Tag Archives: PTSD

Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio Welcomes Sallie Culbreth, Patricia Lee Stotter, and BriGette McCoy February 27th

SallieHS2013Sallie Culbreth is the founder of Committed to Freedom – a non-profit organization that facilitates holistic empowerment and spiritual tools to help people move beyond abuse, exploitation, and sexual trauma, and provides adjunct services to helping professionals, agencies, and faith communities working with those who want to include spiritual concerns in their abuse recovery process. Her work and writings come from her personal experience of childhood sexual abuse and recovery. She holds a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministries and a master’s degree in mental health counseling studies. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, American Association of Christian Counselors, and has received training in Critical Incidence Stress Management. She has authored several books and self-help workbooks and writes a weekly blog, Roadside Assistance.

Patricia_Stotter An Emmy Award winning composer and writer, Patricia Lee Stotter lends her tremendous talents in TV, film and social media to furthering awareness of PTSD and Veteran reintegration struggles. Stotter first became interested in Veteran issues while working on a theatre testimonial project that discussed suicide rates among Vietnam Veterans. She has since worked to bring awareness to Veteran issues through True Rep, a repertory company that explores trauma and resilience through testimonial theatre and film, and fosters collaboration among actors, writers and humane service organizations. Her recent documentary, Service: When Women Come Marching Home, highlights challenges facing female Veterans as they transition from active duty to civilian life. For more, visit http://servicethefilm.com/index.php

brigette_mccoy BriGette McCoy served in the US Army from 1987 to 1991 and became an E4, communications specialist with top secret clearance. Since leaving the service she has had a variety of jobs including medical claims processor, insurance underwriter, bank card specialist and mortgage originator. Suffering from a back injury incurred while in the army and from the hidden disability of MST that got so out of control she lost my job and her house and ended up homeless with two children. She couldn’t get help until she understood what was wrong and that didn’t happen until she found the website VETS WOW. Through the women vets she met on line, she learned about MST and PTSD and with their support, was able to seek help at the VA.

This week we are busy promoting our upcoming event in Hot Springs, Arkansas that will take place on March 7th. Harvesting Happiness for Heroes, Committed to Freedom, and Service, the film, When Women Coming Marching Home are hitting the airwaves and Social Media to raise awareness about Military Sexual Trauma and Assault perpetrated from within the US Military. The funds raised at this event will be reinvested within the state of Arkansas to provide workshops jointly facilitated by HH4Heroes and CTF for Servicewomen challenged by MST/MSA and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). I want to encourage you to be part of this revolutionary new program in many ways by getting the word out, attending the screening of SERVICE if you are local or making a small donation that will underwrite a woman Vet in need of healing. To learn more about these issues and what we are up to take a look at my recent blog posting in the Huffington Post.

Service_the_film_logo

 Find your Happiness with Lisa Cypers Kamen every Wednesday at 9 am PST/12 pm EST on www.toginet.com/shows/harvestinghappiness ! For more information, visit Lisa’s websites, www.hh4heroes.orgwww.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com , and http://harvestinghappiness.com

Leave a Comment

Filed under Finding Inspiration, Finding Success, Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, Helping military personnel, HH4Heroes.com, Inner harmony, Lisa Cypers Kamen, PTSD, Reintegrating military personnel, Resources for military families, Veterans, Well Being

Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio Welcomes Sarah Steffen and Shanna McCord January 23rd

SteffenSarah 005 WebsizeSarah Steffen is the Marketing Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity for San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys. She attended San Diego State University and interned for the San Diego State Marketing and Communications Department, working on news and profile stories. She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis in Media Studies and a minor in English. She enjoys doing what she loves while giving back and advocating for the community.

Shanna_McCordShanna McCord  is currently a Journalist for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has been a television and newspaper reporter for 17 years and covered military issues while working in Yuma, AZ. She will  share with us a fantastic article she wrote about a man, Dr. Peter Linnerooth,  who took his own life after a long time battle with PTSD.

