Using war memoirs, war journalism, and the personal experiences of John Paul Wallis as a Marine with two tours of duty in Iraq, Wallis and Mechling analyze the folklore shared by male warriors in the combat zone to understand how the traditional everyday practices of these men in groups serve as a form of psychological first aid for relieving the symptoms associated with the stress of living, working, and fighting in the combat zone. The authors study how boys and men are socialized in American culture, the context for their examining the folk traditions, including pet-keeping, rough-and-tumble play fighting, video game play, masturbation, dark play, and deep play.
Trauma survivors need to find ways to work through their experiences and get a sense of meaning and understanding is great. While the majority of those who have experienced direct trauma or who have witnessed trauma will heal, even persons who do not develop full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, will experience a number of the symp...
2013 Nautilus Silver Award Winner! In 2010 the Department of Veterans Affairs cited 171,423 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans diagnosed with PTSD, out of 593,634 total patients treated. That’s almost 30 percent; other statistics show 35 percent. Nor, of course, is PTSD limited to the military. In twenty years as a therapist, Susan Pease Banitt has treated trauma in patients ranging from autistic children to women with breast cancer; from underage sex slaves to adults incapacitated by early childhood abuse. Doctors she interviewed in New York report that, even before 9/11, most of their patients had experienced such extreme stress that they had suffered physical and mental breakdowns. Those doctors agree with Pease Banitt that stress is the disease of our times. At the 2009 Evolution of Psychotherapy conference Jack Kornfield noted, “We need a trauma tool kit.” Here it is. Most people, Pease Banitt says, experience trauma as a terminal blow to their deepest sense of self. Her techniques restore a sense of wholeness at the core level from which all healing springs. The uniqueness of her book lies in its diversity and accessibility. She assesses the values and limitations of traditional and alternative therapies and suggests methods that are universally available. Almost anybody can grow some lavender in a pot, she notes, or find a tree to sit under, a journal to write in, or Epsom Salts in which to soak. They can learn exercises of the mind and breath work to regulate the body. Besides such resources, Pease Banitt’s tools for healing include: Skills to build a first-aid kit to respond to any traumatic event Insight into the causes of stress mentally and physically Motivation to deal with stress sooner rather than later An insider’s knowledge about maintaining health The ability to make good decisions for effective interventions Increased resilience to overwhelming events She closes with a look at public policy and public health issues and the need for new therapeutic models. If trauma is the disease of our time, then healing from trauma individually and globally can pave the way for a brighter future. This book provides the tools.
Expert advice for conquering the effects of trauma! If you have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), everyday life may seem overwhelming. But you're not alone--there's hope for recovery, and you can learn how to take control of your emotions. The Everything Guide to Overcoming PTSD includes in-depth information on: Traditional treatments, including psychotherapy, drug therapy, and cognitive behavioral theory. New methods of support, like mindfulness therapy and animal therapy. Ways to reverse the physical effects of PTSD. Techniques for treating children who have developed PTSD. While PTSD is typically associated with war and veteran soldiers, recent studies have found this debilitating condition can be caused by a variety of traumatic events, from a neglectful childhood, medical emergency, and natural disasters to car accidents or physical assaults. No matter what the cause, you'll find supportive advice and treatment techniques to help you find the resilience you need to recover from traumatic events and start living a happier, healthier life.
