Strategies for Managing Stress After War

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 xiINTRODUCTION 1CHAPTER ONE Understanding Transition Stress Reactions 5CHAPTER TWO Managing Stress 17CHAPTER THREE Tools for Healthy Coping 27CHAPTER FOUR Improving Sleep 41CHAPTER FIVE Dealing with Anger 53CHAPTER SIX Reintegrating with Society 63CHAPTER SEVEN Reintegrating with Family and Friends 71CHAPTER EIGHT Staying Strong 81APPENDIX A Veteran Resource Guide 91APPENDIX B Chapter Quizzes Answer Key 95APPENDIX C Stress Management Handouts 103References 107A Personal Note from the Authors 109Index 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)