Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - (Page 55) Resources Available to Servicemembers and Veterans The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have developed several programs to help servicemembers and their families. The servicemember can find help at the local Troop Medical Clinic (TMC). Most TMCs have a behavioral health specialist on their staff. Many installations provide meeting space for Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). Ask your installation Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) managers for more information. Take advantage of the Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) Program, “a program mandated by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs in March 2005 and designed to identify and address health concerns, with specific emphasis on mental health, that have emerged over time since deployment.” More information can be found at: http://www.pdhealth.mil/dcs/pdhra.asp. “RESPECT-Mil is a treatment model designed by the United States Department of Defenses’ Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC) to screen, assess and treat active-duty Soldiers with depression and/or PTSD. This program is modeled directly after a program that’s proven effective in treating civilian patients with depression. Several of the internationally-known experts who developed the civilian model have helped DHCC adapt the approach for military primary care use.” RESPECT-Mil has a new website at http://www.pdhealth.mil/respect-mil/index1.asp. In May 2009, TRIC ARE announced (at http://www. tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=526) a new web page for TRICARE beneficiaries seeking help: “The web page supports two Department of Defense initiatives: promoting awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, and assisting returning servicemembers by providing expanded counseling services. It also provides information for family members dealing with deployment stress, moves, and separation situations. When beneficiaries are looking for help, http://www. tricare.mil/mentalhealth is the starting place to find information about common concerns, resources, and how TRICARE’s behavioral health benefits work. Servicemembers and family members can access behavioral health information including recent news articles, self-assessment programs, and behavioral health flyers and brochures.” The Department of Veterans Affairs has a good track record of helping veterans. The VA has group sessions and individual therapy sessions to help overcome the trauma of PTSD. The VA National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) website (http: //www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp) states (at http: //www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_treatmentfor ptsd.html), “Today, there are good treatments available for PTSD. When you have PTSD, dealing with the past can be hard. Instead of telling others how you feel, you may keep your feelings bottled up. But talking with a therapist can help you get better. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of counseling. It appears to be the most effective type of counseling for PTSD. There are different types of cognitive-behavioral therapies, such as cognitive therapy and exposure therapy. There is also a similar kind of therapy called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) that is used for PTSD. Medications have also been shown to be effective. A type of drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is also used for depression, is effective for PTSD.” The key is that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have integrated programs that can help servicemembers, veterans, and their families from the time a mental health issue is suspected to a full treatment plan and implementation. All you have to do is ask. By asking, you will find many forms of help and you will find you are not alone. to complete the cycles of tensing and relaxing. In so doing, the patient learns a more relaxed response to stressors. Mastering relaxation techniques, guided imagery, and concentration in therapy helps the patient reclaim self-mastery. A very important part of treatment is reminding the survivor that they prevailed in the face of the traumatic event(s). The survivor is reminded of his or her strength. This helps them rewrite the meaning of the experience and alter their negative self-perception, which leads to learning new and healthy coping behaviors. Recognizing that they are in control of their thoughts they then can adapt a more healthy way to respond to their situation. In so doing, the therapist has assisted in building a new sense of self in the patient. Learning new coping strategies and skills is another part of the treatment process. As an individual realizes that they can cope with situations that used to elicit great anxiety and stress, they experience a sense of self-mastery. Self-mastery leads to resilience. Trauma can make someone stronger and ready to take on life’s challenges in a renewed way. Internal control or self-mastery is a major goal of trauma ther- apy. A veteran should remember, if one can rebound from a traumatic past there’s almost nothing you cannot overcome. Others who have suffered great trauma, such as psychiatrist and neurologist Viktor Frankl during the Holocaust, have emerged greater and more inspired people. Sometimes, if we’re fortunate, the worst experiences in life can inspire the best in us. Despite enduring a traumatic experience, even long past, it lives on revisiting the survivor uninvited through recurring dreams and intrusive thoughts until the experience is reintegrated within the individual’s psyche. This takes the help of a trained professional. Recollections of trauma do not fade from memory as everyday experiences do. With individual psychotherapy, these recollections will lessen their intrusiveness until they no longer appear without being summoned. When summoned, the individual will be able to recall the memory without being overwhelmed by it. The key to putting the past in the past, where it belongs, is to build a new sense of self. The therapist will help reacquaint returning veterans with their hopes and dreams. Self- discovery is the crown jewel of psychotherapy. Those that have endured war related trauma need this opportunity more than anyone else. • www.eparent.com/EP MAGAZINE • August 2009 55 http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth http://www.ncptsd.va.gov.ncmain/index.jsp http://www.ncptsd.va.gov.ncmain/index.jsp http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_treatmentforptsd.html http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_treatmentforptsd.html http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_treatmentforptsd.html http://www.pdhealth.mil/dcs/pdhra.asp http://www.pdhealth.mil/respect-mil/index1.asp http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=526 http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=526 http://www.eparent.com Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Exceptional Parent - August 2009 Exceptional Parent - August 2009 Contents Ancora Imparo What's Happening Further Reading New Products 2009 Disability Awareness Night Schedule 2009 Models of Excellence in the Healthcare Profession Preterm Birth: How It Affected My Family Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children Federal Program Encourages Health Service Innovations on Developmental Disabilities Close Encounters of the Medical