HELPING MILITARY CLIENTS USE RELAXATION TO MANAGE STRESS
By Heidi J. Bauer, MSW, LCSW Relaxation to reduce anxiety is a therapeutic tool I’ve used since the mid 1990’s. Evidence shows that using relaxation daily for a few weeks prior to a stressful event can lower a person’s baseline anxiety level so the stressful event isn’t as intense. Relaxation helps slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce the level of stress hormones. It also helps a person focus and concentrate, as well as improve sleep. As a therapist and spouse of a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, I became curious about how the military prepared service members to manage stress and other mental health issues prior to deployment in a combat zone. Initially, I was confident that the military would not put service members in harm’s way, knowing they may have difficulties adjusting to their experiences, without providing some form of training to manage stress. I discovered that, despite many outstanding initiatives taken by the military to reduce the impact of combat on service member’s psychological health, there wasn’t adequate pre-deployment instruction about managing stress. During the same period, I was using relaxation in my practice with service members who had returned home with a variety of issues. Encouraged by the positive response of my military clients, I developed relaxation exercises specifically for service members using familiar language and concepts. With the support and encouragement of the Commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, this project began. One thing led to another, and last year I was invited to record Chills Drills: Relaxing Your Body and Mind as an audio resource for Military OneSource. Unfortunately, it wasn’t completed and available to service members in time for the largest deployment in Wisconsin’s military history, but my hope is that it will become a useful tool for all military commands and for individual service members as they prepare to deploy. THE EXERCISESChill Drills is a collection of four relaxation exercises, each with its own purpose. - Tuning in is a progressive muscle relaxation exercise. It focuses on tensing and releasing muscles throughout the body. In my professional experience, I discovered that men tend to respond particularly well to this type of relaxation.
- Releasing stress is a grounding exercise focusing more on specific areas in the body and feeling safe and free of emotional stress. This exercise tends to be more appealing to women.
- Easing back pain focuses on fatigue and replenishing the body. Service members tend to carry most of their tension in their back while they are deployed.
- Getting to sleep is an exercise for people who have difficulty sleeping or whose sleep cycle is frequently disrupted. I have received the most positive feedback on this exercise. Ideally, service members will be introduced to Chill Drills as they prepare for deployment, and they will continue to use the drills long after they return home. But my primary goal has been to provide service members as well as their families with a tool that can help them reduce anxiety before, during, and after deployment.
Heidi J. Bauer, MSW, LCSW, is a clinical therapist with Franciscan Skemp Healthcare at the Lake Tomah Clinic, in Tomah, Wisconsin. She specializes in working with the military and their families, and people with anxiety disorders or trauma. She is EMDR trained. Mrs. Bauer has provided training for the National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin Chapter (available for home-study CEUs) on “Working with The Military and Their Families During a Time of War.” She is a member of the Inter-Service Family Assistance Committee, a networking group of professional organizations that support military life, and an Army Family Team Building Instructor/volunteer for the Wisconsin National Guard. SUGGESTIONS FOR AFFILIATE PROVIDERSI am pleased to know that affiliate providers have access to Chill Drills. Relaxation is one of many ways to help clients cope with stress and keep anxiety at a minimum. I recommend encouraging your military clients to become familiar with this audio and order it through Military OneSource. Keep in mind that Chill Drills is not meant for children. And be sure to remind your clients that the audio should never be used while driving a vehicle. MILITARY ONESOURCE’S CHILL DRILLS PLAYAWAY® AUDIOChill Drills: Relaxing Your Body and Mind is available, free of charge, to service members and military family members in the small, self-contained Playaway® format. It allows the drills to be listened to during deployment or just about anywhere without the need for external electricity, MP3 players, or other devices. The Playaway® is smaller than a deck of cards and can be easily slipped into a pocket or purse. Users may also download the Chill Drills to their own computer or listening device. You can order or download the audio by going to www.MilitaryOneSource.com/chilldrills or by calling 1-800-342-9647. IMPORTANT UPDATE ON SUBMITTING CASE-CLOSURE FORMSAs part of the transition to the new Military OneSource contract, we’ve created an additional way for providers to submit their case closure forms. You may now submit forms for Military OneSource cases via a medical transcription service, Sten-Tel. This service is to be used only if you don’t have Internet access to submit case closure forms using the Provider Portal (www.CeridianProviderSolutions.com) and you don’t have the ability to fax them to 800-238-3650. Please be advised that from now on the medical transcription service has replaced the U.S. Mail for military case closure submission only. If you have questions or need additional information about using the service, please call Military OneSource at 1-888-367-2289. A recorded message will provide detailed information including how to contact Sten-Tel directly. Remember, case closure forms are required to be submitted within three business days of the final session for all military cases. PROVIDER TIP: NEW INVOICING PROCEDURESBeginning January 4, your invoices must be submitted by Fax to 800-238-3650 or through the Provider Portal at www.CeridianProviderSolutions.com. If you only have mailing capability, Ceridian has a new mailing address to be used for invoices and case-closure form submissions: Ceridian Corporation ATTN: AP/PNS LifeWorks P.O. Box 534056 St Petersburg, FL 33747-4056 Be sure to use our new invoice form, which is available to download in Word or PDF formats. Go to www.ceridian.com/myceridian/freedom/section/1,3231,11106,00.html. On this page, you’ll also be able to download the EAP Provider Guide and Military OneSource Addendum, which outline all processes and procedures for providers. |
