Week 5

So tell me what do you really think about? Honestly....

I've asked the husband that question way to many times and I'm sure spouses/family members and so's have asked their soldiers that same question. I have to admit the past week has been rough and we both agree we could of used this weeks lesson last week..since we both jumped to conclussions based on automatic thoughts..

This weeks lesson was about the thought process..which as times seems pretty scary. There are so many things that go through the human thought process and learning to recognize the way we precieve the world around us will help someone look at the things a bit differently. This lesson is also a great lesson for not only the Vet but everyone around them since we're all guilty of overthinking/over analyzing.

The lesson pinpointed on several different thought processes..to include my favorite one...

The Mindreader~ ugh I hate hate this one...I swear if I could just pull my brain out and let the husband see that he can't read my mind! Which then in turn leads to fortune telling..just because I said something 1 time doesn't mean that everytime I get upset I'm going to say the samething. I know we've all done something in our thought process that pushes us to look at a negative thought more then the postive thought. We need to step back and reflect on our thinking.

The cool thing about this weeks lesson is it shows you how to set up an Automatic Thought Record...it makes you sit down and record your thoughts..
it helps you identify the sitution and go from there to figure out a solution and how to work through the thoughts you were having them and why. And helps you be more PROACTIVE!

The most important lesson to take from this week's program is * Stop and refect what you're thinking*..if you can stop and and think about why you're feeling a certain way and think about ways to learn from that thought process you're on the right road. It doesn't come easy and it will take a while to get in to that automatic process but with a bit of work it can be done.

Now to work on the husband with this...he and I are both pretty guilty of thinking something that isn't right..getting mad, upset or whatever and then acting on that. The husband is willing to try to write down his thoughts in his own Automatic Though Record so that way he can see in writing what he was thinking and how he reacted to it. I will scan and add his ATR later this week so I can show an example. The husband has admitted that there are some fine points to this program. He has enjoyed it to a point but sometimes it pushes him beyond his comfort level and therefore makes him feel and think things he's not ready to deal with it. Which with the help of his therapist we can point out to her. So this site is a helpful tool and the lessons each week pushes the husband to realize that he can get help and its not a sign of weakness.

http://www.vetsprevail.org/

Week 4

Lets talk about feelings,emotions and moods...yes feelings, emotions and moods! Which for most guys isn't something they're comfortable with but throw in PTSD and you've got the blank, deer caught in the headlights look, well at least I do.
This week's lesson dealt with understanding feelings, moods and emotions. And separating the 3 and how to learn how each of the 3 effect you daily. This lesson encourages the Vet to write down daily how they're feeling and tracking their feelings.

It also has the Vet sit quietly and just take in a few mins to become aware of their surroundings and to recognized the feelings that they are feeling all the times. From happiness to sadness..which of course according to the husband made him feel like a dork..simply because it forced him to sit down and focus on the feelings he pushes aside.

The biggest push with this lesson is the accept your feelings, to understand that its ok to have the feelings you have and to respond to your feelings, emotions and mood in a healthy way. And that you can't get rid of the feelings but you can learn to handle them and own your emotions.

This lesson gave some great techniques for handling stressful feelings, from just sitting quietly and focusing on everything around you and becoming aware of your emotions, the controlled breathing technique, a simple mediation that once again the husband said made him feel like a dork but he was willing to try it. 

All in all this lesson was I think one the best he's done..it made him focus more on the emotions and feelings he has daily and to understand that they are his feelings and its normal to feel this way but to use the techniques to help when he's having a rough patch.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help..there is nothing wrong to accept that sometimes you can't handle everything by yourself and asking for help doesn't make you weak. It actually makes you a stronger better person.

http://www.vetsprevail.org/

Week 3

OK so I'm kind of dragging behind a bit...we can blame that on the holidays and dealing with the MEB (awww the joys) but we're back on schedule..kind of :-)

 So the husband worked on week 3 last night...it was a rough night for him to focus due to him getting his ratings back and it showed on his assessment. He got a 2 out of 5 and that kind of made him a bit upset but through the program there is always a positive support even before you start talking to your peer support. Which is he needs to do today.

