Here's a handout I use w/ the vets after we practice some of the exercises.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a technique and way of being that involves being in the present moment, accepting whatever is occurring, with full awareness. If we reflect on it, much of our energy is devoted to pushing away uncomfortable or “bad” experiences and trying to make “good,” or pleasant experiences last. Part of this struggle also involves trying to prevent “negative” things in the future and ruminating on the past. Mindfulness involves stopping this struggle because it creates more suffering in our lives. Much of the struggle is useless because it does not actually help. By focusing on the present moment, we don’t waste our mental energy on the past and future, which are unimportant compared to doing what we need to do now. Also, by letting ourselves accept what is going on in the present moment, we do not waste energy on the losing battle of pushing away difficult experiences and keeping comfortable ones. Experiences are ever changing and disrupting this natural flow only causes more suffering.
Basic mindfulness breathing instructions:
-Sit comfortably w/ back straight and cross-legged or feet firmly on ground.
-Eyes can be open or closed. Closed is best if you’re w/ others, but if you don’t want to, you can look downward softly.
-Notice the sensation of the breath going in and out at the nose, or the rise/fall of the stomach/diaphragm. Don’t focus too hard but try not to wander.
-Ideally, try to breathe from the stomach/diaphragm. If you’re not used to this, just try to expand your abdomen as you breathe in, and with time you will get used to it.
-When thoughts, physical sensations, or emotions come up, just let them come and go non-judgmentally. As if you were objectively watching this from an outside perspective. This includes just being with anything, such as boredom or fatigue.
-Keep bringing yourself gently back to focusing on the breath, even as distractions come up. Just focus your awareness to the present moment.
Suggestions:
Wear loose, comfortable clothing. When practicing at home, start w/ 5-15 minutes, esp for beginners. If intense thoughts or emotions come up that are very difficult to deal with, ideally it is best to try to accept those and watch them come and go, returning to the breath. However, if it is too intense, it is ok to get up and to do some light work (e.g., housework) or go for a walk.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Videoconference Archive
An archive of the Veterans University Videoconference is now available for viewing:
Windows Media Player stream: http://www.amp.csulb.edu/vets/20080514_vets.asx
Real Media Player stream: http://www.amp.csulb.edu/vets/20080514_vets.smi
Presenter scripts along with their slides are available as follows:
Ursula Bowling: script slides
Col Joe Pecko: script slides
John Huang: script slides
Tracy Stecker/Francis Hamilton: script slides
Windows Media Player stream: http://www.amp.csulb.edu/vets/20080514_vets.asx
Real Media Player stream: http://www.amp.csulb.edu/vets/20080514_vets.smi
Presenter scripts along with their slides are available as follows:
Ursula Bowling: script slides
Col Joe Pecko: script slides
John Huang: script slides
Tracy Stecker/Francis Hamilton: script slides
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Dr. Ursula Bowling: Resources for Supporting Veterans and Their Families
Dr. Ursula Bowling: Resources for Veterans and Their Families
The website for "Operation Enduring Families," is now up and running. You may go to the following web address to gain additional information regarding this excellent program.
http://w3.ouhsc.edu/oef/
As Dr. Bowling mentioned during her presentation, she will provide a copy of her program "Operation Enduring Families," to all of you who are interested in reviewing and hopefully implementing it. The manual lays out a step-by-step process for implementing the program at your site, including letters of invitations, announcements, etc., which can be personalized to each site. You may receive your copy by e-mailing Dr. Bowling at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Ursula-Bowling@ouhsc.edu
Resources for Veterans and Their Families
Compiled by Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D. (Revised March 2008)
BOOKS
For Veterans / Soldiers (and Adult family members)
Back from the Front: Combat Trauma, Love, and the Family. (2007). A. Matsakis.
Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Returning Soldiers and Their Families (2006).
Keith Armstrong, Suzanne Best, Paula Domenici
Down Range: To Iraq and Back (2005). Bridget Cantrell, Ph.D., Chuck Dean.
While They're at War: The True Story of American Families on the Homefront (2006).
Kristin Henderson
Trust After Trauma: A Guide to Relationships for Survivors and Those Who Love Them. (1998)
Aphrodite Matsakis
For Kids
Daddy, You're My Hero! // Mommy, You're My Hero! (2005). [for kids ages 4-8]
Michelle Ferguson-Cohen
A Very Long Time (2005). [for kids ages 4-8; picture book for children whose parent is deployed].
Geri Timperley, Nikki Arro
Uncle Sam’s Kids: When Duty Calls. (2003). [for kids ages 5-11]
Angela Sportelli-Rehak
Finding My Way: A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who has Experienced Trauma. (2005)
[for kids ages 12-18] . Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D., DeAnne M. Sherman.