Praise for The PTSD Breakthrough "Dr. Lawlis has done it again! His latest book offers new hope for PTSD sufferers and their families with approaches that can be used at home where the real problems occur and persist. There is a great deal of insight, strategy, and inspiration for anyone who is dealing with these horrific challenges toward the satisfied life they deserve. A must-read for every member of a family touched by PTSD." Dr. Phil McGraw "Dr. Frank Lawlis, one of the most gifted and prolific contributors in modern psychology, delivers in The PTSD Breakthrough a highly readable, scientifically grounded, balanced approach to PTSD, zeroing in on the damaging effects of trauma to the brain psyche, and spirit." John Chibran, PhD, ThD, Harvard Medical School, and the author of What's Love Got to Do with It: Talking with Your Kids About Sex "As a nurse educator, coach, author, and consultant, Dr. Frank Lawlis's timely book on PTSD truly addresses the deep-rooted problem beneath the symptoms and syndrome. His innovative and practical guidelines allow the individual to once again achieve high-level wellness with new penetrating insights and compassion for self in the healing journey." Barbara Dossey, PhD, RN; International Co-Director, Nightingale Initiative for Global Health; Co-Director, International Nurse Coach Association; Author of Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice (5th ed.) and Florence Nightingale: Mystic, Visionary, Healer "Much is being written about post-traumatic stress disorder. But if you a book that looks at the disorder from a new perspective, and explains it and its treatment in a way that both patient and practitioner can understand, this is the book for you." John Roitzsch, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina, VA Medical Center
A new approach to understanding PTSD as a form of grief rather than a medical disorder Have you ever felt that something essential was missing from your post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment options? If you suffer from PTSD, you know the problem is complex, but what you probably don't know—and what the medical establishment isn't telling you—is that post-traumatic stress is not fundamentally a medical disorder but rather a form of grief. Your body, mind, and soul experienced tremendous loss, and to fully integrate the many losses into your ongoing life, you must explore and express your necessary grief. In other words, you must mourn. This groundbreaking book reveals a new approach to understanding PTSD and its debilitating symptoms. With compassion and insight, it affirms the nature and severity of your experience while providing you with a step-by-step plan to transcend it. A full review of traditional medical treatments for PTSD are presented and included as part of the healing plan. Whether your PTSD is severe or more subtle, whether your traumatic experience was recent or in the distant past, this book unlocks the secret that will finally allow you to once again live and love fully.
A road map of how I have used alternative self therapy methods for treatment of my PTSD. How I have successfully transitioned from the military to the civilian and veteran communities. Weening myself from the pharmaceutical treatment to an organic and holistic approach to PTSD self treatment. It's not only for veterans.
"A Mind Frozen in Time" is a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) recovery guide intended for survivors of traumatic experience and their families. It was developed while working with individuals who have suffered traumas related to their military service. However, the themes and principles apply to most types of traumatic experiences and their effects. As a guide to recovery, it is designed to help individuals develop a basic understanding of PTSD, introduce coping skills, aid in symptom management, and provide information about some of the more difficult issues that need to be addressed in PTSD therapy. Chapters are brief, making it easier to comprehend for readers who have difficulty concentrating or retaining what they read. "A Mind Frozen in Time" is for anyone interested in learning the core elements involved in PTSD and how to cope more effectively. "A Mind Frozen in Time" is a much-needed, comprehensive, user-friendly guidebook to understanding and coping with PTSD. In it, Dr. Jeremy Crosby has masterfully broken down PTSD and related problems into easily understood concepts that patients and therapists alike will benefit from immensely. Dr. Crosby's years of clinical training and in-the-trenches clinical work are evident in the breadth and depth of the topics presented. What sets this book apart from others is the unique commitment to an outline writing style wherein educational information is presented in brief sections that are readily digested. The result is an invaluable presentation of sophisticated concepts written in "everyday" language. Therapists will have at their fingertips practical treatment tools to utilize in their work. More importantly, patients and their families will find their questions answered and their hope restored in the pages of this guidebook. -Jonathan M. Farrell-Higgins, Ph.D. Dr. Crosby's book is a valuable tool written in a practical way that will encourage trauma survivors searching for a more peaceful existence. His educational approach and challenging self-reflection are the steps by which recovery is possible. -Gary A. Fast, MD
"Traditional psychological treatments that are most often used to treat PTSD, including cognitive behavioral therapy and prolonged exposure therapy, involve revisiting past traumas, which can cause intense anxiety for clients and often leads to treatment dropout. This book surveys promising alternatives that are much easier for trauma survivors to tolerate and have demonstrated effectiveness in building coping mechanisms and reducing PTSD symptoms. The author, Robert Motta, draws from his own professional expertise as a clinician and from his personal experiences as a veteran seeking effective, accessible methods of treating his own PTSD. He summarizes what is known-as well as what is still unknown or unproven-along with other strengths and limitations of various nontraditional approaches, including mindfulness meditation, yoga, acupuncture, animal and nature-assisted therapies, emotional freedom techniques, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. These treatments are appropriate for clients regardless of their trauma history, whether it be war, rape, childhood abuse, or a car accident. Clinical vignettes provide practical insights for implementing these interventions with individuals of various ages and backgrounds"--
