National Injured Warrior Alliance (NIWA)-- Recovery-Restoration-Resilience Individual Health Care Plan & Daily Routine

Self-Care Outline

Gerald W. Vest, LISW/LMT UNM Tricare Provider

Introduction

As Chinese medicine is described by Bill Moyers in "Healing and the Mind: "...it is believed that how you live ultimately influences your health. It's not just diet or exercise; it's also a spiritual or emotional balance that comes from the way you treat people and the way you treat yourself. And since that's the basis of their culture, it spills over into their medicine."

Our Alliance and our participants recognize that recovery, restoration and resilience will be successful when we design and administer a daily health plan that incorporates our five living realms into our Daily Action Plan. Our participants will identify and include Integrative Health Practices within this plan to improve the whole being--physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially. By making this Health Commitment to ourselves, we are encouraging, supporting and manifesting our integrity, dignity and self-respect as professionals. Increasing our determination or willpower while carrying out this plan will permit us to operate at high levels of awareness and mindfulness—becoming honest, open, accepting, allowing and appreciating of ourselves and our relations.

Commitment

I designed this professional self-care plan with my Community Services Advocate and/or Primary Therapist to Promote Healing, Restore my Health and Wellbeing and improve the quality of my life, health and relationships.

I understand that health is an experience of well-being in dynamic balance and relationship with my natural and social environments and the integrity of my physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social realms. I recognize that these five realms include developing and maintaining strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility as a whole being.

I commit myself to becoming the best that I can be physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially while recognizing that I am in a process of healing and recovering from my injuries and wounds. With every action there is a reaction; therefore, I am aware that pushing myself beyond ‘limits’; isolating myself; feeling guilty about false promises; and/or blaming myself and others for my predicament, experiences or lack of willpower, are not effective health benefits. I will accept this Challenge to be the Best I Can Be!!!

Signature_____________________ Date_____________

Author's Bio: 

Community Organizer, Consultant & Trainer, 2011-Present, National Injured Warrior Allliance (NIWA)--Serving Warriors, Vets, First Responders and their Families.
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Consultant-Contractor, Total Immersion Software, Part I & II, Alameda, CA Studios, Tasked by US Army Medical Research Division, Designed to help returning Vets and their families, self identify PTS Injuries to seek help, 2010-present.
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Consultant-Trainer, Ft. Bayard Preservation & Development Plan, Silver City, NM, organize Integrative Health Program for Women Warriors diagnosed with PTSD (Ft. Bliss Restoration & Resilience Center model), 2010-present.
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Holistic Senior Social Worker, Wm. Beaumont Army Medical Center, Restoration & Resilience Center, Warrior Program, Individual & Group Therapy; Coordinator: Health Education, Meditation, Water Polo, Ft. Bliss, TX, 2008-2010.

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Professor Emeritus, New Mexico State University, School of Social Work, 1978-present.