IMPORTANT INFORMATION: PTS and the Holidays

Making Waves for Our Returning Heroes
Issue #11 December, 2015

Dear Friends,

As the year comes to a close, I wanted to say thank you to the many who have donated to support our programs and veterans. Without you none of our work would be possible. And a very warm thank you to our service members and their caregivers for entrusting us with your health.

Each day the Wave Academy family commits to providing the best aquatic bodywork therapy treatment and support available; we insist on high standards of care and a thoughtful, caring approach that promotes harmony, peace-of-mind and clarity.

For the past five years now, serving our veteran population has been a labor of love for me. I’ve learned that making a difference, strengthening families and communities, being a part of life-saving/life-changing work is, indeed, an ambitious task. Frankly, it would be impossible without the help of our small staff, remarkable practitioners and faithful donors.

At the beginning of the year we set our goal at providing 1,100 therapy sessions throughout 2015. To date, we’re at 1,250 – the most we’ve ever provided in one year and 300 more sessions than in 2014.

Additionally, this year we’ve raised over $240,000 in donations and grants! This has allowed us to bring on more practitioners, provide more sessions, increase our outreach and build relationships with like-minded organizations and elected officials.

I’m also excited to announce that a portion of Wave Academy’s work will be funded in part by a grant from The California Wellness Foundation. Created in 1992 as a private independent foundation, Cal Wellness’ mission is to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention.

With 2016 around the corner, our board of directors and I have lots of work to do. We’ve set our sights on providing 1,300 sessions, increasing our number of practitioners to 15 and continuing to serve our veterans who struggle with Post Traumatic Stress, and their caregivers.

Please take one more opportunity to donate.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Dave Towe
Founder and Executive Director

For more information, visit www.waveacademy.org

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
PTS and the Holidays
From the National Center for PTSD – December 2015 Issue

Spending time with family and friends over the holidays can be fun, but the flurry of festivities can also add stress. This is particularly true for someone with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

If you or a family member has PTSD, it does not have to negatively impact the holidays. There are healthy ways to cope and manage stress.

The following list of tips from our clinicians that can help you manage your PTSD symptoms over this holiday season:

Make a list of your favorite coping tools that you can use for different types of situations. Keep them on hand, in the event something triggers you.
Bring stress management tools with you wherever you go with online tools and apps such as PTSD Coach Online, PTSD Coach and Mindfulness Coach.
Create a playlist of music that you can listen to when you are stressed.
Make a folder of favorite photos. Look through them to take your mind off what is stressing you.
Write a list of the reasons you want to change your habits or reactions. They help motivate you.
Set time limits for activities that are difficult for you.
Reward yourself for your hard work with a healthy activity.
Reach out for support if you need it. Know who you can rely on for help. If your symptoms of PTSD are getting worse or you feel down, reach out to your provider or call the crisis line.

If you know someone with PTSD, there are things you can do to make sure the holiday season is pleasant and enjoyable for everyone:

Educate yourself: Read about PTSD Symptoms, and how PTSD affects your loved one.
Talk to your family member about what they need to feel comfortable during the holidays. If your loved one needs services, call Coaching into Care for advice in talking to them about treatment.
Keep important resources at hand, such as the Veterans Crisis Line, a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Join the Wave Academy Movement

Please help us give back and heal the brave service men, women and their families who have done so much on our behalf.

Learn more about the research and view powerful testimonials from Wave clients on our website - www.waveacademy.org.
Become part of our Facebook fan page community and join the dialogue – and invite your friends.
Invite others to sign up for this newsletter.
Enlist owners and operators of therapy pools in San Diego County to provide access so that we can increase our capacity to serve.
Refer someone in need for an assessment: criteria and applications are here.
Donate to subsidize our treatment costs for these deserving veterans and caregivers.

Thank you for your interest in Wave Academy. We look forward to working together to stem the escalating problems of dysfunction and suicide among our returning service men and women and to building a brighter future for individuals, families and communities in need.

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