Post traumatic Stress Disorder - Combat and Non-combat

Are you feeling tense and discouraged or afraid you can’t cope? You might be struggling with post traumatic stress disorder. You might also find it so hard to relieve repetitive memories or nightmares that you try not to think about but can’t seem to shut off. When you feel this way you might respond in guarded or defensive ways or you might find yourself jumpy or edgy and might not even understand why. Often times our family or friends might notice the difference in behaviors. Stress is a normal feeling when we experience situational life crisis such as divorce, marriage, births, deaths or starting or ending a job. This stress can be amplified to unbelievable levels coming from a combat related environment or experience.

Many veterans experience:
  • Bouts of anger
  • Muscle tension
  • Head and stomach aches
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Restlessness
  • Sleep problems
  • Relationship problems
  • Thoughts of Suicide
  • Chemical dependency or alcohol abuse
These are responses to painful feelings and memories. The frustration, nervousness, anger and anxiety can be overwhelming and debilitating. Stress is draining and can wear down your body, mind and spirit.

Finding your way out of this cycle can seem hopeless and impossible. If these symptoms sound like some of the things you have been feeling and you can’t seem to get through it, we can help. Alta Mira Treatment Programs can help you overcome the hurtles that are impairing your life and help you live the life you were meant to live.

Alta Mira Treatment Programs has a program designed to teach you ways to manage stress and anxiety. Our PTSD Program can help you overcome the triggers that are impairing your life through integrative therapies.

The Approach

You will have the opportunity to recreate your path through a blending of both conventional and integrative services, including but not limited to the following:
  • Individual one-on-one sessions, 2-3 hours per week, with your primary therapist to help you process your experiences, uncover the root cause of your suffering and begin the healing process. Our program directors work with clients in a compassionate psychodynamic and cognitive/behavioral way with traditional therapy, while integrating complimentary alternative therapies to allow clients to heal themselves at a cellular level of body, mind and spirit. Believing that when we can recognize and experience who we really are from the level of soul and clear out the cellular memories stored in our bodies that are the root cause of our suffering, we will no longer live from our egos and inauthentic habitual patterns. Many traditional approaches keep people in their stories and pain, bringing awareness without freedom, taking time that just isn't necessary if you follow the Inner Path™. Therapy will also incorporate Total Biology™, The Enneagram, The Work™ and Quantum Biofeedback.
  • Group sessions will encompass group therapy, meditation and relaxed awareness practice, (The new AA ~ Acceptance & Awareness) at least three times per week as well as a variety of educational groups and a number group activities, both on and off campus. You will encounter a number of different professional facilitators with expertise in their particular specialty areas (Equine Therapy, Adventure Therapy, Four Agreements, The Work, etc). Participation in experiential groups where the primary focus will be on intense, personal experiences will surprise and enlighten you.
  • Attendance at support group meetings of your choice (with staff approval) at least twice per week and attendance at Community Meetings.
  • Attendance at educational seminars on a variety of subjects (Nutrition, Sleep Hygiene, Native American Practices, etc.) related to recovery, growth, healing and transformation.
  • Optional IV, Oral and Dietary Nutrient Therapy will rebalance brain and body chemistry quickly, so you will be better able to benefit from your work at Alta Mira Treatment Programs.
  • Regular body work such as exercise, yoga, massage, Tai Chi, acupuncture, and Far Infrared Saunas to help you detoxify, heal, grow and relax.
  • Self-directed individual growth experiences through literature, self-instructional CDs, DVDs and videos. Journaling will be encouraged to record and track your experiences.
  • Working closely with your program director and support team to develop and implement a program that is appropriate and effective for you.
  • Family Therapy addressing root causes and gaining insight into interpersonal dynamics.

