Military Sexual Trauma

LINKS

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)

Trauma Resources page has links to consumer information and support, government and university resources, and nonprofit trauma organizations and foundations. In addition, the ISTSS has produced three educational videos that can be viewed on the site.
http://www.istss.org/AboutTraumaticStress/1490.htm

Women Organizing Women

Veteran Advocacy
http://www.vetwow.com

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network

RAINN carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, helps victims, and attempts to ensure that rapists are brought to justice. This website contains statistics, counseling resources, prevention tips, and news.
http://www.rainn.org/

BOOKS

Maltz, W. (2001). The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse. This text deals with sexual problems resulting from sexual abuse. The book is divided into three sections: (a) Becoming Aware, which addresses acknowledging the impact of the abuse on one's sexuality; (b) Making Changes, which focuses on creating a different meaning around sexual behavior and beginning the healing process, and (c) Creating Positive Experiences, which describes various ways of addressing sexual difficulties.

Matsakis, A. (2003). The Rape Recovery Handbook: Step-By-Step Help for Survivors of Sexual Assault. This book takes readers through a step-by-step process to acknowledge and cope with their emotional pain following rape. It contains a number of self-guided exercises and is presented in a gentle and compassionate fashion.

Rothbaum, B. & Foa, E. (2000). Reclaiming Your Life After Rape: Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Client Workbook). This client workbook is written in a hopeful and easy-to-understand style. It is specifically for women who have been sexually assaulted and have PTSD as a result. Clients use this book to learn how cognitive-behavioral therapy has helped other trauma survivors and how it can work for them. The text distinguishes PTSD symptoms from other disorders and teaches techniques for overcoming PTSD symptoms.

Fisher, E. B. (1998). American Lung Association's 7 Steps to a Smoke-Free Life. This book is a useful guide for those who would like to quit smoking, based on the American Lung Association's successful Freedom From Smoking® program. It discusses personal reasons for smoking, dispels myths about smoking, and then provides a step-by-step approach to learn how to quit on your own. This resource is good for those who are trying to quit for the first time or those who have tried many times before but have been unable to quit.

Books about PTSD generally (not MST-specific)

Allen, J. G. (2004). Coping with Trauma: Hope through Understanding (2nd Edition). This book provides information about trauma and its effects, including how psychological trauma impacts the brain. It also presents very specific information about how to recover from trauma.

Colodzin, B. (1992). How to Survive Trauma: A Program for War Veterans and Survivors of Rape, Assault, Abuse, or Environmental Disasters. This resource focuses on healing from trauma by helping the reader to free themselves from depression, anxiety, rage, nightmares, flashbacks, and other symptoms of PTSD. It also helps the individual focus on self-respect and gain a sense of purpose. An edition of this book was published in 1997, but is no longer in print.

Follette, V. & Pistorello, J. (2007). Finding Life Beyond Trauma: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Heal from Post-Traumatic Stress and Trauma-Related Problems. This book focuses on the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques to help the reader in managing painful feelings that follow exposure to psychological trauma. The objective is to help the individual chart a course for a rich and vital life. (Note: There is currently limited research on the use of ACT as a primary treatment for PTSD. ACT can, however, be effective for general anxiety symptoms. ACT is currently being disseminated in VA for the treatment of depression and co-occurring general anxiety.)

Matsakis, A. (1998). Trust After Trauma: A Guide to Relationships for Survivors and Those Who Love Them. This text focuses on how trauma affects a person's sense of self and one's relationships. The objective of the book is to increase self-understanding. This book is a good addition to couples therapy.

Matsakis, A. (1996). I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors (2nd Edition). This book explains PTSD and how it affects soldiers and other trauma survivors. It describes how to cope with anger, grief, and guilt and to problems related to PTSD such as substance use, depression and low self-esteem. The message of the book is that hope can be restored and a positive future can be possible again.

Naparstek, B. (2005). Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal. This resource utilizes guided imagery and meditation techniques to help survivors heal. It includes 20 imaginary scripts. It also provides information on biochemical and psychophysiological responses to trauma. The approach has an eastern philosophy bent.

Pennebaker, J. W. (2004). Writing to Heal: A Guided Journal for Recovering from Trauma and Emotional Upheaval. This text provides guided writing exercises to help patients explore their feelings about difficult or traumatic experiences, based on the author's written exposure research, that may be used as part of treatment.

Rosenbloom, D., Williams, M. B., & Watkins, B. E. (1999). Life after Trauma: A Workbook for Healing. This book explains how trauma can cause problems in people's lives. It contains activities, relaxation techniques, and self-evaluation questionnaires. The objective of the book is to help people develop inner resources for coping, self-understanding, and self-care.

Schiraldi, G. (2000). The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook. This resource offers a wide range of treatment alternatives and self-management techniques that are designed to help trauma survivors recover from trauma related symptoms. This general book addresses the many sources of trauma that may be experienced. This text may be helpful to family members who struggle to make sense of what has happened.

Vermilyea, E. (2000). Growing Beyond Survival: A Self-Help Toolkit for Managing Traumatic Stress. The book is largely designed for survivors of childhood abuse but can also be useful in dealing with other traumas. This book focuses on developing effective coping skills and on building trust.