(available at http://www.seedsofhopebooks.com/)
WEBSITES
National Military Family Association / Operation Purple Camp. http://www.nmfa.org/
Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647). http://www.militaryonesource.com/
Military HOMEFRONT (Official DoD site). http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/
Benefits Facts Sheets, US Department of Veterans Affairs: www.vba.va.gov/benefit_facts/index.htm
Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists: http://www.sofarusa.org/
Salute Our Services A Thousand Thanks to Military Kids Program (sends free personalized card to military child): http://www.saluteourservices.org/skins/sos/display.aspx?mode=user&ModuleId=8cde2e88-3052-448c-893d-d0b4b14b31c4&action=display_page&ObjectID=f2cbe28f-381c-475a-a2aa-175371eed89d
Emotional Health:
National Center for PTSD. http://www.ncptsd.org/
National Mental Health Association. www.nmha.org/reunions
Operation Enduring Families: A 5 session psychoeducational program for veterans who have recently returned from a combat theater and their families. Email Ursula-Bowling@ouhsc.edu for a free copy.
S.A.F.E. Program, Support And Family Education: Mental Health Facts for Families. An 18-session curriculum for people who care about someone who has a mental illness / PTSD.
http://w3.ouhsc.edu/Safeprogram/
Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (DOD sponsored mental health / alcohol screening and referral program offered to families and service members affected by deployment) https://webmail.ouhsc.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://tr.subscribermail.com/cc.cfm?sendto=www%25!
Deployment:
Surviving Deployment: Resources for Military Families. http://www.survivingdeployment.com/
Deployment Guide For Families of Deploying Soldiers. Separation and Reunion Handbook
http://www.hooah4health.com/deployment/familymatters/reunion.htm
DOD Deployment Health Clinical Center -- A Soldier and Family Guide to Redeploying.
chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/deployment/FamilyReunionTrifold19Dec03.pdf
Welcome Home: How to make a difference in the lives of returning war zone veterans (includes Dr. James Munroe’s “Eight Battlefield Skills that Make Life in the Civilian World Challenging”). Washington Family Policy Council. www.fpc.wa.gov/Welcome%20Home.pdf
Issues about Children/Youth
Operation Child Care (for National Guard and Reservists).
http://www.childcareaware.org/en/operationchildcare/
National Guard Family Program / Guard Family Youth Website
http://www.guardfamily.org/ // www.guardfamilyyouth.org
DOD’s Military Student Program: The Military Child in Transition and Deployment
http://www.militarystudent.dod.mil/
VIDEOS
Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment. Sesame Street DVD.
Available for free through Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647) OR www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc
When Parents Are Deployed (with Cuba Gooding, Jr). Sesame Street video. Available to view at:
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/wpad/
Youth Coping With Military Deployment: "Promoting Resilience in Your Family" and “Mr. Poe and Friends.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Video from Operation Purple summer camp with interviews by kids. Available: http://www.aap.org/sections/unifserv/deployment/ysp-resources.htm
Getting Home: All the Way Home
Free downloadable DVD created by TriWest (TRICARE Contractor) for soldiers & their families. www.triwest.com/triwest/default.html?/triwest/unauth/newContent/newBehavioralHealth/videostream.asp
The website for "Operation Enduring Families," is now up and running. You may go to the following web address to gain additional information regarding this excellent program.
http://w3.ouhsc.edu/oef/
As Dr. Bowling mentioned during her presentation, she will provide a copy of her program "Operation Enduring Families," to all of you who are interested in reviewing and hopefully implementing it. The manual lays out a step-by-step process for implementing the program at your site, including letters of invitations, announcements, etc., which can be personalized to each site. You may receive your copy by e-mailing Dr. Bowling at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Ursula-Bowling@ouhsc.edu
Resources for Veterans and Their Families
Compiled by Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D. (Revised March 2008)
BOOKS
For Veterans / Soldiers (and Adult family members)
Back from the Front: Combat Trauma, Love, and the Family. (2007). A. Matsakis.
Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Returning Soldiers and Their Families (2006).
Keith Armstrong, Suzanne Best, Paula Domenici
Down Range: To Iraq and Back (2005). Bridget Cantrell, Ph.D., Chuck Dean.
While They're at War: The True Story of American Families on the Homefront (2006).
Kristin Henderson
Trust After Trauma: A Guide to Relationships for Survivors and Those Who Love Them. (1998)
Aphrodite Matsakis
For Kids
Daddy, You're My Hero! // Mommy, You're My Hero! (2005). [for kids ages 4-8]
Michelle Ferguson-Cohen
A Very Long Time (2005). [for kids ages 4-8; picture book for children whose parent is deployed].
Geri Timperley, Nikki Arro
Uncle Sam’s Kids: When Duty Calls. (2003). [for kids ages 5-11]
Angela Sportelli-Rehak
Finding My Way: A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who has Experienced Trauma. (2005)
[for kids ages 12-18] . Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D., DeAnne M. Sherman.