Intention & Outcome

The blending of these conventional and integrated therapies allows the client to get at the root cause of their suffering and attend to themselves from every angle: emotional, physical and spiritual. This allows for a complete and rejuvenating healing experience to transform their life; to begin living from a place of wholeness and freedom within themselves and their relationships.
  • Improved mental and physical energy
  • The freedom of releasing yourself from unhealed trauma, emotional wounds, and baggage that no longer serves you
  • Enhanced focus and mental clarity
  • Elevated mood
  • Physical detox, rebalancing and healing
  • Improved sleep
  • Less triggers, more awareness and the ability to handle and choose behaviors that serve you better
  • Ability to identify beliefs, self-sabotaging behaviors and feelings
  • Increased understanding of choice and personal responsibility
  • A basis for connection to the world around you
  • Increased self-care capabilities and coping skills
  • Identify and make spiritual connections
  • Discover, connect to and honor your essence, the truth of your soul and life's purpose.

Areas of Focus

Utilizing the methods previously mentioned, we will address issues in different realms to help you achieve the desired outcomes. We will bring focus to the following areas.

A.  Uncovering and Healing The Root Cause/Trauma
  • Charting memorized cellular biological cycles
  • Uncovering and releasing cellular memory/trauma memory-driving behavior, emotions, and illness
B.  Addressing and Rebalancing Stress in The Body, Mind and Spirit
  • Identifying where we hold our stress and the source: physical, emotional/mental, life style, energetic, or spiritual
  • Correcting stress/energetic imbalances, learning self-regulation, connecting mind/body/emotions/spirit
  • Regulation and Awareness
C.  Correcting Brain Chemistry and Physical Imbalances
  • Complete diagnostic testing
  • Blood sugar, thyroid, adrenal and organ function and balancing
  • Neurotransmitter Assessment and Balancing (optional)
  • Overcoming addictions and cravings of certain foods, substances, and emotions
  • Fixing fatty acid deficiency
  • Detoxification to eliminate toxins and drug residues
  • Vitamin Deficiency Assessment and Balancing
D.  Identifying Ego Fixation and Sabotaging Behaviors
  • What early wounding drive your choices, behaviors and emotions?
  • How do you manipulate to get your needs met?
  • How do you betray yourself to get love, acceptance and approval?
  • What do you think, feel or do that takes you farther away from your true nature, your essence?
E.  Heightening Awareness
  • Uncovering your “story"

  • How do you defend and maintain your story (Cognitive )
    *ego/image
    *illusion of control/power
    *tolerance for insanity (yours /others)
    *grandiosity/self centeredness
    *alienation/detachment
    * beliefs/judgments
    * fears
  • How do you distract yourself from the "truth" ( Behavioral )
    *addictions
    *attachments
    *drama
    *work/play
    *"stuff"
F.  Increasing Clarity
  • What do you say you want?
    *values
    *actions
  • What are you attached to?
  • What can you "let go" of?
G.  Learning Free Choice and Personal Responsibility
  • What do you really want?
  • What are you willing to do and not do?
  • What are you committed to?
  • What truth will you live?
  • Who are you?

The Tools & Skills Box

The aforementioned questions help to point out the direction for a new path, the tools help to clear the new path. Your level of willingness to be responsible for new and different choices determines the depth and applicability of your discoveries. Some of the tools you will use to assist you in learning to be responsible for yourself and to others are:
  • Individual reflection and addressing superficial levels of behaviors (disordered eating, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, sexual compulsivity, etc.)
  • Active and honest feedback from staff and peers
  • Emotional awareness and regulation
  • Increase awareness and identify core beliefs that unconsciously drive behaviors
  • Identifying true passion and bliss and what you want for your life
  • The Four Agreements
  • Cognitive and Perceptual Awareness, The Work™, The Four Questions and Who's Business am I In?
  • Meditation, Mindfulness and Relaxed Awareness
  • Journaling
  • Nutraceutical support
  • Healthy eating
  • Body movement
  • Body and energy work to increase awareness of body sensations associated with emotions and blockages in the flow of our energetic and emotional network
  • Self care and coping skills
  • Body Image and Awareness
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Participation
  • Honesty

Homework

  • Enneagram Assessment Test
  • Four Questions Worksheets
  • The Four Agreements
  • Total Biology Intake Forms of family, conception, birth and childhood history. Also, birth order of self, parents and grandparents.
  • Trigger Assessment
  • Journaling and Relaxed Awareness Observations
  • Intentions & Goals Worksheet