PTSD occurs when a person has experienced, witnessed, or has been confronted with a traumatic event, which involved actual or threatened death or serious physical injury to themselves or others. At which point they responded with intense fear, horror or helplessness. These diagnostic criteria for PTSD falls into three groups and are summarized as follows:

1)Re-experiencing the trauma (nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts).

2)Numbing and avoidance of reminders of the trauma (avoidance of situations, thoughts and feelings, etc.).

3)Persistent increased arousal (sleep difficulties, irritability, anger outbursts, startle response, etc.). Downrange to Iraq and Back by Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D. & Chuck Dean

"I just came back from a War." I just came back from a place where they hated me." I'm no longer the same boy....I just came back from the war." "They don't care anymore." "You don't love Me." Darryl Worley

Thank you Darryl....this song touches me and our warriors, their families and others who work everyday to overcome these injuries of War---the trauma, stress, anger, depression, sleepless nights, nightmares, hyper-vigilence, headaches, isolation, and numerous other physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social injuries and wounds.

[link]

Also, see Darryl's short video singing his song: [link]

Note:

One of our soldiers took pics of us giving the StressOut Program with the elder Vets living in an El Paso, TX Home/Residential Center. Do visit our homepagesWebpage and [link] to see our goals and mission. Do play this Worley Ballad while you tour our website.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v400/__show_article/_a000400-000066.htm 2009-12-13T18:41:55Z 2009-12-13T23:34:19Z

In his seminal work, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin, Ashley Montagu (1971) brings together a vast array of studies shedding light on the role of skin and physical touch in human development. He goes on to illuminate how the sensory system, the skin, is the most important organ system...

In his seminal work, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin, Ashley Montagu (1971) brings together a vast array of studies shedding light on the role of skin and physical touch in human development. He goes on to illuminate how the sensory system, the skin, is the most important organ system of the body, because unlike other senses, a human being cannot survive without the physical and behavioral functions performed by the skin. "Among all the senses," Montagu states, "touch stands paramount" (1986, p. 17).

Several years ago, I created a Global Touch Project here on the NCN and developed a website to inform and to discuss our progress with our students, participants, instructors and partners.

Currently, our 15-Minute StressOut Program is doing great as we are introducing our soldiers (wounded warriors)to our healthy touch program so that we can visit Veteran's Homes and interact with our brothers/sisters who served in previous wars. Our soldiers have given over 100 stressouts, during 3 sessions, in the Ambrosio Gullen Veterans Home, El Paso, TX with the cooperation and leadership of Mr. Willie Brown, Activities Director, Virginia and other staff. We have over 25 soldiers & staff, either certified, or in the process of completing their requirements following last week's workshop.

I can tell you, it is a very 'touching,' moving, and a remarkable experience observing and participating in this Warrior StressOut activity. Initially, I introduce our "Warrior StressOut Video - Coming Home", and our "Guidelines for Safe, Skillful, Ethical and Nourishing Touch"; followed, by Mr. Brown's, Integrative & Generative Exercise Program with the Elder Vets and our contingency assisting.

We then hook up our soldiers, staff and volunteers with the residents, all in wheel chairs, and give them a "StressOut." We have a big screen TV that shows our Instructional DVD (step-by-step instructions) while I take them through the process of our Best Practice Program.

Following our session, participants are invited to share their experience. One of the spouses of an elder Veteran spoke out, as tears came down her face,-- "God Visited Us Today--Thank you all so very much."

While we are getting great results from our work throughout the country, many professionals and health, education and social service programs are still reluctant and fearful to use physical interaction to empower, strengthen, and improve the opportunities for their patients, clients, students and residents to improve the quality of their lives, health and relationships. The following article will hopefully address these issues of Risk Management prohibiting safe touch.

Read Dr. Zur's Homepage and Blogs to learn about the Myths of Touch, discussions by other professionals, and Guidelines for professionals and other helpers such as integrative practitioners, social workers, teachers, therapists, and counselors. Many of us believe that it is unethical to withdraw essential methods and approaches from clients and patients, especially when they are identified as Best Practice, like our 15-Minute StressOut Program that is always done with guidelines that include permission, witnesses present,and follow-up evaluations.

Please comment on this important contribution to our use of physical interaction for primary prevention and for empowering and treatment for stress, anxiety and depression. We know that we can reduce lonliness, isolation, medication, anger for residents and care givers in aging programs, hospitals, veteran's homes, nursing centers with safe, healthy touch. We can also ask why so many children feel "left out" and "drop out" of schools and family life.

