Mark Gorkin, "The Stress Doc," speaks to 1st Cavalry I~ Division spouses on Oct. 30 , at Fort Hood. Gorkin gave ~ tips on how to maintain healthy stress levels. U.S. Army/SPC. SHEENA WILLIAMS 1 'Stress Doc' gives advice 10 spouses Deployment c.an put more stress on families Tips to Reduce ~tress 1. Exercise. regularly 2. Discover the meditative and sensual mode: relax in a hot tub with candles and your favorite music. 3. Find a hobby 4. Learn to let go. When people are depressed or stressed, they are often clinging to a belief, a situation or a person who is ignoring or denying key aspects of reality. 5. Reflect upon the six "F's for managing loss and change (listed below). 6. Express healthy anger 7. Declare your emancipation from procrastination: the critical step in overcoming endless delay, daliance and denial is letting yourself feel the anxiety, anger or shame that underlies avoidance or escapist behavior. 8. Seek out others with similar issues 9. Consider a support group or professional help 10. Seek the higher power of humor By Amanda Kim Stairrett Fort Hood Herald FORT HOOD - A study was done on World War II fighter pilots and their co- pilots to see who underwent the most stress during missions. Surprisingly, it was found that co-pilots had the most stress because they did- n't have a chance to control what was happening, said Mark Gorkin, a motivational speaker and licensed clinical social worker. That same rationale may hold true for military spouses because they must cope with the uncertainty of being their soldiers' co-pilots, he said. Deployments can be more stressful for families because soldiers often have more control or knowledge of a situa~ tion, Gorkin said. . uorKm, also known as "The Stressboc," donated his time and traveled to Fort Hood on od. 30 to speak to spouses of 1st Cavalry Division soldiers. The first six weeks of a deployment can be the most stressful for spouses, said Laurie Dunlop, co-adviser of the 3rd Brigade's 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment's Family Readiness Group. o She wanted to provide First Team spouses with a tool to help them deal with stress early in the deployment. Gorkin, using his trademark humor, gave tips on how to practice safe stress, which included identifying and preventing burnout, using laughter, the importance of exercise and the do's and don'ts of stress management. He also talked about the six 'F's for managing loss and change, something military spouses are well-versed in. Those 'F's are: let go of "familiar" past, confront unpredictable "future," acknowledge loss of "face," get support for rebuilding "focus," seek trusted, objec- tive "feedback" and have "faith" in a higher/team power. Andrea Ochoa said that after attending the seminar she felt she had the ability to cope better with stress. Still, she added, there are days when it is hard to deal with. It is important to Ochoa that she hold herself together for her family and three children,all below the age of 9. "It's very important the) don't see me like this," shl said, laughing nervously a the tears welling up in he eyes. Ochoa's husband, Sg Felibei'to Ochoa Jr., a soldi€ in the 3rd Brigade's 215t Brigade Support BattalioJ deployed Oct. 5. Contact Amanda Kim Stai rett at [email protected] u _I:..,~ .... ". L... ..•. _ ..•...•.•• .1..- l __ .1.•• _. __ I L__ -- • I

U.S. Army/SPC. SHEENA WILLIAMS gives advice 10 spousesSHEENA WILLIAMS 1 'Stress Doc' gives advice 10 spouses Deployment c.an put more stress on families Tips to Reduce ~tress 1. Exercise

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Page 1: U.S. Army/SPC. SHEENA WILLIAMS gives advice 10 spousesSHEENA WILLIAMS 1 'Stress Doc' gives advice 10 spouses Deployment c.an put more stress on families Tips to Reduce ~tress 1. Exercise

Mark Gorkin, "The Stress

Doc," speaks to 1st Cavalry I~Division spouses on Oct. 30 ,at Fort Hood. Gorkin gave ~

tips on how to maintain

healthy stress levels.

U.S. Army/SPC. SHEENA WILLIAMS

'Stress Doc' gives advice 10 spousesDeployment

c.an put more

stress on families

Tips to Reduce ~tress1. Exercise. regularly2. Discover the meditative and sensual mode: relax in a hot

tub with candles and your favorite music.3. Find a hobby4. Learn to let go. When people are depressed or stressed,they are often clinging to a belief, a situation or a personwho is ignoring or denying key aspects of reality.5. Reflect upon the six "F's for managing loss and change(listed below).6. Express healthy anger7. Declare your emancipation from procrastination: the critical step in overcoming endless delay, daliance and denial isletting yourself feel the anxiety, anger or shame that underlies avoidance or escapist behavior.8. Seek out others with similar issues

9. Consider a support group or professional help10. Seek the higher power of humor

By Amanda Kim StairrettFort Hood Herald

FORT HOOD - A studywas done on World War IIfighter pilots and their copilots to see who underwentthe most stress during missions. Surprisingly, it wasfound that co-pilots had themost stress because they didn't have a chance to controlwhat was happening, saidMark Gorkin, a motivationalspeaker and licensed clinicalsocial worker.

That same rationale mayhold true for military spousesbecause they must cope withthe uncertainty of being theirsoldiers' co-pilots, he said.Deployments can be morestressful for families becausesoldiers often have more control or knowledge of a situa~tion, Gorkin said.

. uorKm, also known as "TheStressboc," donated his timeand traveled to Fort Hood onod. 30 to speak to spouses of1st Cavalry Division soldiers.

The first six weeks of adeployment can be the moststressful for spouses, saidLaurie Dunlop, co-adviser ofthe 3rd Brigade's 3rdBattalion, 8th CavalryRegiment's Family ReadinessGroup.

o She wanted to provide FirstTeam spouses with a tool tohelp them deal with stressearly in the deployment.

Gorkin, using his trademark humor, gave tips on howto practice safe stress, whichincluded identifying and preventing burnout, using laughter, the importance of exercise and the do's and don'ts ofstress management.

He also talked about the six'F's for managing loss andchange, something militaryspouses are well-versed in.Those 'F's are: let go of"familiar" past, confrontunpredictable "future,"acknowledge loss of "face,"get support for rebuilding"focus," seek trusted, objec-

tive "feedback" and have"faith" in a higher/teampower.

Andrea Ochoa said thatafter attending the seminarshe felt she had the ability tocope better with stress.

Still, she added, there aredays when it is hard to dealwith. It is important to Ochoathat she hold herself togetherfor her family and three children,all below the age of 9.

"It's very important the)don't see me like this," shlsaid, laughing nervously a

the tears welling up in heeyes.

Ochoa's husband, SgFelibei'to Ochoa Jr., a soldi€in the 3rd Brigade's 215t

Brigade Support BattalioJdeployed Oct. 5.

Contact Amanda Kim Stairett at [email protected]

u _I:..,~...." . L... ..•. _ ..•...•.•• .1..- l__.1.•• _. __ I L__-- • I