NEW! The Combat Veterans AnswerRing®is an educational device designed to easily and quickly help Combat Veterans recognize the post-deployment problems they are having and provide immediate suggestions for how to start getting help. The device does not offer therapy, but it does help to provide a simple, totally private way for Combat Vets to recognize when therapy may be a solution.
Many of our Veterans, particularly those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are returning home with psychological wounds that need immediate attention. Most of these men and women do not understand why they feel as they do or why they are having so many problems adjusting to their old lives. They need the counseling available at VA hospitals, Vet Centers, online, and through military-provided suicide hotlines. However, many Veterans rule out counseling. They frequently do not recognize their problems, nor will admit to them, even to the people with whom they are closest.
The Combat Veterans AnswerRing® allows Vets to dial in one of many common problems; then dial in how this problem makes them feel; next, dial in what their reaction is to this problem; and finally, dial in what they think about doing as a result. This process covers a huge range of possibilities (117,000 different scenarios) in a matter of minutes, and it is totally private.
Ideally, the AnswerRing® will be provided to each Veteran by the military upon discharge, upon return from deployment, and to Veterans of combat in the past. The AnswerRing® engages the Veteran without the Veteran even thinking he/she needs help. To take the first step, all the Vet has to do is pick up the AnswerRing® and turn the dials on the front. When the Vet flips the AnswerRing® over, the detailed problem described on the front is specifically answered on the back. The recommendations for seeking help range from explanations of help available, to specific hotline phone numbers and websites, to an acknowledgement that many other Veterans share these problems.
Although the device is designed for solo use (so that no one has to admit there is a problem before picking it up), the AnswerRing® can also be effective for spouses or loved ones who want to help. In such a case, the spouse might dial through the problem sets, looking for the problems the Veteran is exhibiting. Then, by turning the AnswerRing® over, the spouse can get a suggestion of where to go for help. If he or she feels there may be danger in showing the results to the Veteran, the spouse needs to seek outside help immediately. If there is no danger, however, the AnswerRing® can begin necessary communication between the couple.
In the case of the unmarried returning Veteran, this same procedure can play out with a parent, friend or relative.
It is the mission of AnsweRing® LLC to work with the military to provide free Combat Veterans AnswerRing®s to all Veterans who are returning or have already returned from combat, in order to help facilitate their transitions back into normal civilian life.
For more information on the Combat Veterans AnswerRing®, please Click Here
The Relationship AnswerRing®: We often think of our relationship problems as uniquely our own, but actually, many people share our feelings about and our reactions to these problems. The Relationship AnswerRing® allows you to pinpoint your relationship problem, how you feel about it, your reaction to it, and your conclusion about it. In other words, the AnswerRing® allows you to develop a customized description of your relationship problem. When you turn the AnswerRing® over, you will find relationship or marriage counseling tips and guidance on how to fix your particular situation.
Way cool marriage counseling device...., March 21, 2009
By Erik Johnson, Therapist, Mediator
(Pacfic Northwest, USA)
I defy anyone to find a marriage-helping gadget cooler than this... it's a wheel with little windows and when you turn the dials you get advice for wives whose husbands are behaving badly. From minor irritations like being grumpy or watching too much TV, to major offenses like abuse or affairs, the perplexed (and hurting) wife gets validation for her feelings, coaching on her options, and then suggestions on what to do. It's hefty in both content and design. I'm a marriage and family therapist with no vested interest in this company. I'm just a guy eager to get helpful and creative ideas into the hands of women in need. I highly recommend this item.
