Support for Our Troops in the Palm of Your Hand: Apps for Veterans
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As we celebrate the men and women who have fought for our freedom this Veterans Day, we are reminded that they need our support as much as we need theirs. As our armed forces return home, a growing number of apps can help make a tough transition as little smoother.
PTSD Coach
Veterans dealing with the invisible wounds of post traumatic stress disorder have a new resource to help cope with the anxiety, stress and other mental health problems that commonly occur following trauma. The PTSD Coach app helps manage symptoms with relaxation skills, positive self-talk, music and more.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The app begins with education about PTSD and why certain feelings crop up. You can then take a self-assessment test for PTSD, before the app ultimately guides you to speak with someone. Through the app, you can find information about professional care and meet with a local doctor. PTSD Coach offers many opportunities to find support through the social network of professionals and connecting with other servicemen and women experiencing similar feelings.
If you've been diagnosed with PTSD, the app offers tools that can help manage the stresses of daily life. Positive imagery, relaxation techniques and affirmative self-talk as well as anger management and other common self-help strategies are just a tap away.
If you find what soothes you best, customize your tools by adding your own contacts, photos, and music. This app can be used by people who are in treatment as well as those who are not. PTSD Coach was created by the Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and the Department of Defense National Center for Telehealth & Technology.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Download PTSD Coach: Apple iTunes, Android Market.
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National Resource Directory
Also lending support is the National Resource Directory, a mobile friendly website geared towards wounded warriors, service members, veterans and their families. It provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration. Connect with other families in your area who are going through the same situations of deployment, re-deployment, and homecomings. Specific community programs are listed for town across the country.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The resource also provides guides with emotional considerations for spouses and children regarding reuniting with a returning Service Member and more. The homepage provides information on the DoD's other support programs and a way to connect through social media for military families of all branches.