Come Home Soon

The Long Road Home

Transitional Workshops

First of all, thank you for your interest in the work I am doing for the

U.S. Military and related organizations to assist the troops, their families,

and all military veterans make healthy transitions from the war front to

the home front. I am a PTSD specialist andtherapist from the Pacific

Northwest, and the co-author of two recent books designedespecially for

the OIF/OEF troops and their families. The books are the first of their

kind due to the fact that they have been written both by a therapist

and a combat veteran.Chuck Dean, my co-author served as a paratrooper

in Vietnam and adrill instructor upon his return from the war zone.

The workshop (Once a Warrior...Wired for Life) is designed for the

OIF/OEF warriors. Their partners are highly encouraged to attend

with them. Each workshop is a structured awareness course revealing

various ways warriors and their partners/family change during military

separation. It provides them with effective coping techniques ensuring a

smooth transition in regards to their communication and intricate

relationship-building methods after returning from a war zone. It is

also designed to encourage healthy interactions and discussions in a

group setting and help them work together indealing with critical issues

they may face before and after the deployment(s). Other important topics

include understanding the signs and symptoms of CombatOperational

Stress (COS), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain

Injury (TBI) and effectively coping with anger issues, substance abuse,

sleep disturbances, and other physical and emotional wounds. I am

currentlyproviding this workshop as part of the Returning Warrior

Program to the 7100 redeploying soldiers at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

My workbook course (Turning Your Hearts Toward Home) is written in a

twelve-chapter format, which helps the military person and their loved one

work together in order to better understand how they both have changed

in the process of deployment. It explores PTSD, the behaviors, triggers, and

consequences of choices. The course examines issues surrounding

emotional intimacy, communication, goal setting, anger, and how these

aspects affect their lives. Recognizing and coping with the signs and

symptoms is also a most critical point taken up by this course, which is

specifically designed to launch the process of building empathy and trust

for a more positive relationship.

If you are interested in arranging a workshop or having me speak with

your group please contact me. References available upon request.

Holiday Stress Warrior Article

Well we are fast approaching the Holiday Season, and for many it is a
very stressful time of year particularly in light that many of you have
your family member deployed, or things at home have changed
dramatically due to the loss of your loved one or wounding.

It is a time to gather together and form strong bonds of love and
remembrance to help us all get through a rather difficult time of year.

I recently lost my father and this will be my first holiday season without
him and I have noticed that I am not quite myself. I feel all sorts of
emotions and I don’t even see them coming. So on that level I can offer
my own insights, but for those of you who have lost your loved one or
who are longing for them to be at home with you my heart truly goes
out to you.

The holidays bring about a certain amount of nostalgia, along with that
comes wishing for warm memories of the past. This is where it gets quite
difficult to bear. For this holiday season take some time to remember
but also take time to reach out to others to make their season a bit
smoother. It is through helping others that we can move beyond some
of our own pain and make a difference in the lives of others.
Having your Warrior home for the holidays is exciting, but also offers
some new challenges for them as well as for the family. Here are some
practical tips for reducing stress in your household.

1)If your Warrior is home with you this year after being deployed
do your best not to expect that things will be the same.

2) Give your Warrior plenty of space and don’t demand that they
join in the festivities. The commotion and chatter may create an
undue amount of stress for them.

3) Inform your guests and family members not to ask questions,
just let things flow naturally without going “to Iraq or Afghanistan”.
Let your Warrior direct the topic.

4) Discuss the plans with your Warrior, let them know what the

schedule of events consists of, and give them an option to bow out

if they feel more comfortable doing so.
5) Fix some of your Warriors favorite dishes, this can certainly be a
treat for them.

6) Watch the amount of alcohol that is passed around, nothing is

worse than someone who gets tipsy and starts spewing off without

even giving it a second thought how your Warrior may be affected.

7) It may be up to you to run interference to create a better
environment from which to celebrate this holiday season.

8) Flexibility is the key here, what may have traditionally been
standard protocol may need to be reevaluated to accommodate
and create a smooth landing for your Warrior.

9) Get plenty of rest in order to have the energy and resiliency
to handle whatever comes your way.

10) Keep it simple, what may be of paramount importance to
you, may not have the same significance for your Warrior.

11) Don’t expect them to run errands for you because bright
colors, crowds, and excess stimulation may push many buttons
for them.

12) Don’t be over alarmed if your Warrior sits quietly, watches
TV, plays videogames or isolates, as this may be a healthy
alternative and positive coping mechanism over the holiday season.

13) Bring out the board or card games and just enjoy the
togetherness without getting into any heavy conversations.

14) If gift giving is part of your tradition, talk about cutting back
and setting a limit on the amount spent.

15) Don’t be alarmed if your Warrior does not feel comfortable
attending your place of worship as in the past, just let it go and look
at this as their way of reducing the stress by not being around people.

16) Be sure to set some personal, family and professional goals for
this new year.

Have a blessed holiday season and may we all take this time to
remember those who serve our country today and in the past.
Let this holiday be the beginning of a year filled with compassion,
peace and kindness that we extend to all our fellow mankind.

With Deep Gratitude and Respect,
Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D. ©
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