Kind Sitting on top of the World: One Physician's Journey to Success Raising a Noonan Syndrome Child When We Found Out Our Daughter Had CMT August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month! Newborn Screening Saves Babies, One Foot at a Time Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study Evidence Based Humanity Must Be Part of the Equation Incontinence Education Series Part 7 Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions EP Bookstore Special Needs Alliance Specialcare AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry Organizational Spotlight Living with a Disability Exceptional Parent - August 2009 Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Exceptional Parent - August 2009 (Page Cover1) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Exceptional Parent - August 2009 (Page Cover2) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Exceptional Parent - August 2009 (Page 1) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 4) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 6) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 7) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 8) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 9) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - What's Happening (Page 10) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - What's Happening (Page 11) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Further Reading (Page 12) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Further Reading (Page 13) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - New Products (Page 14) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - New Products (Page 15) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - New Products (Page 16) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - 2009 Disability Awareness Night Schedule (Page 17) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - 2009 Models of Excellence in the Healthcare Profession (Page 18) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - 2009 Models of Excellence in the Healthcare Profession (Page 19) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Preterm Birth: How It Affected My Family (Page 20) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Preterm Birth: How It Affected My Family (Page 21) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 22) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 23) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 24) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 25) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Federal Program Encourages Health Service Innovations on Developmental Disabilities (Page 26) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Federal Program Encourages Health Service Innovations on Developmental Disabilities (Page 27) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 28) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 29) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 30) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 31) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Sitting on top of the World: One Physician's Journey to Success (Page 32) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Sitting on top of the World: One Physician's Journey to Success (Page 33) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Raising a Noonan Syndrome Child (Page 34) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Raising a Noonan Syndrome Child (Page 35) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - When We Found Out Our Daughter Had CMT (Page 36) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - When We Found Out Our Daughter Had CMT (Page 37) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month! (Page 38) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Newborn Screening Saves Babies, One Foot at a Time (Page 39) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 40) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 41) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 42) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 43) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Evidence Based Humanity Must Be Part of the Equation (Page 44) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Evidence Based Humanity Must Be Part of the Equation (Page 45) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Incontinence Education Series Part 7 (Page 46) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Incontinence Education Series Part 7 (Page 47) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Incontinence Education Series Part 7 (Page 48) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 (Page 49) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 (Page 50) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 (Page 51) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 52) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 53) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 54) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 55) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 56) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 57) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 58) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 59) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - EP Bookstore (Page 60) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - EP Bookstore (Page 61) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 62) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 63) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 64) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 65) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 66) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 67) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (Page 68) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (Page 69) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (Page 70) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Organizational Spotlight (Page 71) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Organizational Spotlight (Page 72) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Organizational Spotlight (Page 73) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Living with a Disability (Page 74) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Living with a Disability (Page Cover3) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Living with a Disability (Page Cover4) http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201009 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201008 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201007 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201006 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201005 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201004 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201003 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201002 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/2010rg http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200912 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200911 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200910 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200909 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200908 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200907 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200906 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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