After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families
After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families
A highly practical, user-friendly guide to homecoming–including common after-effects of war zone exposure and how to cope–for returning troops and their families.
Two experts from the VA National Center for PTSD provide an essential resource for service members, their spouses, families, and communities, sharing what troops really experience during deployment and back home. Pinpointing the most common after-effects of war and offering strategies for troop reintegration to daily life, Drs. Friedman and Slone cover the myths and realities of homecoming; reconnecting with spouse and family; anger and adrenaline; guilt and moral dilemmas; and PTSD and other mental-health concerns.
With a wealth of community and government resources, tips, and suggestions, After the War Zone is a practical guide to helping troops and their families prevent war zone stresses from having a lasting negative impact.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Outstanding, Hopeful Guide- Full of Great Insights and Resources
This important work provides a broad array of information that will help returning soldiers, their loved ones, friends, and community to understand the challenges of reintegration to civilian life.
It provides education and advice for neighbors, coworkers, employers, and service providers who assist returning vets and their families.
Actually, the book is for anyone who wonders what to expect when a service member returns home from a war zone. It shows all of us how to help when the going gets tough (and it will).
For those like me, who were personally affected by the Vietnam War and its aftermath, we know how vital understanding and support is for our latest generation of combat vets and their families.
You’ll find eye-opening facts on p.25, about Operation Enduring Freeedom/Operation Iraqi Freeedom.
The authors point out that unlike the Vietnam War, when the draft meant that most Americans were directly affected by the conflict, the modern “all volunteer” military has left participating families feeling a sense of isolation from the rest of society.
Another fact: The top two reasons returning troops seek care at VA Medical Centers are pain from musculoskeletal problems and mental health problems.
This book addresses every aspect of reintegration one can imagine, such as anticipation of return, the post-deployment stage (honeymoon period) special issues for reservists and women soldiers, reactions of children, problems with PTSD, communication problems, what it’s like to be a loved one left at home, issues for the extended family, the need for social support, separating myth from reality, finances, relationships, and much more.
The Resource Section alone is worth the price of the book, plus there is an excellent index. Kudos to authors Laurie B. Slone, Ph.D. the Associate Director for Research and Education of the VA National Center for PTSD,and to Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD, the Executive Director of the VA National Center for PTSD and a Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmocology at Dartmouth Medical School.
This book is broad in scope, and will change lives for the better. Very highly recommended!
5 Stars Returning Home, What to Expect
Congratulations, you survived your deployment! The very Skills and Mindset you honed and sharpened will now get in the way of you returning to your normal home environment.
This book is valuable resource for you, your family, and your community. It “tells it like it is” and how it has been for thousands of soldiers before you returning from the WAR ZONE or from supporting The WAR ZONE.
I’m a Vietnam Veteran, who thought my return from combat would be a smooth transition. That was NOT the case! I was not prepared and neither was my family, my community nor my nation.
By studying this book, we all can gain understanding of what is required of the returning individuals and what is required to support them through reintegration from Warrior to Good Citizen.
After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families
5 Stars important book for 2009 and 2010
As more of the 1.6 million troops mobilized for Iraq and Afhanistan return home, this book will be a very important practical resource. The authors draw upon a wealth of experience in research and treatment to write a book that is down to earth, frank, and informative.
2 Stars A Shrink is not a ’soul doctor’
Although the author has tried to get the reader to believe that he has actually seen combat and can empathize, his analysis falls flat because it it from a purely academic point of view. The author describes some case histories as in the sample readings offered here, but he has not validated the experiences of his clients. He accepts everything at face value and with the all-knowing behavioral approach touches ‘the core’ of people’s inner disturbance. He combines an unlikely pairing of psychobabble, rock lyricism, and leftist idolatry to ‘help’ the reader understand that shrinks are the only ones who can really understand war and its unfortunate sequela—PTSD. The author intimates that WAR (as though it is a person) makes the decisions and calls the shots that leaves shattered minds. If we could just avoid war, we could just avoid PTSD. Sounds simple. But it ain’t.
Take his example case, ART–who is a stereotypical hard-assed biker type who supposedly was at Khe Sanh in 1968. He describes “mowing down” Vietnamese by the hundreds as a machine gunner, but they keep coming. He believes his soul left his body. The wise shrink says aha! And starts talking to Art’s separated soul as if it were a real entity and coaxes it back into Art–because Art is surely been ’scared out of his mind.’ The whole biker facade is proof positive that ART, the 19-something kid—has no ability to cope with death, dying, and the realities of war. So the shrink, like SUPERMAN must come to the rescue.
Never does the reader question ART and his possible motives for his antics and even his memories. Just how many Marines WERE at Khe Sanh? Could Art have really been there? Was he REALLY a Marine with PTSD and why, exactly would he see an outside shrink when the VA has him already rated for a 50% disability for the disorder and he can obtain help from them for free?
Nor does the reader question why a Mental Health “Expert” is diving into healing a man’s “soul.” How much about the soul, the spirit, the religiosity or the belief system of a man who says his soul has vacated the building really offer someone in spiritual distress? Is this mental health expert cross trained as a chaplain? Has he explored ways to help someone regain that equilibrium and be restored to full health in body, mind, AND soul? Since when did shrinks go to Divinity School?