Our best practice research by the Ameican Diabetes Association also demonstrates the effectiveness of reducing blood sugar levels of Diabetes patients while increasing quality of life indicators. I wish to thank Dr. Zur and the late Dr. Ashley Montagu for their courage and outstanding work in advancing knowledge, wisdom, love and truth that will set us free from ignorance, prejudice, fear and doubt about the use of healthy touch by all sentient beings.

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RISK MANAGEMENT PROHIBITION OF TOUCH by Dr. Zur

Risk management has become one of the most influential forces in medicine in general including psychotherapy. Risk management is the process whereby therapists avoid certain behaviors and clinical interventions--not because they are clinically ill advised, unethical, harmful or wrong, but because they may appear improper in front of judges, juries, licensing boards or ethic committees. (Gutheil & Gabbard, 1993; Williams, 1997). While the conscientious and ethical therapist carefully weighs the possible risk of any therapeutic intervention, including touch, against its potential benefits, risk-management frightens us into avoiding all "risky behavior" regardless of the likely positive results (Bonitz, 2008; Lazarus, 1994, 1998; Williams, 1997; Zur, 2007a).


Touch has often been placed at the top of the 'Do not do' list. "From the viewpoint of current risk-management principles" Gutheil & Gabbard stated, "a handshake is about the limit of social physical contact at this time" (1993, p. 195). Similarly, WebMD (1992) announces "A Hug-Free Zone: The threat of lawsuits, the already strong language in the APA code, and the general litigiousness of society have prompted many therapists to erect barriers between themselves and their clients when it comes to any physical contact. No more hugs for a sobbing client. No encouraging pats on the back" (section 2, Para. 1).

Like male preschool teachers who no longer hug young children, or camp counselor who would no longer hold a child in their lap for fear of being accused of inappropriate sexual behavior, many therapists, for similar reasons based on fear, have generally abandoned the practice of touching their clients. Defensive medicine, fueled by fear, is the defining forces behind risk management practices. The teaching of risk management principles seems to dominate ethics classes in graduate school and legal-ethical continuing education workshops. They are the foundation of endless attorneys' columns in our professional organization newsletters and a more recent breed of risk management presentations at our professional conferences. In all these formats, we are told never to hug, pat or hold our clients. Basically, we are told not to touch beyond a handshake and when possible even to avoid a handshake too. Beware! We are told, the slightest deviation from these ersatz commandments will set us on the 'slippery slope' to perdition. But even if one has not slipped uncontrollably down the slippery slope, the sheer idea that an action may appear suspicious to licensing boards, ethics committee members, or to administrative or civil courts' judges is adequate motivation to avoid touching clients, children or adults all the same.

When we listen closely to the risk management dogma, it is clear that no one really disputes the scientific fact, and the common knowledge, that touch is one of the most elementary human ways to relate and can be a powerful method for healing. Nevertheless, we have been frightened out of employing touch and most other forms of boundary crossings, such as self-disclosure, home visits, accepting gifts, bartering and many other behaviors frowned upon by the so-called "risk management" experts. These experts' advice often goes specifically against the practices of humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, family, feminist and group therapists. Ironically, these are also the orientations most practiced by psychotherapists.

Misleadingly, many of these attorneys, ethicists and so called risk management experts have mislead the therapeutic community, clients and licensing boards and courts to believe that non-sexual touch is unethical and below the standard of care. Unlike most commonly held beliefs, boundary crossings, such as touch are neither unethical nor below the standard of care. Ethics codes of all major psychotherapy professional associations (e.g., AAMFT, 2002; ACA, 1996; APA, 2002; NASW, 2001) neither prohibit boundary crossings in general nor do they prohibit the use of appropriate touch in therapy. All psychotherapy professional codes of ethics view sexual or violent touch with a current client as unethical. For specific details refer to the 'ethics codes' stance on touch in therapy ( Zur, 2004).

The obvious question then becomes, "Why are behaviors and interventions, such as touch, that are known to be clinically helpful, as well as very natural elements of human interaction, banned from our practices or, at best, driven underground?" The answer lies primarily in the concept, practice and teaching of defensive medicine or risk management.

