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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans Outline
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans Outline
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans Outline
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The Use of Peer Support/ Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Groups in the recovery for MilitaryVetreans By Anthony Watson Columbia College, Working with Groups March 1, 2015 Abstract Millions of Veterans are returning home from the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan traumatized by there experiences. Many don’t know how to ask for help nor know where to find it. Many are afraid of stigmatism and separation from friends. My paper will discuss Peer Support groups where veterans can go to find comradeship and understanding. And also I would like to discuss a self-recovery and self help tool for treatment of issues known as Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). Since the successions in hostilities …show more content…
In a setting like this veterans can talk with other veterans who understand what they're going through and who “get’s it. This is this type of veterans or peers, who like them are directly affected by the issues at hand. The facilitator of the group can be a veteran like them or a highly trained and sensitive profession who understands his veteran very well. “Promising outcomes have been found using peer support for veteran with server mental illness (SMI). The feasibility of obtaining a system ‘buy in” and formally recruiting, training and supervising such “peer support technicians” to supplement traditional mental health treatment for veteran with SMI has been demonstrated” (Jain 2012) Another point is to make the group small so that comfort is established and everyone feel that they have something to say. Furthermore each veteran should understand attendance is voluntary but understand that they are an important part of the group and that others may find kinship in there …show more content…
With theses veterans talking to a professional can be very intimidating seeing that this is a possible lack of understating between clinical and veteran but with Peer to Peer groups this will make those encounter less difficult and time goes on. From these various peer groups there would be different ideas on how to run them and that would be there common theme. Recently a evidence based recovery tool has been created to help people along with veterans to there road to wellness. The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is a self -aught and Self manage tools that said that the veteran is his own expert on what is wrong with him. “The concept and value of self-determination is at the very foundation of our country, yet in our behavioral health care system, self-determination is diametrically opposed to the basic assumptions of the medical mode of “care-taking” that has long defined mental health treatment. Self-determination is a concept and value that encompasses “self-management.” However, self-determination goes further than self-management. Self- management implies a focus on managing a situation or specific objectives, whereas self-determination is about the natural process and potential for one to be effective and healthy in the context of their life.” (Federici
PBS’ Frontline film “The Wounded Platoon” reviews the effects the Iraq war has had on soldiers as they return home and transition back into civilian life, focusing particularly on the rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among American military members from Fort Carson Army base (Edge, 2010). Incidents of PTSD have risen dramatically in the military since the beginning of the Iraq war and military mental health policies and treatment procedures have adapted to manage this increase (Edge, 2010). In “The Wounded Platoon,” many military personnel discuss how PTSD, and other mental health struggles, have been inadequately treated (if at all) by military mental health services. Reasons and Perdue’s definition of a social problem allows us to see inadequate treatment of PTSD among returning United States military members as a social problem because it is a condition affecting a significant number of people in undesirable ways that can be remedied through collective action (Reasons & Perdue, 1981).
America is the land of opportunity and the land of second chances. People come to America to live a better life, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. When Veterans come back home, all they want is a second chance at life again. They want to come back and be able to start from where they left off. But the government has done very little to help these veterans. The government believes they have done enough with the programs they have created, but it hasn’t had much of a change. The purpose of this essay is to discuss my opinion and what I know about this issue, to benefit The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who are my intended audience. If the government were to put a lot of effort, like they do for pointless issues, there wouldn’t be many struggling veterans. If the government does more to improve every aspect of the reintegration process of veterans, so many benefits would come out of this action. There are a couple of reasons for why we should work toward improving veterans lives. First, there would possibly be a decrease in the veteran suicide levels and a decrease in the substance abuse aspect. Second, less veterans and families will have to worry about living and struggling with mental illnesses. Third, by improving the economical aspect for these veterans, more will find jobs and less will end up on the street homeless. And lastly, the reintegration process won’t be as hard for these veterans, and they will be able to resume a normal life. This essay is not meant to offend in any way, its purpose is to provide a new perspective over this issue, to cause a change for the better.
Veterans have struggles with their civilian life after separating from the U.S Armed Forces. Returning to the civilian life seem to be a big challenge for veterans who have no prior job’s skills for civilian life because they had been influenced from military’s training, have physical and psychological damage.
Veteran homelessness must be attacked at multiple levels in order to ensure that it does not turn into a revolving door. So beyond simply providing temporary housing support we will also have to improve our veteran’s lives for the long-term. This entails treatment for their PTSD by providing them with access to health and wellness clinics, recovery resources, peer support groups, and individual counseling. (Note: Key information from HYPERLINK "http://www.voail.org" http://www.voail.org).
Seal, Karen H., Daniel Bertenthal, Christian R. Miner, Saunak Sen, and Charles Marmar. "Bringing the War Back Home: Mental Health Disorders Among 103 788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities." Archives of Internal Medicine 167.5 (2007): 476-82. Print.
One objective is to utilize the most powerful tool at psychotherapy’s disposal; the group experience. By one individual sharing their experience within the group, the other members are able to identify their similar experiences and work toward their own growth. Group therapy also increases self-awareness of clients in order for them to think introspectively in order to make a change in behaviors, increases social comfort, allowing exploration of new behaviors, provide and obtain support, develop communication skills, and promote interactions with others using truth and
Social workers in all branches of the military are helping families and military personnel prepare for, and cope with, the hardships of war. They do so through a range of preventive and clinical services provided by the Veteran Administration with many different types of programs, including family-support and mental-health counseling. The mission statement of the VA Social Workers is to eliminate significant barriers to clients in need and offer interventions for veterans and families. It is accomplished by developing and maintaining integrated, in-depth programs in patient care, research, and education.
