of Directors is comprised of 80 percent veterans, managed by women veterans; and our Clinical Advisory Committee is comprised of 100 percent women trauma experts, researchers, and addiction specialists.”
American Military Family
“Saluting the noble work of our courageous men and women of the Armed Forces is our mission. Freedom Hunters reflects the outdoor community’s appreciation to the troops by taking select active duty and combat veterans on outdoor adventures. With help from conservation groups, outfitters, corporations and land owners, Freedom Hunters honors individuals from all branches of the Military. Those interested in joining us on an up coming adventures should fill out an application on the Freedom Hunters website.
Fisher Wallace Stimulator®
From Charles (Chip) Avery Fisher, President:
The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® is an FDA-Cleared medical device that treats depression, anxiety and insomnia by gently stimulating the brain’s production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. The device operates on alternating current as well as three unique and patented frequencies; 15 HZ, 500 HZ and 15,000 HZ. Unlike direct current units (tDCS), the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® is cleared for unsupervised home use.
The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® has been FDA-Cleared since 1991 and is in use around the country at many hospitals and drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. Over 800 board-certified psychiatrists recommend the device to patients and report a 75% success rate. The device has a strategic calming effect on the patient by stimulating serotonin production and lowering cortisol without inducing traumatic recall…especially relevant to Combat Military Personnel. The device is also highly effective in allowing uninterrupted sleep and dampening the tendency toward hyper-vigilance during waking hours.