In principle, nothing is wrong with managing risk if it is done thoughtfully by applying sensible clinical judgment and employing critical thinking rather than paranoid thinking. There must also be a sound knowledge of the professional codes of ethics and laws of states. All actions and clinical interventions involve some risk. For that matter, we often forget that inaction can be risky and even damaging to clients, as well. For example, I have been working with a woman who, 10 years prior to our first session, lost her infant son in an automobile accident. In an emergency appointment with a psychiatrist right after the death of her son, as she sobbed uncontrollably, she begged him to hold her. He refused, citing something about professional boundaries. Instead, he prescribed Valium. Eight years later, addicted to Valium and alcohol, she began therapy with me. After an intense few months of therapy, we visited her son's grave. It was the first time she had visited the grave. There we stood, holding each other and both weeping as she finally started facing her baby's death and grieving for him and for her years lost in drugged denial. While the psychiatrist followed risk management guidelines to perfection, he also may have inflicted immense harm. Did he sacrifice his humanity and the core of his professional being, to heartless protocol?

All therapists may, of course, with due consideration, attempt to reduce their own risks and the risks to their clients when employing touch in therapy. This is especially important when working with cases involved borderline or dissociative proclivities. This attempt to reduce risk goes side by side with clinical integrity, relevant training, and sound employment of treatment plans. Appropriate, risk-benefit analysis, requires that therapists ask themselves basic questions, such as, "What is to be gained by employing touch and what is there to lose? What do I risk if I do not touch and what do I risk if I do?" It is very important that such an analysis be made for each client and each clinical situation taking into account the specific client's mental state, presenting problem, history, culture, personality, communal support, class, gender, etc. (Complete guidelines for the use of touch in therapy will be found at the end of this article.)

Malpractice insurance carriers represent the primary force behind risk management, or what some attorneys call "healthy defensiveness". While the actual likelihood of a lawsuit or of licensing discipline for psychotherapists is extremely low (Williams, 1997), in the rare event that it takes place, it can be very costly to the insurance company and emotionally and financially devastating to the practitioner. The rare, but nevertheless outrageously costly, judgments drive the malpractice insurance companies to advocate strict risk management practices and the avoidance of any behavior that may give a jury reason to suspect inappropriate behavior and levy an expensive penalty. Ironically, this strategy, as will be discussed later, is more likely to backfire on the insurance companies.

Aiding and abetting the insurance companies and attorneys has also fueled the risk management fire, inspiring paranoia and widespread instruction in risk avoidance behavior. Attorneys' advice columns seem to have become a regular feature in our professional journals. Scheduled sessions with legal professionals abound at our professional conferences. Often, without any clinical training whatsoever, they sternly give us long lists of what we should avoid. At the top of the list is, of course, "Do not touch!" Obviously the list does not stop there. They tell us never to leave the office even though going to an open space with an agoraphobic client, as part of a systematic desensitization is the appropriate, if not mandated, clinical intervention. They tell us never to socialize with clients even though it is often impossible to avoid doing so in rural areas and in small communities. They tell us never to share a meal with a client even though an "anorexic lunch" can be part of a perfectly executed family system-based treatment plan. When it comes down to it, risk management can be also defined as attorneys' advice overriding clinical judgment.

Risk management and the fear it induces effects not only mental health, but also our entire society. It is part of a bigger and more complex phenomenon: the American litigation explosion and the rights movement. Even though, as has been stated, litigation is rare in our profession, the mere possibility of such a consequence is daunting and affects us strongly. We have become a culture where everyone tramples everyone else in the fight for his or her rights and entitlements (Etzioni, 1987, Zur, 1994). While accountability is an important civic quality, this lawsuit-happy culture, combined with the culture of victims, creates an atmosphere of dread that changes the way we do (or don't do) business, play or healing. We all know about the playgrounds across the country that have been stripped of monkey bars, high slides and fun swings due to the thousands of lawsuits filed by parents after their children have 'gotten hurt' while playing. Ministers, teachers, and youth counselors avoid touching - especially children or women. People have actually sued McDonald's for the obesity resulting from too many Big Macs! Litigation gone wild, indeed.

Flowing directly from this trend, fear-induced risk management has driven physicians to practice defensive medicine' and to routinely order a huge number of diagnostic tests, such as lab and radiology investigations, not because they believe they are medically necessary but as part of their risk management strategy. The rationale is that the physician will not be accused of not having done everything in his power to rule out even the most unlikely diagnosis. Some estimate that doctors waste between $50 to $100 billion annually on defensive medicine. Shockingly, some also estimate that this is the amount that could buy health insurance for the 40 million uninsured Americans. While attorneys laugh all the way to the bank, our risk management-intoxicated, phobic culture ends up settling for inferior care of every kind; children are deprived of touch and opportunities for play; and spiraling medical costs continue to bankrupt the country.