I have no doubt that PTSD is a serious condition and that it can alter the life course of individuals who go to war or experience trauma in their lives. But why go to a shrink to get your spirit aligned? Shouldn’t one go to a spiritual advisor, a rabbi, priest or minister who can listen and try to understand (and last I checked were far less expensive than psychiatrists)? To cure ART, a good practitioner would listen and validate Art from the get-go. Not everyone who claimed to be at Khe Sanh was REALLY there. Many people who portray Veterans (especially Vietnam Vets) are really role playing or fabricating their experinces— and were never near combat at all, let alone have such horrific experiences. However, once the ‘patient’s’ story can be confirmed, the putting together of a person again into a ‘whole’ being might certainly include psychiatric/psychological care, but for work on the ’soul,’ I don’t think Art needed to look any further than a few blocks from wherever he parks his Harley for help. So exactly WHY would this case be seen by this practitioner and exactly how might this practitioner really help this poor person get whatever he really wants or needs? Does Art just want to relive his experience to anyone who will listen? Does he want more recogniton? Is he wanting a pharmacure and hopes the good doctor will provide him with some other concoctions that he can use or sell to his friends–after all, shrinks notoriously like to throw medicines at people. Or does Art want simple human understanding and the local bartender doesn’t want to hear about some dried up old Vietnam Vet when he has brand new Iraq war Vets to listen to? Or more probably than not, does Art want to increase that 50% VA (which comes with some small monetary compensation) rating to 80 or 90% (which comes with several thousand dollars a month)?. I think there might be a secondary gain that the good doctor is too blind to see.
I know about PTSD. I have lived with it for 39 years now. I have seen it at home and at work. My husband does have combat related PTSD. He did suffer for 34 years and did need some help. But most REAL Vietnam Vets who might fit the mold are far from the biker persona that this ‘expert’ describes. My husband is a boy-next-store type. He treats people with respect and is a hard worker. He looks more like one of the beach boys in their prime than a hard nosed ‘Veteran from hell.’ He sports no tatoos and does not wear dusty leather or hats with a million pins extolling his adventures in Vietnam. And unlike Art, he sought help and understanding from others in Sunday morning Adult Education Classes and tried hard to regain what had been corrupted in worship. But because the pastor didn’t understand his needs as basically spiritual, he got no help from religious organizations at all. I suggest the author needs to educate clergy about this issue, not combat related PTSD victims and their families. Clergy, family, friends, and co-workers are the ones to most often hear and see combat-related PTSD manifested in people they know. social and spiritual support are what is needed. Not another lecture from someone who has never been through a human tidal wave or seen atrocity about what it can do to you. Most often, veterans help cure each other.
I also have to share this experience of my own. I went to a Vietnam War Veteran’s reunion with my husband when he FINALLY began getting help for the PTSD and would face some of his own memories and talk to others he served with. During the course of this three day reunion, I got out of bed in the middle of the night and fell over a suitcase, breaking my upper arm. We drove to a nearby clinic the next morning and the doctor did a few x-rays and confirmed the break. He’d been called in just to see me, and HE, the doctor, was wearing black leather and had long hair in a pony-tail. When he was taking down my history, I mentioned that my husband was a Vietnam Veteran (he was sitting in the waiting room) and immediately the doctor jumped to the conclusion that my husband must have broken my arm in a fit of violent rage! It took another 30 minutes of explaining by both of us that he did not harm me. And then we wonder why Veterans get and harbor PTSD. No social support what-so-ever and the mindset of people who should no better that folks who’ve seen combat must ALWAYS be violent or somehow ready to explode. That is called victimization, folks. And because those with PTSD are painted as tainted victims by almost everyone, they melt away, they usually prefer to suffer in silence, rather than admit they have a problem.
5 Stars A++ Survival Guide for Those who have Endured High Stress Trauma
What a fantastic book! I have nothing but thanks and praise for the authors, Laurie B. Sloan, PhD and Matthew J Friedman, MD, PhD for this excellent resource guide. Not only can this book be applied to those returning home from combat with the military, but also to those who are suffering the traumatic effects of severe accidents, natural and unnatural catastrophes, sexual trauma, and even incarceration- situations that may alter perception and threaten the person’s view of the world.
I hear what you’re saying…how dare I compare the trauma of those in jail to those in combat? I have seen situations in which young men became involved with bad choices and were sent away for a year to “straighten them out”…and it was so traumatizing that they are suffering PTSD, panic attacks and depression, with no sympathizers or help available. This book is a lifesaver.
The authors hone in on exact situations regarding the challenges of deployment, from the emotional cycle of pre-deployment, to the images we all have of the return; how the expectations are different on both sides. They explain the differences in mindset necessary to deal with being in battle, vs. the mindset needed by those running a household at home (while providing support to the one who is away). They explore the emotions involved - guilt, anger, grief, isolation, etc. - with superb explanations of situations that can cause these emotions, and why it is so difficult to adjust to life after homecoming.
Stressful situations may leave their mark via post traumatic stress disorder, unresolved anger, adrenaline rush, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and more. They discuss various treatments to alleviate these disorders, with a practical assessment of how effective each may be. Discussions about stigmas that get in the way of seeking treatment offer practical recommendations for solving these dilemmas. A resource guide is provided at the back of the book listing advocacy and support groups for assistance.
This book is really a valuable resource. It should be read by every authority in the military organization, as well as military families. Also by families dealing with accident victims in their households, those who have suffered sexual abuse or physical abuse, Probation Officers and counselors who are helping parolees to weave back into society successfully. To the authors: I suspect your work has saved more than a few lives, and I thank you for your efforts.
Filed under: Mental Health Book Reviews