(available at http://www.seedsofhopebooks.com/)
WEBSITES
National Military Family Association / Operation Purple Camp. http://www.nmfa.org/
Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647). http://www.militaryonesource.com/
Military HOMEFRONT (Official DoD site). http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/
Benefits Facts Sheets, US Department of Veterans Affairs: www.vba.va.gov/benefit_facts/index.htm
Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists: http://www.sofarusa.org/
Salute Our Services A Thousand Thanks to Military Kids Program (sends free personalized card to military child): http://www.saluteourservices.org/skins/sos/display.aspx?mode=user&ModuleId=8cde2e88-3052-448c-893d-d0b4b14b31c4&action=display_page&ObjectID=f2cbe28f-381c-475a-a2aa-175371eed89d
Emotional Health:
National Center for PTSD. http://www.ncptsd.org/
National Mental Health Association. www.nmha.org/reunions
Operation Enduring Families: A 5 session psychoeducational program for veterans who have recently returned from a combat theater and their families. Email Ursula-Bowling@ouhsc.edu for a free copy.
S.A.F.E. Program, Support And Family Education: Mental Health Facts for Families. An 18-session curriculum for people who care about someone who has a mental illness / PTSD.
http://w3.ouhsc.edu/Safeprogram/
Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (DOD sponsored mental health / alcohol screening and referral program offered to families and service members affected by deployment) https://webmail.ouhsc.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://tr.subscribermail.com/cc.cfm?sendto=www%25!
Deployment:
Surviving Deployment: Resources for Military Families. http://www.survivingdeployment.com/
Deployment Guide For Families of Deploying Soldiers. Separation and Reunion Handbook
http://www.hooah4health.com/deployment/familymatters/reunion.htm
DOD Deployment Health Clinical Center -- A Soldier and Family Guide to Redeploying.
chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/deployment/FamilyReunionTrifold19Dec03.pdf
Welcome Home: How to make a difference in the lives of returning war zone veterans (includes Dr. James Munroe’s “Eight Battlefield Skills that Make Life in the Civilian World Challenging”). Washington Family Policy Council. www.fpc.wa.gov/Welcome%20Home.pdf
Issues about Children/Youth
Operation Child Care (for National Guard and Reservists).
http://www.childcareaware.org/en/operationchildcare/
National Guard Family Program / Guard Family Youth Website
http://www.guardfamily.org/ // www.guardfamilyyouth.org
DOD’s Military Student Program: The Military Child in Transition and Deployment
http://www.militarystudent.dod.mil/
VIDEOS
Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment. Sesame Street DVD.
Available for free through Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647) OR www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc
When Parents Are Deployed (with Cuba Gooding, Jr). Sesame Street video. Available to view at:
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/wpad/
Youth Coping With Military Deployment: "Promoting Resilience in Your Family" and “Mr. Poe and Friends.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Video from Operation Purple summer camp with interviews by kids. Available: http://www.aap.org/sections/unifserv/deployment/ysp-resources.htm
Getting Home: All the Way Home
Free downloadable DVD created by TriWest (TRICARE Contractor) for soldiers & their families. www.triwest.com/triwest/default.html?/triwest/unauth/newContent/newBehavioralHealth/videostream.asp
Dr. John Huang Mindfulness Resources
Dr. John Huang: Resources on Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Some resources to obtain training in mindfulness include http://www.meditationandpsychotherapy.org/
http://mindfulness.ucsd.edu/index.htm.
Training in DBT is also available and information is provided on theirwebsite, www.behavioraltech.org
Training in ACT is readily available, and see their website,
www.contextualpsychology.org
Some resources to obtain training in mindfulness include http://www.meditationandpsychotherapy.org/
http://mindfulness.ucsd.edu/index.htm.
Training in DBT is also available and information is provided on theirwebsite, www.behavioraltech.org
Training in ACT is readily available, and see their website,
www.contextualpsychology.org
Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo and Commander Scott Johnson Virtual Reality Therapy
Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo: Institute for Creative Technologies and Other Resources
Institute for Creative Technologies PTSD Research
http://ict.usc.edu/projects/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_assessment_and_treatment_ptsd/
May 12, 2008 “New Yorker” Magazine article:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/19/080519fa_fact_halpern
“BrainFitness Article:
http://bfc.positscience.com/brain/spotlight/rizzo.php
Institute for Creative Technologies PTSD Research
http://ict.usc.edu/projects/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_assessment_and_treatment_ptsd/
May 12, 2008 “New Yorker” Magazine article:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/19/080519fa_fact_halpern
“BrainFitness Article:
http://bfc.positscience.com/brain/spotlight/rizzo.php
Colonel Joseph Pecko Battlemind Resources
Website detailing Battlemind Program and other support resources for combat servicemembers, veterans and family members.
Colonel Joseph Pecko: New Battlemind Website and Related Resources
https://www.battlemind.army.mil/
Colonel Joseph Pecko: New Battlemind Website and Related Resources
https://www.battlemind.army.mil/
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