One of the major concerns inherent in risk management is that fear induced, defensive behaviors, and the systematic avoidance of many behaviors have gradually stolen in through the back door to become the perceived standard of care in medicine and mental health (Zur, 2007a). The standard of care is not anything that can be found in a textbook; it evolves as more and more professionals adopt certain practices, which then achieve acceptance as the "standard" in the community. A prime example of how risk management affects the standard of care is the requirement that a woman chaperone be present during a gynecological pelvic exam. Besides providing some comfort to the female client, the chaperone's primary role is to protect the physician from false accusation, criminal complaint or lawsuit. The witness also reduces the risk that misconduct may occur. Before chaperoning became part of the standard of care, some women preferred not to have such a witness, especially if they had a long, trusting relationship with their physician or if the physician was a woman. However, today, not having a witness is considered practicing below the standard of care. The danger that we face in mental health these days is that more and more risk management proscriptions may metamorphose into the standard of care.

Bear in mind, though, that risk management is neither part of the ethics codes nor part of any treatment standard. Risk management is merely a set of precautions advocated by malpractice insurance vendors and attorneys, supposedly to minimize the chances of being sued. When it comes to touch, good treatment and good risk management may sometimes call for mutually exclusive decisions regarding a given client. For example, it would probably be good risk management never to touch children and for male therapists never to touch female clients. Most of us would agree that such risk management advice is utter nonsense, since helping those in need is a fundamental ingredient of the psychotherapy professions. This example, like the case of the psychiatrist who refused to hold the grieving mother, illustrates the faulty logic and drawbacks of risk management and its single-minded devotion to avoiding lawsuits and its equally single-minded lack of regard for the primary goals of our work.

We have seen how, over time, a new standard of care insinuates itself into psychotherapy. This results in a continuous rising of the risk management bar as to what constitutes acceptable clinical behavior. Expert witnesses have often encountered testimonies by prominent experts that boldly and falsely asserted that touch, like gifts, extending a session beyond the allotted time or bartering always fail to meet the standard of care (Williams 1997). Similarly and dangerously, many licensing boards have uncritically accepted risk management recommendations as their guidelines. Paradoxically and ironically, as the bar is raised and more interventions seem frowned upon by the boards, courts and attorneys, there is increased likelihood that insurance companies and therapists will be sued or sanctioned. Risk management, without any doubt, has come to haunt the insurance companies, an unforeseen retribution for their shortsighted, cost-saving strategies. Sadly, it also impacts our profession negatively and often reduces our creativity and effectiveness, thus depriving our clients of the fullest measure of care.

The fear campaign by the insurance carriers, attorneys and many ethicists and "risk management experts" has too often succeeded in paralyzing therapists and forcing them to restrict themselves to rigid and constipated ways of relating to clients and avoiding any physical contact with their clients. As a result, clinical effectiveness is compromised. The danger that risk management poses to clinical effectiveness can be clearly seen in its injunction against touch which obviously has a significant negative effect on therapeutic alliance, the number one predictor of effective therapy (Lambert, 1991). We cannot think of any more effective ways to enhance therapeutic alliance then a reassuring or comforting hug, pat or hand holding. All of this may not be effective 'risk management', but it is basic good therapy.

Very regrettably, most professional organizations have jumped on the bandwagon and joined the fear campaign. They promote the practice of defensive medicine through their own risk management workshops and seminars. Some, as we see monthly, have given attorneys a regular column in their newsletters or journals where this paranoiac thinking is disseminated. As risk management becomes more prevalent, its effect is clearly seen on new therapists. In the numerous Ethics with Soul workshops I have conducted across the country, I (O.Z.) have noted that older (non-analytically oriented) therapists seem to be less concerned about risk management practices. The opposite is true of the new graduates. Alarmingly, through the fault of most graduate schools and their ethics professors, many of the newer therapists believe that risk management practices are part of the standard of care.

