http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottgraphicsdesign/ / CC BY 2.0

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can manifest itself in a variety of unpredictable ways. Some treatment works better for some than for others. So, what is the best way to know which works for you?

The first step to recovery is knowing what’s out there:

Talk & Group Therapy

Many sufferers of PTSD have found that sharing their experiences with others who have had similar experiences has helped them cope with their symptoms. Talk Therapy involves privately talking with a therapist about your memories and obstacles. Group Therapy, on the other hand, builds relationships with others who understand what you are going through. Learning how to communicate what is triggering your symptoms is a crucial step towards recovery.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

PE Therapy has been shown to be one of the most effective means of treatment for PTSD. Through therapy, an individual learns how to deal with stressful memories and situations by developing the skills necessary to combat them. Veterans Affairs has rolled out a national PE program due to its success.

Exposure Therapy

For many of those diagnosed with PTSD there are symptoms of persistent avoidance of their own trauma-associations and emotional numbing. By avoiding these stimuli so as not to trigger distressing memories or feelings we actually prolong our suffering. Exposure therapy asks us to, in a safe environment, confront our traumatic experiences and address them directly.

Hypnotherapy

Through hypnosis, a therapist can target the subconcious and “retrain the brain.” This method has proved to be quite effective. A relaxed person’s mind will lower its defenses and be more open to trans-formative suggestion.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A combination of Cognitive and Behavorial therapy, CBT focuses on the present: How we feel about the trauma now. The process replaces negative feelings and memories with more positive associations and helps subjects understand that the event they lived through was not their fault.

Self-Therapy

All the therapy techniques listed above focus on empowering those seeking help so they can get back to living their lives. However, a person can help themselves by being proactive, taking responsibility, and deciding how to be their best self. It is still important to consult with experts, but there is much a person can do for themselves that therapy cannot. Learn to live up to your potential through self-development.

If you’ve explored these options and are still not getting the relief you need, there are still many more options. Information Processing Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming have also been shown to help in some cases and there are new experimental forms of treatment being developed as we learn more about PTSD and the brain.

Know your options. Talk to your doctor. Get the help you need!

Here are our top 5 picks:

1. PTSD Hits National Guard Soldiers Harder: Study – New study finds National Guard soldiers have higher rates of PTSD than other military branches.

2. Many Young War Vets Struggle With PTSD and Alchohol Abuse – Story of Rosadalia Trevino: the mother of a son who struggles with PTSD and alchohol abuse.

3. PTSD Linked to a Near Doubling of Dementia Risk in Veterans – Report shows that PTSD may increase the risk of developing dementia.

4. PTSD Predictor in Peril – An overview of the governments challenges and efforts in the face of PTSD.

5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Claims Are Just an Excuse to Quit the Army, Says Best-selling SAS Author Andy McNab – “It is in effect the new ‘back problem’, an injury that is very difficult to diagnose.”

Until next time!

Vision 21 Care proudly supports the National Moment of Remembrance this Memorial Day. We hope you say “Thank You” by honoring our fallen warriors on this historic holiday!

Wherever you are, let’s pause in an act of national unity.

They deserve it.

For more information go to: http://www.remember.gov/MomentofRemembrance/tabid/54/Default.aspx

“The mystic cords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart… should swell into a mighty chorus of remembrance, gratitude, and rededication on this solemn occasion.”
- Abraham Lincoln

Source: http://healmyptsd.com/

The last chapter of our Spotlight Series focused on Vets Prevail: a site owned and operated by veterans focused on the transition from military to civilian life. This week we aim attention at Heal My PTSD which, while not military specific, offers some of the best PTSD education and treatment available online. Take a look:

Heal My PTSD started as the personal mission of Michele Rosenthal, the site’s founder. She focuses on “awareness, education, treatment and self-empowered healing” towards treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and has had much success as a counselor for those suffering from PTSD. Her passion for healing and empowerment is apparent in nearly every aspect of the site.

Awareness

Look here for a great collection of news articles and blogs related to PTSD. Here you can also read the inspiring personal story of the organization’s founder, and testimonials.

Education

Learn more about PTSD, its symptoms, and where to turn next if you are diagnosed. Simple. Straightforward.

Treatment

A comprehensive look at different forms of treatment and their advantages/disadvantages. Type of treatment is an important choice in combatting PTSD, and this is an excellent place to begin.

Healing

Here is where Michelle’s experience as a counselor shines through. “The foundation for rebuilding life after trauma lies in rebuilding the self.” Learn more about the healing process here, and get healing!

A site with such optimism and common-sense is a rare site indeed. If you haven’t visited Heal My PTSD yet, then give it a shot!

Until next time: Read up, get educated, and don’t give up!

Image of Margaret Corbin, the first woman paid by the US for military service

As a follow-up to our Military Wives post, we thought we’d share a handful of online resources for those husbands of women in the military. However, online support for the male military spouse is as rare as the spouse himself.

Where can a man turn for support when his wife is deployed overseas or during training? The challenges of being a single parent, regardless of your gender, are well documented. Those weeks and months can stress a family where the wife goes and husband stays as much as any traditional family, but support is much harder to come by.

There is hope! Social networks and blogs are emerging as the place where military husbands can find this support, and share their experiences. Here they are now:

MilHusbands – Terrific blog run by two dedicated military husbands. Visit the “The Husband’s Club” forum to share your experiences.

Military Husbands – A branch of MilitaryWives for husbands-only with a wide variety of links and resources.

Coffee & Diapers – A Navy husband who writes about being a male military spouse and father.

Naval Gazing – “The perspective of a military family . . . the narcissism of a blog” The story of a military family living in Singapore.

The Life and Times of a Navy Husband – Thomas Litchford, a columnist for Military Spouse magazine, writes about his experience as a Navy husband, father, and author.

