Be the Change You Want To See (In Your Soldier or Vet)
BrainlineMilitary.org had an excellent guest blog this morning that featured this paragraph which really hit home to me:
"As a community, we do however, also have a responsibility – as individuals who have sustained injuries; as family members, friends and caretakers; or as the support network of those individuals with disabilities, to encourage positive attitudes and promote best practices for rehabilitative outcomes. There still exists a stigma about mental health problems and readjustment after combat – but these conditions are treatable! The work of therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists is amazing and making a real impact on people’s lives. Let’s help build an environment that is supportive and prepares our injured colleagues for success"
As the main source of support for our soldiers and vets struggling with PTS/CS/TBI our attitudes about treatment are critically important. Sometimes you may want things to be normal again so much that you ignore signs that your soldier or vet is struggling. Or you may be overwhelmed by all the additional things you need to do that your soldier/vet can no longer do. I completely understand how hard it is to have to take over all the household duties, work, do the bills, do the shopping, and try to keep track of medical appointments and therapy appointments and treatment plans and other tasks related to your soldier or vet's care. Sometimes it gets so overwhelming you want to give up. Or, you stop taking care of your own needs to focus on the needs of everyone around you. But that doesn't help anyone.
But you can take care of yourself and encourage your soldier or vet to take care of themselves at the same time. Meditate together. Try making healthy dishes and discuss what you both like or don't like. Cultivate a focus on health at home so that your soldier or vet is encouraged to look at new ideas and new methods of treatment. It's been proven that alternative therapies like meditation and art therapy can have profound effects on soldiers and vets healing from PTS/CS/TBI. But as caregivers we need to embrace those ideas and therapies so that our soldiers and vets will embrace them also.
So make time to meditate. Go to a holistic health center this weekend to get information on meditation classes, Reiki and other treatments. Go to a yoga class. Your soldier or vet will follow your lead. You can take better care of yourself and create a healing environment at home to encourage your soldier or vet to take better care of themselves.
"As a community, we do however, also have a responsibility – as individuals who have sustained injuries; as family members, friends and caretakers; or as the support network of those individuals with disabilities, to encourage positive attitudes and promote best practices for rehabilitative outcomes. There still exists a stigma about mental health problems and readjustment after combat – but these conditions are treatable! The work of therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists is amazing and making a real impact on people’s lives. Let’s help build an environment that is supportive and prepares our injured colleagues for success"
As the main source of support for our soldiers and vets struggling with PTS/CS/TBI our attitudes about treatment are critically important. Sometimes you may want things to be normal again so much that you ignore signs that your soldier or vet is struggling. Or you may be overwhelmed by all the additional things you need to do that your soldier/vet can no longer do. I completely understand how hard it is to have to take over all the household duties, work, do the bills, do the shopping, and try to keep track of medical appointments and therapy appointments and treatment plans and other tasks related to your soldier or vet's care. Sometimes it gets so overwhelming you want to give up. Or, you stop taking care of your own needs to focus on the needs of everyone around you. But that doesn't help anyone.
But you can take care of yourself and encourage your soldier or vet to take care of themselves at the same time. Meditate together. Try making healthy dishes and discuss what you both like or don't like. Cultivate a focus on health at home so that your soldier or vet is encouraged to look at new ideas and new methods of treatment. It's been proven that alternative therapies like meditation and art therapy can have profound effects on soldiers and vets healing from PTS/CS/TBI. But as caregivers we need to embrace those ideas and therapies so that our soldiers and vets will embrace them also.
So make time to meditate. Go to a holistic health center this weekend to get information on meditation classes, Reiki and other treatments. Go to a yoga class. Your soldier or vet will follow your lead. You can take better care of yourself and create a healing environment at home to encourage your soldier or vet to take better care of themselves.