In summary, a risk managed practice may sound as if it adheres to practical or pragmatic advice but, in fact, it is a misnomer for a practice in which fear of attorneys and boards, rather than feeling, caring and intelligent clinical considerations, determine the course of therapy. As therapists, we are trained, hired and paid to provide the best care possible for clients. We are not paid to act defensively. This fear of board investigations and malpractice lawsuits pushes therapists to take protective measures. Consequently, we lower the quality of care for our clients.

Arnold Lazarus (1994) appropriately claims, "One of the worst professional or ethical violations is that of permitting current risk management principles to take precedence over humane interventions." Clinical interventions must be determined by empirically-based treatment plans, clinicians' intuitive and creative sensitivities, and specific client factors, such as the client's problems, situation, personality, degree of functionality, history, and culture -- never by fear of boards and courts. We must remember that the therapeutic effect of touch has been scientifically and clinically proven. We must also remember that we are hired to help rather than being hired to practice risk management. Therefore we must touch clients when appropriate in a way that will help them grow and heal.
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v400/__show_article/_a000400-000065.htm 2009-10-11T15:08:36Z 2009-10-11T18:06:35Z

"When we look at what price("$"), we see that it effectively devalues everything that defines us as human beings. It devalues all those capacities that are not scarce; yet those capacities, the ones we all share, are what enable our species to survive. If something is worthless because it has no m...

"When we look at what price("$"), we see that it effectively devalues everything that defines us as human beings. It devalues all those capacities that are not scarce; yet those capacities, the ones we all share, are what enable our species to survive. If something is worthless because it has no market value, look at all the universal capacities we are devaluing:

o caring for each other
o coming to each other's rescue
o rearing infants
o protecting the frail and vulnerable
o standing up for what is right
o opposing what is wrong
o coming together to reach agreement
o acting as guardians of whatever we feel is precious and want to pass on to our children and their children." (No More Throw-Away People-The Co-Production Imperative) by Edgar S. Cahn

Do read this great article by Caroline Myss about our Loss of Soul as a country as reflected in the latest discussions by the Neocons/Republicans resisting a presentation to the students and faculty in schools by President Obama.

Wake up America, stop 'dumbing down' our schools, and stand up for our real Values and Principles as a Nation!!!

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Crimes Against the Soul of America

"Just stop it. We've had enough. I know I have. And I deeply believe the soul of our nation can't take much more of their strategy of deliberate division against the people of their own nation. That is a true crime -- and perhaps their greatest crime -- against the soul of this great nation."

"There is such a thing as a crime against the soul of a nation. A person or a political party can deliberately incite actions that diminish the strength, the integrity, and the overall well-being of a..."

Thank you for your great contribution to the state of our Nation. I fully agree with many of the comments here in Huffington Post--this may be one of the Best posts we have seen here or in the news media describing clearly our demise and our loss of soul as a nation. Thank you for being here for us as we attempt to recover our spirit after a decade of abuse, neglect, lies, deceit and the theft of our treasury, education and health programs and loss of every value we've cherished as a great nation.

As a teacher, I can assure you and others that it is obvious that our education system has lost its reason and mission for being. Grades are meaningless and everyone knows it, except those in political power, CEO's, administrators and others who profit from these worthless exams, false measurements and phony research designs and results. Caroline Myss, we teachers applaud you!!!

[link]

Note: Picture by SFC Scott Milligan]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v400/__show_article/_a000400-000064.htm 2009-09-07T14:54:24Z 2009-09-07T15:15:32Z

Depression & Trauma--Just as the increased physical arousal that comes with being aggressive can cause anger to spiral upward, decreased physical arousal can cause a downward cycle into inactivity and deeper depression. Being in a depressed mood makes it hard to enjoy many activities, and the...

Depression & Trauma--Just as the increased physical arousal that comes with being aggressive can cause anger to spiral upward, decreased physical arousal can cause a downward cycle into inactivity and deeper depression. Being in a depressed mood makes it hard to enjoy many activities, and the less active you are, the more likely you are to feel depressed. A depressed mood can also cause you to see things more negatively, making it harder to motivate yourself to participate in activities. And the less active you are, the more time you have to dwell on negative thoughts about yourself, making you feel even more depressed. Courage After Fire-Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their Families by Keith Armstrong, LCSW/Suzanne Best, Ph.D./Paula Domenici, Ph.D.

Do visit our US Army Restoration & Resilience Center slide presentation.