Find your Happiness with Lisa Cypers Kamen every Wednesday at 9 am PST/12 pm EST on www.toginet.com/shows/harvestinghappiness ! For more information, visit Lisa’s websites, www.hh4heroes.orgwww.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com , and http://harvestinghappiness.com

Leave a Comment

Filed under Finding Inspiration, Finding Success, Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, Helping military personnel, Human Potential, military psyche, PTSD, Reintegrating military personnel, Resources for military families, Sharing Kindness, Spreading Kindness, Veterans

It’s Time to Stand Up Against Military Suicides by Lisa Cypers-Kamen

By Lisa Cypers-Kamen

This article discussing standing up to military suicides is a reposting of Lisa Cypers Kamen’s blog that first appeared in the Huffington Post on 10/04/2012.

On September 27, the U.S. Army put its time-sensitive, high-priority duties aside to educate our troops about one issue. It wasn’t the latest terrorism threat. It wasn’t the upcoming election. It wasn’t a new strategy for the Afghanistan War. This unprecedented stand-down was to educate the military about the record suicide rate among our active-duty troops.

With the heartbreaking suicide stories accumulating at an alarming rate, it’s time to follow in the army’s footsteps. There’s never been a more critical time to switch our smartphones to airplane mode, log off Facebook, and stage our own suicide stand-down. It starts right here, right now.

We all know that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have spurred a troubling number of suicides among active military personnel and veterans. Some estimates show that veterans, about 1 percent of the population, now account for about 20 percent of all U.S. suicides. One U.S. troop member commits suicide each day. And a new report states July 2012 was the worst month for active-duty suicides yet, pushing the 2012 military suicide tally, 187 (and counting) as of August, over last year’s 167. These suicides are almost always the result of untreated PTSD.

Georgetown University philosophy professor Nancy Sherman has been one of the most outspoken voices arguing for more action against PTSD and other non-physical wounds that drive this suicide rate. As the emotional and moral stresses of war pile up, Sherman says, this trauma manifests itself as moral injuries that endure long after a military member’s tour of duty. The most pervasive of these moral injuries is PTSD. Numerous studies have found a link between Veteran PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and increased risk of suicide, and my experience providing PTSD treatment for veterans supports this research. I have heard countless warriors express their overwhelming guilt and frustration at their inability to re-engage in civilian life. When untreated, these deep emotional scars quickly develop into severe depression and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.

With 300,000 of our Iraq and Afghanistan war troops plagued by PTSD, treatment for this epidemic should be the cornerstone of our military suicide training. Now is the time to stand up against military suicides by providing our veterans with the support they need to survive the tough transition from battlefield to civilian life.

Lisa Cypers-Kamen

1.310.273.5300

www.HH4Heroes.org

www.HarvestingHappiness.com

www.HarvestingHappinessTalkRadio.com

Happiness Is An Inside Job!

Like me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Nothing gives happiness like a FREE GIFT!

Harvesting Happiness & Harvesting Happiness for Heroes provides positive psychology coaching tools to facilitate greater well-being. This communication is provided for education and inspiration. This communication does not constitute mental health treatment nor is it indicative of a private therapeutic relationship. Individuals desiring help for trauma, addiction and abuse related issues or other psychological concerns should seek out a mental health professional.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Delivering Happiness, Grateful Nation, Helping military personnel, military psyche, PTSD

One Humanitarian Crisis You Haven’t Donated To by Lisa Cypers-Kamen

By Lisa Cypers-Kamen

This is a reposting of Lisa Cypers Kamen’s article that first appeared in the Huffington Post on 9/27/2012.

Support for the Afghanistan War has hit rock bottom. In a May Associated Press poll, an overwhelming 66 percent of Americans disapproved of the war, with only 27 percent giving our Afghanistan conflict a stamp of approval. But whether we like the war or not, the troops fighting on behalf of America need our support. Our veterans are facing an unprecedented crisis in the form of PTSD, and this humanitarian issue has nothing to do with politics.

 

As many as one-fifth of the 2.6 million veterans deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq since 2011 battle PTSD, an anxiety disorder characterized by painful flashbacks and nightmares triggered without notice. As the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs struggle to provide veterans with access to treatment services, many warriors and their families are left to suffer through the daily pain of PTSD alone.

 

Wars are often controversial, but we haven’t seen this little public support for a conflict since the most protested years of the Vietnam War. And it seems that we’ve let our negative view of the war taint our view of the veterans fighting it just when they need our help.