 Week 3's lesson focused on how he spends his time and how to work through the bad parts and focus on the positive. Which is something I know he needs to learn more about. A lot of soldiers/Vets who suffer from PTSD its hard to pull themselves out of that dark well of negativity and realize that there is something out there that is good.

 This also allowed some great open conversation with us..it made him realize that he does focus on the bad more then the good facts of life and what he has.

I do notice a change in him each week..between working with the program and his therapist the 2 have helped him take a step back and re-evaluate rash decisions and to take into consideration the tools that are available to him.

Week 4 is scheduled for the 23rd of Jan...and no more delays. Promise..well OK won't promise but we'll try our best

https://www.vetsprevail.org/

Week 2~Dec 26

So level 2 turned out to be a bit frustrating and it wasn't really anyones fault. The husband started doing his program but due to the servers having problems he had to restart a few times and then couldn't finish a few of the modules due to the servers having to rest. I'm sure due to the holidays that was the problem. Also we did find out the hard way that there was no peer to peer chat yesterday either due to the holiday so that was kind of frustrating for the husband since he really felt the need to connect to someone due to the holiday stress. But once again due to the holidays its completely understandable.

Level 2 is discusses how to build the skills to identify and manage negative thoughts/feelings in his life and how to manage them better. It once again included the interactive video and the husband seems to like that due the fact that he is involved with the program its just not some video telling him to how to fix things it actually helps him figure it out and gives him a chance to be directly involved with the solution. But once again due to the holiday he didn't get to finish level 2 yet so that is what he'll be doing today.

We are still very impressed with the amount of information that his program has. The good thing is each program is geared towards each individual and not just lumping everyone into one group since each PTSD case is different, each experiance is different from soldier to soldier so that is a huge help. It makes my husband feel like this is HIS program and its meant to help him. Not try to fit him into a round hole when he's a square peg so to speak. He is actually looking forward to working on each level weekly and with the weekly reminders he knows what day he has to work on it and so forth. And once again the option to be able to put the laptop down and walk away if he needs that small break is there for him.

So hopefully today he can finish this level, connect with a peer coach and to start applying what he's learned this week into real life.

Here is the link to the Vets Prevail website.

https://www.vetsprevail.org/

Week One is done...

So as many of y'all know the husband started the Vets Prevail program. Well today was the 1st lesson and all in all it went well..its kind of nice being able to do this from the comfort of our home and in a safe environment where there is no real pressure on him. If he feels the need to get up and walk around or even leave and come back to the lesson he can do that.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how well put together it was and how there is always Peer Support available which is great so my husband can connect with other Vets who have gone through the same things as him. He actually got on the chat and talked with someone for a good 20 mins which is something he wouldn't normally do, so that was a great sign.

I have to recommend though that when you do your lessons that you do it in a somewhere quiet location so you can really focus on the videos and aren't distracted. Also its a great resource for the spouses/caregivers to be involved with because we can use some of the lessons they are talking about..

The husband says the page has a lot of information..and he likes the fact that you can set goals and it will help you keep them. And you can schedule each lesson to work with your schedule...he also likes the fact they send reminder texts for those guys that have memory issues (like him) and he did enjoy the chat part of the page.

Here is their link...we both highly recommend it to anyone who is a Vet.

http://www.vetsprevail.org/

Something new...

So this week has been both a bit of stress and excitement. The husband is going to be starting a new program online through the Vets Prevail page and I'm super excited about it but kind of nervous.This program is a free program that will help with reintegration and resilience for both Veterans and soldiers. After 2 hospitalizations and countless meds and hours of therapy we get to that point where we're hitting that brick wall again and the backward spiral happens again. I will be blogging weekly about his progress and our thoughts and opinions. We are hopeful that with this under his belt he can have new options in case his PTSD levels get back to a higher level...I do know that Vets Prevail has a lot of wonderful options for our returning vets and veterans from other conflicts. And we're both open to try something to help him..and hopefully with his experience we can help another soldier or family feel like they're not alone on this road...we have felt alone and have had to reach out for help and now we can be that help for another soul. Just remember that you are not alone out there..there are so many of us going through the same battles and we need to stick together and support both the soldier and the family.

Here is the Vets Prevail website...please share it with a Veteran or soldier

http://www.vetsprevail.org/