To really know about our experience, you would have to be be in our trauma health center on a daily basis. However, when a wounded warrior enters our program during their first week and beyond, they are given a Primary & Secondary Therapist, while receiving our Integrative Health methods--Reiki, Medical Massage, Acupuncture, meditation, movement therapy, expressive arts--and, one of our experienced soldiers is assigned to assist and support him. He will also have had a group therapy session daily, supplemented with 2 individual sessions. If he is married his family is invited for a family or couple session.

In addition to serving as a Primary Therapist, teaching meditation, coordinating Water Polo, I serve as coordinator for our Health Education Program. I schedule weekly workshops and presentations related to holistic health--nutrition, touch, movement, anger management, fitness, breathing, neurology, academic opportunities, and other health related activities such as Sweat Lodge (see pic with Red Cloud), other multi-cultural, spiritual rituals and healing and treatment approaches identified in the slide show.

Our goal is to empower and offer our soldiers the best possible selfcare-skills, knowledge and awareness to guide, to heal and to learn about themselves. As identified in our slide show, we introduce them to 'best practice' tools/skills to manage their stress, anxiety and depression with the support of their family & whole being--physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

During my wonderful experience over the past 1 1/2 years with our R & R Center, I have seen everyone get better, with the vast majority, 61%, returning fit for duty to the Force.

I am very happy and pleased that I can be part of this Great Experience and Experiment. My thanks to everyone who makes our health center work, inside and outside. Special appreciation and thanks to all of my colleagues and especially Dr. John Fortunato, Chief and Founder.

[link]

Jerry
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v400/__show_article/_a000400-000063.htm 2009-08-20T13:43:56Z 2009-08-20T14:07:50Z

Health is an experience of well-being that is in dynamic balance with our whole being and with our natural and social environments. (Fritjof Capra) Would someone please describe what our sick care system is all about? Thank you Sen. Sanders for taking on these corporations and calling for an in...

Health is an experience of well-being that is in dynamic balance with our whole being and with our natural and social environments. (Fritjof Capra) Would someone please describe what our sick care system is all about?

Thank you Sen. Sanders for taking on these corporations and calling for an investigation of their FRAUD! Do go to Sen. Sanders' website and support his efforts. I've posted a number of logs related to the Big Pharmas and their corrupt relationship with Psychiatry. It's interesting to me that recently the president of the APA admitted that the DSM or Diagnostic Statistical Manual and bible for mental health practice is flawed. Also, they are unable to define or clarify what a "DISORDER" is, yet their classification system is based on this concept. People carry their labels for life, yet they have very little science to back up their claims. In other words, make sure you read the fine print and the numerous side affects of their drugs. [link] [link]

Please pass this message on to people who are not aware of the Big Pharmas; Big Hospital Association; Big AMA; Big Giant Insurance Corporations. All of these powerful and wealthy corporations and organizations are fighting a universal health program for all. Ask your congressman/woman how much money they have accepted for their political vote from these corrupt corporations and their lobbyists.

Senator Sanders tells the truth about these giant corporations: "In his remarks before the committee, Sanders suggested that it is absolutely imperative that real health care reform prevent major insurance companies, drug companies and hospital chains from perpetrating fraud and abuse on government health care programs and individuals, which are driving up health care costs in this country by billions of dollars every single year."




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Huffington Post

"We Must Stop the Rampant Fraud in the Health Care Industry

Sen. Bernie Sanders, 06.29.2009
Independent U.S. Senator from Vermont


What we have seen over the last several decades is the systemic fraud perpetrated by private insurance companies, private drug companies, and private for-profit hospitals ripping off the American people." [link]

Read Post | Comments (131)
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v400/__show_article/_a000400-000062.htm 2009-06-30T02:54:11Z 2009-07-01T02:02:06Z

The Ft. Bliss Monitor published an excellent article on our recent Therapeutic Outing to the Texas State Vet Center. Our Warriors administered our 15Minute StressOut Program with the elder Vets as a morning activity to support the healing and interaction of our soldiers experiencing PTSD and elder...

The Ft. Bliss Monitor published an excellent article on our recent Therapeutic Outing to the Texas State Vet Center. Our Warriors administered our 15Minute StressOut Program with the elder Vets as a morning activity to support the healing and interaction of our soldiers experiencing PTSD and elder Vets while giving our Skillful Touch Program. See June ll, 2009 Ft. Bliss Monitor. [link]

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Soldiers reach out and touch veterans
Y. WRIGHT
Fort Bliss Public Affairs

The Fort Bliss Restoration and Resilience Center is a place for Soldiers to recuperate and learn methods of dealing with issues of post-traumatic stress upon returning from deployments. There are several programs incorporated in the treatment regimen to obtain holistic health. One of these practices is the 15-minute StressOut Program. This program reinforces healthy touching as a means of healing.

