Veterans are finding relief for post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments with a program a Tucson VA clinic offers that utilizes a nontraditional mind-body approach.
The 10-week, physician-directed program is led by Dr. Stephen Panebianco and Rebecca Adiutori Magnotto, a nurse, at the Veteran Affairs Northwest Tucson Clinic, 2945 W. Ina Road.
The clinic is the only one in the nation that offers the program, Panebianco said.
“It was described to me as a nonmedical way of dealing with pain,” said Army veteran Dale Carmichael, who sought help for chronic pain. “I wasn’t skeptical, but I was apprehensive and cautious about it.”
The integrative program is designed to increase a veteran’s capacity for internal physiological control and as their ability to cope with stress.
“The goal is to get these vets to be empowered and self-reliant,” Panebianco said.
Participants are taught simple meditation and breathing techniques.
They also learn about how the nervous system works, how to dial down their flight-or-fight response, muscle relaxation techniques, mindful eating habits and numberous other practical, mind-body exercises.
It’s as simple as ringing a bell and asking the participants to close their eyes while following the sound, or it could be taking a walk around the facility to observe the beauty of nature.
An exercise can also be as simple as handing out a raisin and asking participants to describe the flavor.
The exercises are intended to teach veterans to savor the moment and appreciate the world around them, Panebianco said.
Some veterans who’ve completed the treatment say they have seen a positive change in their life following the conclusion of the program.
“I handle conflicts in a more calm and assertive way without being offensive,” said Army veteran Bradley Lang, who has tinnitus — a constant ringing in the ears — after 17 years of firing artillery cannons.
The tinnitus worsened over the years, eventually leading to issues of insomnia.
“I don’t try to ignore the noise anymore,” Lang said. “I just accept it.”
Belinda LaPierre, an Air Force veteran, sees the program as a change in the right direction from previous psychiatric treatment.
“It was an assembly line. You get in, get your meds, and get out,” she said.
She used to be prescribed high doses of drugs for PTSD and other ailments.
After treatment at the clinic, she said, the dosages are lower for prescriptions, and she needs to take them less often.
“It’s an opportunity to be a part of your own recovery,” LaPierre said. “This is something that should be offered to VA’s everywhere.”
The program also offers veterans a support group long after the 10-week session is over.
“You’re in a room with 10, 15 other veterans, and it’s amazing how much you can relate to one another,” said Jim Montano, an Army veteran who recently completed the program. “You learn a lot from one another, and these are people that I’ll continue to keep in contact with.”
Panebianco and Adiutori-Magnotto are writing a training manual, hoping it will help expand the program.
