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FORT HOOD, Tx. (April 20, 2009) - While
deployed, Soldiers learn to be hyper-aroused, always watching their
backs, ever vigilant about the slightest noise or movement, always
ready to protect their battle buddies and themselves. When Soldiers
return from deployments, it may be difficult to get out of the
"battle mind" and back into the "peacetime mind."
It's a challenge to get out of the battle mind-set, relax,
reset, be normal again. Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center's
Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program can bring back the balance
needed for a good reset. The program is designed to reduce
hyper-arousal symptoms and inappropriate reactions to normal
everyday events.
"We use a variety of body and mind healing techniques along with
group and individual counseling," said Oregon native Maj. Lynette
Heppner, officer-in-charge of the reset program. The two-week
program is for Soldiers struggling to adjust to being home.
"Soldiers do not need to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder to attend the program," Heppner said. "The name of the
clinic is really fitting, warrior combat stress,"
She said the two-week program helps Soldiers reset and heal from
any trauma they may have experienced in combat. With the high
number of Soldiers facing multiple deployments, symptoms can
sometimes be buried so deep within that digging up those thoughts
can be painful for a Soldier. The reset program acknowledges the
struggle and gives Soldiers the right tools to start the healing,
Heppner said.
"We have powerful tools to help with adjusting, resetting, and
with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yes, service members are
scared but they are not disabled," said Dr. Jerry Wesch, a clinical
psychologist from Nebraska. Before enrolling in the reset program,
Soldiers are screened and later scheduled for the next available
two-week session.
After enrollment, Soldiers are evaluated and given a treatment
plan in collaboration with their primary therapist. Wesch explains,
"Once you find the key to an individual Soldier's pain, you can
then mold a program to accommodate that individual." "We can really
jump-start treatment here and take it to the next level," added
Maj. Heppner.
Along with the variety of relaxation and soul-strengthening
activities, group discussions are a major part of the daily
curriculum. After an hour of Tai Chi, a low impact motivation
workout,t Soldiers meet for what is called a "process group." "With
the guidance of a clinical psychologist and technician, the process
group discusses issues. At times, it can get really emotional but
that's where a lot of work gets done. It's pretty intense,"
explains Heppner.
Although some parts of the program are intense, the truth is, a
day in the reset program" can be relaxing, which is the point. For
starters, comfortable civilian clothing is allowed, and the
pampering is much appreciated by the Soldiers. Everyone gets a
weekly one-hour massage (with hot oil and stones, if desired),
acupuncture, yoga, Reiki, and sound and toning meditation therapy
to help regain balance. "Soldiers do ninety minutes of physical
training per day of low impact aerobics exercise.
Most Soldiers say the yoga class is really calming and helps
them unwind," said Heppner. A more technical method used for
relaxation is biofeedback, a technique where Soldiers use their
minds to control physical responses to triggers. During the
biofeedback sessions, psychologists teach Soldiers how to regulate
the body tension level, heart rate, temperature, and sweat
production. Biofeedback helps Soldiers identify what areas they
should work on to become less tense and more relaxed.
The reset center uses a variety of complimentary and alternative
medicine techniques that tend to be outside the usual medical
toolbox," said Wesch. "Our goal is to pick things that would attack
directly the hyper-arousal and nervous system. Stress reduction and
relaxation promotes healing of the g body, emotions, mind, and
spirit. "It creates many beneficial effects such as a feelings of
peace, security and wellbeing," Wesch added.
"TGIT (Thank goodness it's Thursday). Thursday is no my favorite
day of the week," said a Soldier enrolled in the program who wishes
to remain anonymous. "There is nothing like this program, I'm
loving it here and highly recommend it," he said.
"What's great about this program is we heal each other," said
another Soldier in the reset program. Because of the multiple
deployments of Fort Hood units, it is normal for Soldiers to return
with both visible and invisible wounds from the war. Seeking help
is a sign of strength and the human desire to return to
normalcy.
"I think this is very important for Fort Hood to have a reset
program of this caliber. Our Soldiers have seen so much combat, and
they've been deployed so many times that we must expect they will
need healing," Heppner said.
Soldiers (both officer and enlisted) enrolled in the Warrior
Combat Stress Reset Program attend sessions Monday through Friday
from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for two weeks. Personal commitment is
very important and consent from an individual's chain of command is
required.
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