The StressOut program was designed by Jerry Vest, army/health practitioner and social worker, from William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Restoration and Resilience Center, Warrior Program, in 1979. It involves acupressure and other skillful techniques, coordinated with breathing to balance the body, mind, emotions and spirit.

On Thursday, warriors in transition took time out from their healing process to visit the Texas State Center for Veterans to administer a little healing to some of
their own. The Soldiers joined some of the vets in a private room with very soft lighting, ‘’mood music’’ and the goal of creating 15-minutes of relaxation through a partner meditation technique.

The Soldiers agreed that the process is really good for both them and the veterans they were there to help. During the sessions, the “givers,” who are those giving the massage, systematically applied pressure points to the receivers, while the two
worked at establishing a memorable experience.

The idea is for the partners to connect the vitality of their breath with the power of touch during this process of relaxation. Because there are so many myths surrounding touch, Vest said he introduces and demonstrates safe, skillful, appropriate and nourishing touch as a means for teaching physical interaction, stress management, and self-care for individuals,couples, groups and families. “Many of these patients only get touch from the bed to the chair,” said a Soldier from the Restoration and Resilience Center. “Being on either side [giving or receiving] is very relaxing, and you benefit either way,” said another Soldier.
Glenda Bromberg, who was also a part of the team of volunteers, talked about how powerful touch is in healing as well as in everyday life. She said she was moved by “people who are healing, giving to people who need healing.”

After the session, many of the Soldiers who were visiting for the first time said they would like to volunteer to spend time with the vets more often.
“This may be a regular field trip for the warriors,” Vest said. For more information on the 15-minute StressOut Program, visit http://www.15minutestressout.com.

Y. WRIGHT

Note: Picture is Dr. John Fortunato, Chief & Founder, Ft. Bliss Restoration & Resilience Center, Wm Beaumont Army Medical Center
]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v400/__show_article/_a000400-000061.htm 2009-06-12T00:40:35Z 2009-07-03T16:17:31Z

"The teachings of Buddhism, called the Dharma, tell us that to understand the hopelessness of 'samsara' is to enter the path to 'nirvana', or liberation from suffering. This path carries us directly to the heart of 'samsara' and teaches us to transform it into peace. When we follow the Dharma, our...

"The teachings of Buddhism, called the Dharma, tell us that to understand the hopelessness of 'samsara' is to enter the path to 'nirvana', or liberation from suffering. This path carries us directly to the heart of 'samsara' and teaches us to transform it into peace. When we follow the Dharma, our self-concepts, desires, and negative habits themselves provide the energy that fuels our spiritual growth. Every aspect of every situation becomes a process of training, learning, and understanding. The teachings become a silent song--a thread running through every moment--leading us to greater knowledge and awakening."Tibetan Meditation-Practical teachings and step-by-step exercises on how to live in harmony, peace, and happiness by Tarthang Tulku


Suicides Increase - Beware of Labels

I placed these comments on the Washington Post today as some of us know that soldiers get better and many may have killed themselves had we not had resources such as our Ft. Bliss Restoration & Resilience Center [link] [link]. We return over 62% of our soldiers to active status. We hope that they don't have to return to combat as they need time to assimilate what they have learned and to practice their new found skills.

Several of our soldier would like to have a new MOS that allows them to be counselors/technicians to help others get treatment and to find a way out of these painful nightmares, isolation, despair, agitation, depression, and anger.

Jerry


Your Comments On...

Generals Find Suicide a Frustrating Enemy[link]

It was just past midnight in Afghanistan when Brig. Gen. Mark Milley appeared on the video screen in the Pentagon conference room to brief some of the Army's top generals on a sobering development: his unit's most recent confirmed suicide.
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By Ann Scott Tyson and Greg Jaffe
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vajara wrote:

