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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 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]
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