Spiritual Warrior

I strongly endorse this film for all those who are a part of the military community, or have a combat veteran in their lives. It is a moving, and at times, tense and sacred treatment on the subject of PTSD and other medical conditions from war.

The lead actor, director and film maker Christopher Martini created an emotionally moving story that sheds some focus on what some returning veterans have been going through.

I first saw this film when it was having a test screening in Orlando, Florida a number of years ago. It was being shown to a group of us authors attending The Military Writers of America Conference. So, we got to see it before the final editing was done and give input.

There was an almost mystical exchange between Chris and I at the event, after I gave him some feedback and made some suggestions on how to interject some elements of "HOPE" into his film.
*In the coming weeks I am going to link a video here that will tell about that experience and will give you the fuller story.

Meanwhile you can buy this great movie on a DVD for your use, or for your organization.  Here is a link to the Trailer on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTE-NG7BBhQ&t=2s

Links to Interview on Huffington Post with Christopher Martini.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-kors/chris-martini-director-of_b_6702050.html

The film is available at –

Amazon (DVD) (Overwhelmingly positive reviews from veterans):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZ5BM8V/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541447893&sr=8-3&keywords=Trooper+Martini

Amazon (Streaming):

https://www.amazon.com/Trooper-Christopher-Martini/product-reviews/B00UMB2SLG/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

Vimeo On Demand:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/trooper

Facebook (DVD):

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/products/1928639240524159/?__tn__=HHH-R 

https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Medicine-Wheel-Healing-Ptsd/dp/1937462323/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1544993171&sr=1-1&keywords=walking+the+medicine+wheel

By: David R. Kopacz MD & Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow)
Psychiatrist and holistic & integrative physician, David Kopacz, and Native American Visionary, Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow), create a healing path to help our veterans suffering trauma and PTSD to come home. Even when out of the war zone, combat-readiness persists in the veterans' nervous system. This book uses the circular pathway of the medicine wheel to re-train the nervous system.

Rather than viewing trauma, obstacles and disappointments as negatives, the medicine wheel offers a way of transforming these events into opportunities for initiation. Walking the medicine wheel is walking a spiritual path - integrating body-emotion-mind-spirit, within the circle of the four directions. The book provides practical exercises of guided imagery and ceremony to help returning veterans feel they have a purpose and have something, not only of value, but, of critical importance to give to their families and their communities.

I said the following inside the covers of this book for an endorsement:
"Best book available for real PTSD healing! PTSD is attacked and defeated by using old wisdom and new mythologies together. Reading this book will give the veterans , their families, and those who treat them a new tool for healing. Old wisdom made new for today's warriors! "

I stand by those same words and endorsement today - which I wrote in 2016. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR TREATING VETERANS WITH PTSD!
And for those veterans reading this book on their own - they can also get some value out of it and gain a better understanding of their own healing process. 

If you are a Service member or Veteran in crisis or you’re concerned about one, there are specially trained responders ready to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as their family members and friends, with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text-messaging service.

• Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone.
• Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder.
• Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
• Take a self-check quiz at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Quiz to learn whether stress and depression might be affecting you.
• Find a VA facility near you.
• Visit MilitaryCrisisLine.net if you are an active duty Service member, Guardsman, or Reservist.
• Connect through chat, text, or TTY if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

We can all help prevent suicide, but many people don’t know how to support the Veteran or Service member in their life who is going through a difficult time. A simple act of kindness can help so

HOW TO CONNECT WITH A RESPONDER

1-800-273-8255

and Press 1

Connect online

1-800-799-4889

Military sexual trauma (MST) is the term that the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to refer to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred while the Veteran was in the military. It includes any sexual activity in which one is involved against one’s will – he or she may have been pressured into sexual activities (for example, with threats of negative consequences for refusing to be sexually cooperative or with implied faster promotions or better treatment in exchange for sex), may have been unable to consent to sexual activities (for example, when intoxicated), or may have been physically forced into sexual activities. Other experiences that fall into the category of MST include unwanted sexual touching or grabbing; threatening, offensive remarks about a person’s body or sexual activities; and/or threatening or unwelcome sexual advances.

Both women and men can experience MST during their service. All Veterans seen at Veterans Health Administration facilities are asked about experiences of sexual trauma because we know that any type of trauma can affect a person’s physical and mental health, even many years later. We also know that people can recover from trauma. VA has free services to help Veterans do this. You do not need to have a VA disability rating (i.e., “service connected”) to receive these services and may be able to receive services even if you are not eligible for other VA care. You do not need to have reported the incident(s) when they happened or have other documentation that they occurred.

This website has information about the health care services that VA has available for Veterans who experienced MST. For information about VA disability compensation for conditions related to MST, please view this fact sheet about Disability Compensation for Personal Assault or Military Sexual Trauma.

This short video provides information about the types of incidents that constitute MST, the effects of MST on survivors and the services available to Veterans who have experienced MST:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=b9snig5gZfk

https://www.amazon.com/ER-Soul-Veterans-Stories-Healing-ebook/product-reviews/B00BIXXCHQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btmie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

By Donna j. Arz, PHD.

Wonderful resource for military families and PTSD veterans. Gives good hopeful and loving advice and stories of healing.

http://deploycare.org/
DeployCare was established to offer understanding and support to our service members and their families before, during, and after deployments.

They have worked to compile necessary resources as well as research solutions to many of the challenges associated with military deployments.

Their team is composed of veterans and their spouses who have experienced many of the issues that arise when there is not adequate support when needed. They are mothers, fathers, husbands, and wives.

They know that the effects of deployments do not end when your loved one finally gets to come home.

Please contact them if there is anything they can do to assist you. If they don’t know an answer to your questions, they will find it. It is their mission.