 

When aid levels are low and need levels are high during a humanitarian crisis, Americans have a proven track record of generosity. Our donations flood in when our community nonprofits face critically low funding. We support communities during natural disasters whether they are domestic or international. When the devastating earthquake shook Haiti in 2010, American celebrities, politicians, community leaders and individuals from all sides of the political spectrum joined forces in an unprecedented aid campaign that raised $1.3 billion for the island nation. That humanitarian effort was all about the people; no matter our opinion of Haiti, we all gave what we had to help its communities thrive again.

 

Our community of veterans is facing its own humanitarian crisis: PTSD. With so many of our warriors struggling daily to overcome this debilitating condition, veterans need our support more than ever. It’s time to put politics aside and build a veterans aid movement from the ground level up.

 

Want to help but not sure how? My organization Harvesting Happiness 4 Heroes is just one of many community-based nonprofits providing stigma-free treatment for Veterans and their families. Visit our website to learn more.

Lisa Cypers-Kamen

1.310.273.5300

www.HH4Heroes.org

www.HarvestingHappiness.com

www.HarvestingHappinessTalkRadio.com

Happiness Is An Inside Job!

Like me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Nothing gives happiness like a FREE GIFT!

Harvesting Happiness & Harvesting Happiness for Heroes provides positive psychology coaching tools to facilitate greater well-being. This communication is provided for education and inspiration. This communication does not constitute mental health treatment nor is it indicative of a private therapeutic relationship. Individuals desiring help for trauma, addiction and abuse related issues or other psychological concerns should seek out a mental health professional.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Grateful Nation, Helping military personnel, military psyche, PTSD, Veterans

PTSD — The IED That Awaits War Veterans at Home, by Lisa Cypers-Kamen

By Lisa Cypers-Kamen

This is a reposting of Lisa Cypers Kamen’s blog that first appeared in the Huffington Post on 9/19/2012.

Veterans returning from war can breathe a sigh of relief that the immediate, daily dangers of combat are behind them. But long after they step off the battlefield, our country’s warriors continue to fight a silent war that leaves invisible wounds just as painful as the physical ones endured during combat. Meet the emotional Improvised Explosive Device (IED) known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although many of our veterans endure the fallout of this silent bomb on a daily basis, most of us would hardly be able to recognize it.

 

Given that as many as one-third of returning Iraq War veterans are battling PTSD or depression as you read this post, it’s time to clear up the widespread misunderstanding about what this stress disorder is and what it is not. First, what it isn’t: PTSD is not a fabricated condition, and it’s not a bout of the blues that can be worked out in a counseling session or two. Further, it’s not a disorder that only affects veterans who have seen the worst of the worst. PTSD is prevalent, painful and persistent.

 

PTSD is an IED planted in the landscape of our veterans’ hearts and minds, triggering harm without a moment’s warning. Just as an IED destroys everything within a few miles’ radius, PTSD affects all aspects of a veteran’s life, often taking family and friends as extended casualties of this silent, invisible war. When the aggressor is PTSD, little escapes undamaged, whether we can see it or not.

 

If we can’t see PTSD, then how can we identify it? Understanding how it affects our veterans is a good starting point. The re-experiencing symptoms of PTSD are probably what you’ve heard of before: flashbacks and vivid nightmares of horrific war scenes, which can be triggered by even the smallest reminder of the atrocities of battle. PTSD also spurs avoidance symptoms, which cause a warrior to stay away from places, events or objects that remind him or her of painful experiences. The avoidance and re-experiencing aspects cause serious emotional issues that plague our veterans as they struggle to transition into civilian life: guilt, depression, emotional numbness, constant fear, and overwhelming tension that can make tasks as simple as eating and sleeping incredibly difficult.

 

The first step in combating PTSD is to raise awareness about this crucial issue affecting our veterans. Harvesting Happiness 4 Heroes carries out that mission everyday by offering free, stigma-free comprehensive services for returning warriors and their families, and by educating the public on the true costs of PTSD. It’s a battle we should all be fighting alongside our veterans.

Lisa Cypers-Kamen

1.310.273.5300

www.HH4Heroes.org

www.HarvestingHappiness.com

www.HarvestingHappinessTalkRadio.com

Happiness Is An Inside Job!

Like me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Nothing gives happiness like a FREE GIFT!

