By Shirley Archer
Using mind-body skills to cope with the stress of war.
The military excels at creating trained combat professionals who stand out in their ability to protect American interests. The military challenge lies in helping soldiers transition back from battlefields and into families and neighborhoods, a challenge made more difficult if soldiers have served several tours on duty. While warfare and medical technology improvements result in fewer casualties, more of our returning troops are experiencing mental health issues. Shinning a positive light is the emerging recognition of the value mind-body training in reducing the severity of stress disorders and enhancing recovery from the emotional wounds of war, which though not always visible, can be deeply scarring.