One in five Americans, approximately 60 million people, have a mental illnesses (Muhlbauer, 2002).The recovery model, also referred to as recovery oriented practice, is generally understood to be defined as an approach that supports and emphasizes an individual’s potential for recovery. When discussing recovery in this approach, it is generally seen as a journey that is personal as opposed to having a set outcome. This involves hope, meaning, coping skills, supportive relationships, sense of the self, a secure base, social inclusion and many other factors. There has been an ongoing debate in theory and in practice about what constitutes ‘recovery’ or a recovery model. The major difference that should be recognized between the recovery model and the medical model is as follows: the medical model locates the abnormal behavior within an individual claiming a factor that is assumed to cause the behavior problems whereas, the recovery model tends to place stress on peer support and empowerment (Conrad and Schneider, 2009). This essay will demonstrate that the recovery model has come a long way in theory and practice and therefore, psychological well-being is achievable through this model.
As a student, practice is crucial to learn group therapy techniques. In order to achieve these practices, I attended 2 support groups of the same topic. Observation and attendance constructs an idea of how group therapy works. Attending this group was important because of the profoundness of its meaning and experiences I have witnessed.
Another program that the Wounded Warrior Project operates is called Restore Warriors. This easily accessed online resource is available for any and all veterans who wish to seek mental health treatment. “Restore Warriors features video diaries of warriors sharing personal experiences with combat and operational stress and helpful coping strategies the warriors used to overcome these issues” (Mental Health Weekly Digest). Veteran Stanley Hofferber came to the Wounded Warrior Project after getting a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Stanley was able to find relief through their network, “When I’m sharing these deep, emotional feelings with other warriors, … you can put your hand on that warrior’s shoulder and say, ‘I know … I know.’
A catalyst for change within the psychiatric treatment of veterans was the Vietnam War. Soldiers returned from war suffering unmistakable service related psychiatric conditions. (Pols & Oak, 2007) In 1969, veterans were returning from Vietnam War to find themselves suffering from the trauma of war with no resources or treatment to help them manage their mental health. A few key players, including Senator Alan Cranston, fought for the creation of appropriate mental health services, known as readjustment counseling, which would be provided to eligible veterans in “small, community based centers” and was approved after 10 years of battling with Congress to pass it through legislation (Blank,
I also think that reason why people change in groups is because they are relating to topics covered in groups and they are understanding why they need to make changes. For some people Group is like a therapy group where you can say you troubles without being judge and sometimes you get a sense of belonging since you realized that you’re not the only one struggling. Another factor that I found interesting that the article mention was the instillation of hope, this is a factor that I fully believe in and that 100 percent think that it should be within every patient is the hope of getting better . Hope is not a factor only patient have but the group leader and or therapist or a family member and supporter they all need to have hope that the patient is going to get
Military families face notable challenges adjusting to life post-deployment and the reintegration period can be a turbulent time for some families, as members begin renegotiating the roles (Solomon & Knobloch, 2004)that may have changed during deployment (e.g. re-form into a functioning system). Bowling and Sherman (2008), found the reintegration process can be complicated by mental health issues (i.e. post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and substance use), and questions about the future. In addition to, the reintegration issues, military families who seek help through therapy will be coming for a variety of issues (i.e. family function issues, depression, anxiety, family violence, substance use, bereavement, suicidal ideation and emotion dysregulation). However, the stigma attached to mental health coupled with military regulations forces families to never seek treatment, which leads to maladaptive coping skills and the development of a closed family
For instance, individuals who have schizophrenia may benefit from groups like schizophrenia anonymous (SA) and art therapy. Schizophrenia anonymous helps inform the individuals about their illness and allows for them to interact with people facing the same mental illness. According to Psychcentral.com, art therapy helps patients with schizophrenia express themselves freely and helps motivate them. Individuals who have bi-polar disorder may benefit from exercise groups like swimming and yoga. “Being active can help release built-up energy during highs and provide a positive boost to your physical energy and mental outlook when you’re going through a low period (Everyday Health, 2015).” These continuous exercises help individuals relieve stress and relax. Although addiction never ceases, there are several groups that can help keep the individual occupied. Music and art groups can help the individuals express themselves by creating images of who they once were. It also allows for them to discover new things about themselves and occupies time they previously abused. “Even for those without any former experience, codifying experiences through art, drama or music can illuminate facts about the self that were previously hidden (American Addiction Centers,
Evelyn Figueroa agreed that any patients joining a support group is beneficial to his/her recovery, “ Yes, support groups absolutely work because that means there are others with similar, if not worse, problems then you. It gives the patient hope and strength to continue treatment because they are not the only one with these thoughts [suicidal specific] and they are not the only ones seeking help.” Support groups play an important part in dealing with and overcoming problems. Support groups bring a sense of community to an individual, providing the tools to assist them in living a healthy lifestyle. Organizing a support group takes time and effort, leaders hold the responsibility of maintaining the group’s structure and keeping the group on topic. Leaders must make sure to keep the topics broad enough to contribute to helping a larger group. Starting out as a form of therapy by doctors, support groups are now able to be formed by community members, patients who have progressed in recovery and organizations have been formed solely on providing the necessary forms of support and direction on where your local support group can be found. Organizations such as The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides public direction to support groups in every state, as well as provide online support. Forms of online support can be through video