Harvesting Happiness & Harvesting Happiness for Heroes provides positive psychology coaching tools to facilitate greater well-being. This communication is provided for education and inspiration. This communication does not constitute mental health treatment nor is it indicative of a private therapeutic relationship. Individuals desiring help for trauma, addiction and abuse related issues or other psychological concerns should seek out a mental health professional.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Grateful Nation, Helping military personnel, military psyche, PTSD, Veterans

Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio Welcomes Martin Papazian, Michele Rosenthal, Jenny Andrews, and Debbie Gregory September 19th

Martin Papazian is an actor, writer, and director of feature films. Previously, Martin  directed the award winning short film IN THE WIND, about a soldier’s return to a Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. As an actor, Martin burst onto the screen in Universal Picture’s, JARHEAD, THE BURNING PLAIN, and THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. On the small screen you may have seen him featured in 24, Lie To Me, CSI:NY, DEXTER, amongst others.

LEAST AMONG SAINTS marks his debut as a feature director and writer. Inspired by true events, the story centers on a man’s quest for redemption through his compassion and service to an orphaned boy. The film will be released theatrically September 21st, 2012 in Los Angles, New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C. For more information visit : http://leastamongsaints.com/

Michele Rosenthal inspires trauma survivors to overcome depression, anxiety, and fear so that they may build lives full of freedom, meaning, purpose, and joy. A survivor herself, Michele shares her story as a keynote speaker, post-trauma coach, award-winning blogger, poet, author, radio show host, and founder of www.healmyptsd.com, Michele’s trauma recovery memoir, Before the World Intruded: Conquering the Past and Creating the Future, was released in April 2012. For more information visit: www.YourLifeAfterTrauma.com

Jenny Andrews is one of the founders and the Program Director of Not Alone which provides programs, resources, and services to warriors and families impacted by combat stress and PTSD through a confidential and anonymous community. Through this course, veterans learn to use the strengths gained in service, to transition from the military culture to the civilian workplace culture. For more information visit: www.NotAlone.com

As both the CEO of MilitaryConnection.com and the founder of the Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA), Debbie Gregory covers all the bases when it comes to serving the needs of Military and Veteran Communities. MilitaryConnection.com, one of the most popular websites on the Internet for active military, veterans and their families, is referred to as The Go to Site for jobs, benefits, news, and information regarding education benefits. For more, visit www.MilitaryConnection.com

Find your Happiness with Lisa Cypers Kamen every Wednesday at 9 am PST/12 pm EST on www.toginet.com/shows/harvestinghappiness ! For more information, visit Lisa’s websites, www.hh4heroes.orgwww.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com , and http://harvestinghappiness.com

Leave a Comment

Filed under Finding Inspiration, Finding Success, Forgiveness, Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, Helping military personnel, HH4Heroes.com, Human Potential, Inner harmony, Lisa Cypers Kamen, military psyche, PTSD, Reintegrating military personnel, Veterans

Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio Welcomes Jerry Yellin and Debbie Gregory July 18th

Jerry Yellin, a distinguished veteran of World War II, is the author of “The Resilient Warrior,” and co-chair of the David Lynch Foundation’s new program, Operation Warrior Wellness, which offers Transcendental Meditation to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Jerry is also the author of “Of War and Weddings,” published in 1995, which has been published in English and Japanese. He is co-founder of LISCO/LTDS, an Internet provider and telephone company in Fairfield, Iowa.

Struggling with the effects of traumatic stress in the aftermath of World War II, Jerry found himself unable to enjoy life: “I couldn’t find any contentment, any reason to succeed, any connection to anyone that had meaning or value.” It wasn’t until he learned the Transcendental Meditation technique in the mid-70’s that Jerry was able to find relief. He described the impact of the technique on his life: “My anger and restlessness began to dissipate, and a calmness that I never knew became apparent.” Operation Warrior Wellness was born of this life-changing experience. He and Helene have been married for 59 years, have four sons and six grandchildren. http://www.operationwarriorwellness.org/

Debbie Gregory, Military Connection, MilitaryConnection.com, directory of military resources, help for military families, military loans, veterans assistance, resources for veterans, Lisa Kamen, Lisa Cypers Kamen, Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness For Heroes, HH4Heroes.org, Harvesting Happiness Talk RadioAs both the CEO of MilitaryConnection.com and the founder of the Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA), Debbie Gregory covers all the bases when it comes to serving the needs of Military and Veteran Communities. MilitaryConnection.com, one of the most popular websites on the Internet for active military, veterans and their families, is referred to as The Go to Site for jobs, benefits, news, and information regarding education benefits. For more, visit www.MilitaryConnection.com

