Finding my happy place
By Michael Hamill, Public Affairs Specialist
Army Veteran Steven Krawczyk served in Iraq and has used both in-person and virtual reality (VR)-guided meditation to manage his posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and find his happy place.
Guided meditation or imagery, whether in-person with an instructor, online or through a VR headset, is a technique to help people manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
“Guided imagery is awesome. I’ve done the relax portion. You work on your deep breathing exercises.
Finding my happy place
VR meditation sessions can help Veterans find their happy place as they work through, stress, anger management, anxiety, depression, substance use, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and tendencies to isolate themselves from others.
Veterans like Krawczyk, who receive inpatient care through the residential rehabilitation and treatment programs, are taking advantage of guided meditation sessions offered through recreation therapy using VR headsets.
“It has visuals that are relaxing, calming. After just ten minutes, there’s a sense of relief. It recenters you.”
Managing stress and anxiety
Recreation Therapist Erik Fernitz works with Veterans throughout the week. He starts and ends each session by assessing how the Veterans feel. He records their level of stress, depression, anxiety, pain, and happiness. “Usually, what I see is a decrease in stress, anxiety post VR session.”
Veterans looking to work on stress, anxiety, pain, happiness and depression through outpatient services can talk to their provider or call the mental health outpatient clinic at 610-384-7711, then dial extension 6800 to see if in-person guided relaxation sessions are right for them.