Strategies for Managing Stress After War (eBook)

Julia M. Whealin, PhD, is the Deputy Director for Education and a research health scientist at the Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System Division of the National Center for PTSD. She has published widely on a host of veterans mental health issues including combat stress, family issues, PTSD, sexual abuse, and resilience. Lorie T. DeCarvalho, PhD, is the founder and Director of Behavioral Health Services for Adventist Health Central California Network. She has published on pain and PTSD in various scholarly, government, self-help, and general interest publications. Edward M. Vega, PhD, is a staff psychologist in the Trauma Recovery Program of the Atlanta VA Medical Center and has worked with veterans from all eras, as well as national guards/reservists, police officers, civilian psychiatric patients, and women who are survivors of sexual and physical abuse.

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER ONE Understanding Transition Stress Reactions 5

CHAPTER TWO Managing Stress 17

CHAPTER THREE Tools for Healthy Coping 27

CHAPTER FOUR Improving Sleep 41

CHAPTER FIVE Dealing with Anger 53

CHAPTER SIX Reintegrating with Society 63

CHAPTER SEVEN Reintegrating with Family and Friends 71

CHAPTER EIGHT Staying Strong 81

APPENDIX A Veteran Resource Guide 91

APPENDIX B Chapter Quizzes Answer Key 95

APPENDIX C Stress Management Handouts 103

References 107

A Personal Note from the Authors 109

Index 111

"The workbook for veterans is excellent. I would guess that some
veterans could use the workbook alone with little or no
professional help.I applaud the authors of this program for
attempting to widen the resources available to help returning
veterans cope with reintegration. I also applaud the recognition
that normalizes a process that could be easily pathologized."
(PsycCRITIQUES, 5/20/09)

"These guides, which are written in a manner that is suited to
practitioners who may not be familiar with military experience and
culture, are basic, concise, clearly written, easily understandable
and pragmatic." (Journal of Psychiatric Practice, Vol 15,
No. 4)

"This clinician guide and client workbook set is notable for its
concreteness, clarity, practicality, and specificity. This manual
is a valuable and eminently practical resource for providing a
structured but flexible psycho-educational intervention for
veterans of war." (Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal,
Winter 2009)

"Both books are intended to be used with one another and
encourage an active relationship between clinician and veteran as
treatment unfolds. Both books positively contribute to the
burgeoning focus on treatment modalities for the country's wounded
heroes. A particular strength is the inclusion of pre - and
posttests that the authors recommend using before and after the
administration of this intervention. Clinicians will find both
books pragmatic and designed to flexibly allow them to use these in
conjunction with their own preferred treatment modality."
(Research on Social Work Practice, December 2008)