Find your Happiness with Lisa Cypers Kamen every Wednesday at 9 am PST/12 pm EST on www.toginet.com/shows/harvestinghappiness ! For more information, visit Lisa’s websites, www.hh4heroes.orgwww.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com , and http://harvestinghappiness.com

2 Comments

Filed under Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, Helping military personnel, Human Potential, PTSD, Reintegrating military personnel, Resources for military families, Veterans

Happiness Video: Welcome to Happiness by Lisa Cypers Kamen, Harvesting Happiness

by Lisa Cypers Kamen, Harvesting Happiness

Harvesting Happiness is pleased to offer Welcome to Happiness which is just one of over 30 interesting and insightful videos on the subject of happiness.  Do you want great information to help you create your own happiness and find the happiness in your own life? If you have trouble viewing the video below click here

Welcome to Happiness to be taken directly to the video page on Harvesting Happiness.

Like what you see? Click here to view more videos on Happiness.

Nothing gives happiness life a free gift. Receive your complimentary eBook, Got Happiness Now? Click here for your free copy.

Cultivate a happier life by tuning in weekly click here  to hear Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio which airs Wednesdays at 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST. or download the shows for free at Itunes by clicking here.

To contact Lisa, email her directly at lisa@harvestinghappiness.com and check out her websites at HarvestingHappiness. This video series is offered for informational purposed and is not intended to take the place of a licensed professional. For more information about PTSD, Combat Stress and Military Workshops click on Harvesting Happiness for Heroes.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Finding Inspiration, Finding Success, Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, Helping military personnel, HH4Heroes.com, Inner harmony, Reintegrating military personnel, Uncategorized, Well Being

Happiness Video: Why Do I Do This by Lisa Cypers Kamen, Harvesting Happiness

by Lisa Cypers Kamen, Harvesting Happiness

 

Harvesting Happiness is pleased to offer Why Do I Do This which is just one of over 30 interesting and insightful videos on the subject of happiness.  Do you want great information to help you create your own happiness and find the happiness in your own life? If you have trouble viewing the video below click here Why Do I Do This

to be taken directly to the video page on Harvesting Happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like what you see? Click here to view more videos on Happiness.

 

Nothing gives happiness life a free gift. Receive your complimentary eBook, Got Happiness Now? Click here for your free copy.

 

Cultivate a happier life by tuning in weekly click here  to hear Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio which airs Wednesdays at 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST. or download the shows for free at Itunes by clicking here.

 

To contact Lisa, email her directly at lisa@harvestinghappiness.com and check out her websites at HarvestingHappiness. This video series is offered for informational purposed and is not intended to take the place of a licensed professional. For more information about PTSD, Combat Stress and Military Workshops click on Harvesting Happiness for Heroes.

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Finding Inspiration, Finding Success, Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, Helping military personnel, HH4Heroes.com, Inner harmony, Reintegrating military personnel, Uncategorized, Well Being

Happiness Video: Transcend Unhappiness by Lisa Cypers Kamen, Harvesting Happiness

by Lisa Cypers Kamen, Harvesting Happiness

 

Harvesting Happiness is pleased to offer Transcend Unhappiness which is just one of over 30 interesting and insightful videos on the subject of happiness.  Do you want great information to help you create your own happiness and find the happiness in your own life? If you have trouble viewing the video below click here Transcend Unhappiness

to be taken directly to the video page on Harvesting Happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like what you see? Click here to view more videos on Happiness.

 

Nothing gives happiness life a free gift. Receive your complimentary eBook, Got Happiness Now? Click here for your free copy.

 

Cultivate a happier life by tuning in weekly click here  to hear Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio which airs Wednesdays at 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST. or download the shows for free at Itunes by clicking here.

 

To contact Lisa, email her directly at lisa@harvestinghappiness.com and check out her websites at HarvestingHappiness. This video series is offered for informational purposed and is not intended to take the place of a licensed professional. For more information about PTSD, Combat Stress and Military Workshops click on Harvesting Happiness for Heroes.

 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Finding Inspiration, Finding Success, Harvesting Happiness, Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, Helping military personnel, HH4Heroes.com, Inner harmony, Reintegrating military personnel, Uncategorized, Well Being