Emotional Adjustment to Deployment
Deployment is a fact of military life. You have pride in knowing that your Soldier and your Family are contributing to the safety of our nation. Yet, you will probably experience an intense range of emotions that typically occur throughout the cycle of deployment. Conflicting emotions are normal. At the same time, they are confusing and can be stressful. You may find yourself struggling with loneliness, depression, anxiety, trust, or anger.
One way to deal with stress is to have a positive outlook, to see the things that are stressful in a different way. Another way to deal with stress is to learn mood management techniques. The first step to improving your mood is to identify which factors of deployment are causing you stress. When you are in a stressful or emotional situation, it helps to think about the thoughts and feelings you are having. Learning to manage your thoughts and feelings can help you deal with the circumstances of deployment that cannot be changed. Learning about mood disorders can also help you know if you or others may need professional intervention.
Whatever your emotional state – which may change frequently during times of stress – you can manage. There are tools to help you adjust your feelings and enjoy life more fully. Start the Module.
Put it into Practice:
- Emotional Adjustment to Deployment Take Action
- Hunt the Good Stuff Worksheet
- Managing New Emotions Worksheet
- Thought Record
Evaluate Module 7