Resilience in the face of Adversity Published Aug. 10, 2011 By Chris McCann JBER Public Affairs JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- If you're a part of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson community, you've probably heard about 'resiliency' - the word has been used often for the last few years, by the Army and the Air Force alike. Resiliency is critical - but how do you go about building it? The Mental Health Flight on JBER is equipped to help anyone with base access to become more resilient in the face of adversity and challenges in life, whether it's another deployment or a colicky baby. The resiliency group is a new element of the unit which has been operating since March, said Verna Loosli, an outreach manager with the team. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Szymczak, a mental health technician with the resiliency element, said outreach has always been important for the mental health flight, but the new resiliency organization helps synchronize the flight's different elements to offer the best care possible. "Our mental heath capabilities have become much more robust recently," Szymczak said, with their staff nearly doubled. Jennifer Frysz, also an outreach manager with the element, said after 10 years at war, there has been more need for treatment - but there has also been decreasing stigma for seeking help, and the strength mechanisms that people use are becoming clearer. "When people are faced with adversity, some people don't tap into the strength that they have," said Frysz. "We try to help them realize what they have and tap into it, and we try to make it consistent - before and after deployment, to ensure we're really helping people out. Resiliency is about the overall bounce-back ability - we remind them of their core strengths and how to use them." "When you go through adversity, it's like an inoculation," said Loosli. "Just like a vaccine strengthens your immune system, overcoming difficulties makes you stronger." "When you have resiliency, then when you're having increased feelings of helplessness, you tend to realize what adjustments you can make to help yourself and your family. "After multiple deployments for example, you remember from last time what skills worked, and what strengths you have, and how to enhance areas you're not sure of. Then, next time, you have those stronger points." While many people think of a bouncing ball as the image of resiliency, Frysz said she thinks of a buoy in the ocean. "You have your ups and downs, but you continue to float." The idea is to not just be treading water, however - but to be confident in the ability to float. Szymczak stressed that while people have coping mechanisms, not all of them are healthy. "Some people self-medicate with drugs or alcohol," he said. "Some take out their stress on a wife or their children. The resiliency programs are about healthy ways to cope." The mental health flight offers a number of classes geared toward different aspects of life, from stress management and sleep hygiene to relationship skills, parenting and support groups for those with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. "We know that there are relationship struggles and family things going on," said Frysz, noting those problems often play into people having difficulty coping. "There are single people out there just trying to keep a support system, people having suicidal thoughts - these classes are designed to help remind people that they have the ability to deal with these things," she said. The classes are not just briefings with slides, the team stressed. "They're non-judgmental groups where people can express and learn,"Frysz said. "People realize that what they're feeling is normal - there are a lot of people nodding in agreement, usually, there's a sense of acknowledgment and camaraderie." "We're an all-volunteer force," said Szymczak. "It's not really a surprise to anyone to be on back-to-back deployments. The military knows that (the operational tempo) is hard on people and they want to support their people and help. But people must avail themselves of that help." He noted that there are countless resources for help available, from chaplains and counselors to Military One Source, civilian clergy and veteran care centers. "We embrace all kinds of help," Szymczak said. "We don't care where people get help, as long as they get help." And though the military is in the longest war in American history, there has been some benefit. "Because we have this time behind us,' said Loosli, "the military has resources and there's a lot of science as far as what works. What makes people successful at dealing with things? What are the stressors? So we're not shooting in the dark with these classes - we're guided by statistics, as far as what kind of classes and what will help." "We have lots of confidence in what we bring to the table - the question is just how to get other people to the table." To be resilient, Frysz said, "you have to look at what you have, you see what you need, and you build on what you need more of. "When you're aware of your weaknesses, you can ask for help and bring them to a level you can manage." And while there is still some stigma in the military about seeking help, the team was quick to point out that it's undeserved. "You never hear the success stories," said Szymczak. "You only hear about the rare cases when something bad happens, which is usually when someone does something (illegal) or they're separated because of something else." He mentioned that there are many cases in which even service members with high-level security clearances seek help and continue in their jobs, and stressed that getting assistance is