Some people plant the seed of despair by suggesting that our Warriors will never overcome their PTSD. That is not a very hopeful message to those who are diagnosed with a label--labels stick to the psyche and they may never go away, but I can assure you the soldiers are resilient, they do heal, they do get better, and they return to the force. We only hope that the Army is wise enough to change their MOS and give them an opportunity to be mental health counselors so that they can help their brothers heal and get well. In any event, don't tell them that they will never get better, it just isn't true and it only makes their lives more miserable. How would you feel if the doctor or your best friend told you to forget the treatment and rehabilitation as you will never improve? Please think before you project your beliefs onto others, they just might believe you and commit suicide--it can be a way out when you have these horrendous symptoms. Some of us who work with our warriors do know better.
5/24/2009 10:09:20 AM

vajara wrote:

Seems we need to do a better screening of soldiers serving multiple tours. We could shorten their tours as the Marines have done and they have fewer suicides. We can also stop the wars and bring the troops home. Why do soldiers become disillusioned and it turns into despair? I believe they know that the leadership has let them down by sending them there in the first place and secondarily, what are they hoping to accomplish when history tells them, it is a hopeless cause.
5/24/2009 10:00:03 AM
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When we are able to still our body, breath and mind, a very comfortable, soothing feeling naturally arises. As we expand this feeling, we feel very much at home there, and we can return to this feeling again and again in daily meditation. (Tarthang Tulku, "Finding the Space Between Thoughts", p.12...

When we are able to still our body, breath and mind, a very comfortable, soothing feeling naturally arises. As we expand this feeling, we feel very much at home there, and we can return to this feeling again and again in daily meditation. (Tarthang Tulku, "Finding the Space Between Thoughts", p.127, Tibetan Meditation)


Come Join with us in support of our Veterans living out their lives in residential treatment centers and nursing homes:

I've learned that when our soldiers take leave and visit their homes and communities where they once called home, they have little in common to share with their family and friends after returning from "many long extended tours of duty" in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of our warriors have been so wounded that they are not often recognizable by their family. Many of our soldiers in rehabilitation in our Ft. Bliss Restoration & Resilience Center are physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually wounded as you may know, so it is hard for them to convey their experiences, especially their trauma, as few people can understand or appreciate what they have been through. After all, much of this war and the long deployments were held in secret by the previous administration while our media, professional organizations and politicians had little courage, ability or will to describe and inform others about the soldier and their family stories. (See, my previous log related to long deployments and how families describe their experiences.)

Can you envision Veteran's Nursing homes with a StressOut Team that partners up with a vet and gives our nourishing touch program to the residents, 2 x's a week. We are especially interested in partnering up with an elder vet suffering with Alzheimers'. We will shortly be training a core group of wives of our deployed Warriors and soldiers from our Ft. Bliss Restoration & Resilience Center, and other volunteers assigned to the Ft. Bliss Warrior Transition Battalion to provide this service.

We know that our mindful and skillful touch program unites the body, mind and spirit. See our Protocol for giving the 15-Minute Stressout. [link] This exchange of energy is experienced as Empathy when we breathe together as One. We open and close our Program while we lay and rest our hands on our partner's shoulders. This experience is referred to as "Melting" in the ancient Tibetan practice of Kum Nye. [link] (I have practiced and taught Kum Nye Relaxation during my 30 yr. tenure at New Mexico State University in my Holistic Health Practice Courses and curretly introduce meditation as a daily exercise in our integrative treatment center.)

Do visit our new Website that Brent Laracuente and Christy Laracuente put together to expand our use of touch into vet centers in our region and beyond; in nursing homes; Family and Childrens' programs; and, now with Wounded Warriors and their families.

If you wish more information do visit this Website: [link]

Several of us at Ft. Bliss are about to launch this training program for the wives of our soldiers assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion and also for the wives having their loved ones being deployed beginning May 11, 2009. In addition to helping or empowering wives and volunteers deal with the physical pain, stress, anxiety and depression often accompanied by these long separations, we are developing a core group of wives & soldiers to give our "stressouts" in Vet Centers in EP and in other places. Currently, we are focusing on the Alzheimer's patients as this population is rarely touched in skillful ways and meds are often the primary treatment intervention.

As I have described in previous logs, our City of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Senior Programs, have joined with us for giving our partner massage/meditation program in diabetic clinics, in-home care, and nursing homes and we are now extending this health program in other communities and vet centers. [link]

If you wish to become trained in using our touch program and become certified as a team member and volunteer, do contact us and visit our websites to learn more about us and this opportunity to serve. [link]]]> http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v400/__show_article/_a000400-000059.htm 2009-05-10T14:06:05Z 2009-05-10T14:34:06Z