The War Within: A Holistic Approach to Preventing Veteran Suicide - Paperback

by Krystle Shapiro Mshn Lmt (Author)

The statistics about veteran suicide have changed little over the years, hovering most consistently at twenty suicides a day. Most emphasis has been placed on increasing the availability of mental health services for returning soldiers, yet theaters of war present a myriad of factors affecting human health from exposures to toxic elements, extreme environments, and a lack of proper nutrition, not to mention the emotional experiences that all together create a cascade of individualized chemical messenger responses to unrelenting stressors. The War Within informs soldiers, veterans, family members, and caretakers how to first understand what happens to the body under such stressors in theaters of war and how this affects the brain. Once one understands what has happened to the physical body, then appropriate decisions and practices can be undertaken to restore the physical reserves of our warriors, ultimately reversing the heartbreaking suicidal trend that we recognize is currently taking place. The War Within presents a five-part, well-researched program that can serve as a vital complement to the important mental health programs presently being provided for our soldiers and veterans. This program is easy to implement into daily routines, and it enables restoration of optimal brain function, thus reducing the incidence of depression, hopelessness, fatigue, and suicidal ideation.

Author Biography

Krystle Shapiro is the daughter of a veteran US Air Force lieutenant colonel who served in World War II and Korea. While she was earning her master of science in holistic nutrition in 2012, her interest in helping veterans was sparked by an NPR article on the rising incidence of veteran suicide. Recognizing the extreme levels of toxic chemical exposures experienced by combat soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, Krystle developed a five-part program to help veterans and their families understand how such toxins affect human health-and how to begin remediation through proper detoxification protocols and whole-foods nutrition. Krystle lives in Sandpoint, Idaho, and teaches pathology and kinesiology at the North Idaho Massage Academy; she also provides nutrition education classes through her business, NewTritionally Yours!