encouraged, not punished. The resiliency team often does "walkabouts" in which they visit units just to visit the troops and say hello, she said. The outreach is a major part of their jobs, said Frysz. "When we're walking around, asking how people are doing, their faces light up," she said. "There's a sense of relaxation, there's humor. "We're not there to preach - just to say hey. You never know what people are dealing with. And it's not just for us - we encourage people to ask each other how things are going." Frysz also stressed that commanders can have a lot of impact on their troops. "When road conditions are bad, for example, and a commander says 'Take your time coming in, be safe' - that helps with resiliency," she said. Often, it just takes people knowing that they're cared about. "Being a good battle buddy or wingman builds resiliency. We all have the tools," Frysz said. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JBER resiliency classes help service members learn life skills Front Line Supervisor Training: This is for supervisors to learn ways to manage personnel in distress and suicide prevention through the PRESS process: Prepare, Recognize, Engage, Send and Sustain. A one-session class, it's usually held on the third Thursday of the month from 8 to 11 a.m. Pick a Partner: Keep your head and heart in balance. Come and learn relationship skills that will lead to satisfying relationships. This two-session class is for singles and people in dating relationships. Teen Talk: Improve your relationships with your friends, peers, and parents, develop a healthier lifestyle and learn how to thrive in your home and social life. No parents are allowed in this one-session class. Anger and Stress Management: Learn basic strategies to reduce both the emotional and physical responses that anger and stress can cause. Improve the quality of your health and your life and reduce negative effects of stress and anger through behavioral change and relaxation techniques. This is a one-session, one-hour class. There is also a four-session, more in-depth class available. The Army Behavioral Health Clinic also offers separate anger and stress classes for Soldiers only; call 384-0405. Sleep Management: This class provides basic education about insomnia and the latest in clinically-developed behavioral techniques to assist in normal, quality nighttime sleep and full daytime alertness. This one-session class is also available at the Army Behavioral Health Center with a referral. 1, 2, 3 Magic: Learn how to handle difficult behavior and encourage good behavior in a manner that is fair and clear in this three-session class. This technique works well for all children, including learning disabled, attention deficit and emotionally disturbed children, as well as children who have visual and hearing impairment and other special needs. Active Parenting of Teens: Learn how to increase cooperation, provide clear guidance, and increase your insight into teen/tween issues, to include improving their confidence, school grades and self esteem and reduce risky behaviors. This is a four-session class. All About Babies: A class for new parents to learn about communication with your baby, promoting positive sleep patterns, comforting your crying baby and have hands-on practice for things such as bathing. This one-session class is Mondays from 1 to 4 p.m. DADS 101: A class for new or expectant dads taught by dads. Learn more about pregnancy, labor and delivery, communication with your spouse, caring for an infant, and keeping your baby safe. This is a one- or two-session class. Love and Logic: This four-session class provides simple and practical techniques to help parents raise responsible kids, have more fun parenting, and easily change their children's behavior. This Love and Logic method causes the child to see their parent as the "good guy" and develop an internal voice of personal responsibility. Children who develop this internal voice become more capable of standing up to peer pressure. Parenting Basics: Basic information on child development and discipline strategies at any stage. This one-session class may be geared towards the needs of the group. Scream-Free Parenting: This class will provide you "cool" tools for a calmer household which may result in more cooperation and respect. Come learn how to keep your "cool" while parenting in this four-session class. Relationship Skills: Couples Communication Basics: This one-session class teaches the basics of communication to keep the stress out and the pleasure in because relationships should be fun. Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program: Enhance the skills you need to say what you need to say; get to the heart of things and increase your connection. Don't wait for your relationship's "check engine" light to come on. Call 552-4943 to sign up for this one- or two-session class. Support Groups: (580-0014) TBI /PTSD Children's Support Group: Support for children readjusting to the return of their deployed family member. They will learn coping skills for living with a parents with PTSD or TBI. This is an ongoing group, which usually meets on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. TBI /PTSD Service Member Support Group: Learn alongside other service members ways to positively manage life with traumatic brain injury and or post-traumatic stress disorder. This is an ongoing group, which usually meets on Mondays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. TBI/PTSD Partners' Support Group: Learn alongside other spouses how to manage life as you live with someone suffering from a TBI or PTSD. This ongoing group usually meets on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. until 7.