If you’re the husband of a woman in the military (deployed or otherwise), write about your experiences below! What’s been the hardest on you? How have you coped when your wife is deployed overseas? What’s your biggest line of support?

For our next Spotlight, where we focus on only the best military resiliency, health, and support websites, we are taking an in-depth look at “Vets Prevail”

Vets Prevail is a veteran-owned and operated company and website with an active virtual community, advanced mental health tools, and online training for our Nation’s returning veterans. They “get it” and are committed to providing men and women with what they need to transition back into civilian life.

The community itself features insightful blog posts, forum threads, multimedia and of course, real veterans! After signing up, you are invited to connect with others who’ve had similar experiences or facing the same challenges. Having a network of friends who understand what you are going through is a crucial part of the shift from military service.

That is only a part of the Vets Prevail experience, however. They offer a screening tool (sound familiar?) that will tailor the website’s resources to your individual needs. It’s called “MyPrevail” and it lets you customize the site to best serve you. A truly excellent tool.

AND, if you served for more than 180 days of active-duty service in the United States military then you qualify to receive online training through Vets Prevail. Their training courses are online, allowing you to anonymously build your resiliency in the privacy of your own home. Upon completion, you get a prestigious Prevail medal for your effort!

This is only the tip of the iceberg. There simply is not enough room here to discuss all the aspects of Vets Prevail that we love. Simply put, if you are in the reintegration process, or know someone who is or will be soon, then check out Vets Prevail!

Still not convinced? Check out this video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Leave a comment and tell us about your experience with Vets Prevail!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/noii/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Can you conquer your fears with your ears? You can! Check out these PTSD specific podcasts and radioshows and accelerate your road to recovery.

Heal My PTSD – A monthly radio series centered around all things PTSD related, but specifically geared towards treatment and empowerment. For military specific info, check out ‘From Victim to Victor‘ featuring OperationPTSD.com’s Jason Ream.

You Served – Military blog and podcast! A great radio show for veterans interested in military and veteran specific conversations. Sponsored by VA MortgageCenter.com

Podbean – Offers a unique selection of PTSD-specific podcasts you can’t find elsewhere. Check it out.

NPR – Has done hundreds of professional talks on PTSD – Here’s the link.

Army Wife Network – Not always specifically PTSD related. For army wives, by army wives. Very regular discussions for dealing with the challenges that come with being married to the military! Archived podcasts can be found here.

Have a question or know of a PTSD radioshow we missed? Find us on Twitter or leave a comment!

Until next time!

Rather than list a number of valuable resources this week, we’re going to take some time to look at just one in the first of our new “Spotlight” series. The purpose of the Spotlight series is to focus attention on only the best military resiliency, health, and support websites.

That one website is “Military Pathways” and they give phenomenal general screenings that can help you identify if you need guidance about a particular issue and where to seek it.

Simply enter in some demographical information (and remember that this completely anonymous) and then answer a few questions about your mental state and… voila! You’ll get the peace of mind of knowing if you need treatment or not, and if you do, where you can go to get local professional help.

Phenomenal, right? But that’s not all we love about Military Pathways. The videos located in the Learning&Resources section of the site are outstanding.

So, if you are worried that you drink too much, are feeling depressed or anxious, or can’t tell what is bothering you, then think about  Military Pathways as a first step towards making a change!

Here are a few resources to help get you started!

Getting Started

These sites primarily offer career guidance, resume assistance, and valuable information for returning veterans ready to shift into civilian life.

WarriorCare – Army.mil’s “WarriorCare” is a comprehensive resource for soldiers, veterans, and their families looking for employment and career opportunities.

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service – Veteran Affairs (VA) program for veterans with service-connected disabilities. If you’re eligible, this program can really accelerate your career move.

Still Serving Veterans – “To empower wounded veterans, and their families, by helping them reintegrate into the workforce and community via counseling, coaching, guiding, job transition, and assistance in obtaining all Veterans Administration (VA) benefits to which they are entitled.” Dedicated to quality career guidance for returning vets!

Helmets to Hardhats – Program committed to assisting members of the military (active or otherwise) interested in the construction industry start a successful career.

DoDVets – “The Department of Defense (DoD) provides employment opportunities for men and women who honorably served on behalf of our Nation.”

HireVetsFirst – Site for both prospective employees and employers interested in hiring veterans. Includes job postings, resume writing, military skills translator, and more!

Finding a Job

If you’re ready to start networking, applying, and interviewing for jobs these tools will help you find them.

VetJobs – More than 27, 000 jobs currently posted! Also includes information to facilitate the application process.

RecruitMilitary – Simply create an account and then connect with thousands of organizations looking to hire veterans.

Military.com – Boasts the largest veteran job board in the world! Definitely one of your first stops online when looking for employment.

Hire Veterans – “Jobs from The Veterans Today Network” More than just a job board. Features a blog, employer registration, local job fair search, and jobseeker support.

VetSuccess – Veterans Affairs program connecting employers with disabled veterans.

JOFDAV – Devoted to providing job opportunities for wounded warriors.

VetCentral – Powerful job search engine for veterans. Search by keyword, title, rank, branch of service, or company!

Start Your Own Business

Rather than find a job, why not create your own? Here are two sites with military-specific articles, workshops, and training towards becoming a successful entrepreneur!

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp – The EBV provides disabled veterans with the training, tools, and skills necessary to start a business.

VetBiz – Offers resources and information for small business owners, and a registration service to help grow your business.

If you’ve had a positive experience with one of the resources listed above, or if we missed a valuable resource, post a comment below!

We also encourage you to support those making this transition by sharing this article with them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbelmonte/ / CC BY 2.0

Apparently this guy isn’t aware that, by connecting on the internet, wives are taking care of themselves and each other… Check it out!