You have changed!3 visits are available at LSC

Visits related to your deployment are not documented as a typical LSC visit

What to ExpectAfter Your Deployment

AAAHHH, , , THETHETHE BIGBIGBIG DAYDAYDAY.........you made it. You’re finally home. Are there things that you expect? Have you imagined this day? Who will you see? What will you do? You’ve probably asked yourself these questions for weeks now. Who knows? Have you felt anxious? It’s normal. Try to relax. Many things have happened since you’ve been away. Challenge yourself to be prepared and flexible. You’re home now. Here are some important tips to remember:

HHHOMEOMEOME—Try not to expect special treatment from your family or friends because you deployed. They may not understand your previous working conditions and what you endured. Also remember, in your absence they had to undergo hardships of their own and may feel like they deserve special treatment as well.

WWWORKORKORK—Confront your work expectations. Don’t expect gratitude or special treatment. Co-workers may have had to work harder in your absence with none of the recognition you may have received. They may even be dealing with their own stressors of having to stay behind when wanting to go. They are probably concerned with the current workload and what you can do for them “now.” Also, your job may have changed or even been eliminated in your absence. After “living the mission” your job may seem unimportant or no longer interest you. You may feel like you don’t fit in anymore. All of these reactions are normal. As hard as it may be to believe right now, you will adapt to being back, just like you adapted to being deployed.

Stepping off the plane...

Wanna Talk?

First, let us welcome you home. Your deployment is over, and there are many things

on your plate right now. There may be times that you feel a little overwhelmed or

just confused about when and where to get started. Remember that adjustment takes time Many of your symptoms are normal. If you continue to have difficulty coping:

Contact your local: -Life Skills Center

-394-4700-Chaplain

-394-2677-MilitaryOne Source

-(800)342-9647

Also available to you

Your Supervisor, First Sergeant,

Post Deployment

The Big Word...The Big Word...The Big Word...

SSSTRESSTRESSTRESS—First, recognize that stress is very common. Be prepared and flexible. Below are tips on how to keep those stress levels lower as you transition back home, and help ease you back to comfort. Welcome home.

Reuniting Reuniting Reuniting with with with loved loved loved ones…ones…ones…

LLLISTENISTENISTEN—Everyone has a story to tell about what the time apart was like for them. Listen to each others’ stories.

CCCHANGEHANGEHANGESSS—Recognize that your experiences have changed you both more than you realized.

NNNEWEWEW B B BALANCEALANCEALANCE—Recognize a shift in roles/responsibilities has occurred. Slowly negotiate a new balance.

MMMARTYRARTYRARTYR—Don’t play “one-up” games, both sides had unique stressors. This is not a competition to see who suffered most.

IIINTERESTSNTERESTSNTERESTS—Build common interests again, go on dates.

PPPACEACEACE—Pace yourselves, the many different emotions you are experiencing can be exhausting.

FFFINANCESINANCESINANCES—A new system for handling finances developed while apart, slowly renegotiate how money will be handled.

UUUNWANTEDNWANTEDNWANTED—Both spouses may feel unneeded or unwanted. Remember that your roles have changed, and each person may feel that the other doesn’t need them for tasks the usually tended to. Each person may react differently; either trying to do everything, or maybe nothing at all.

S O M E K E Y W O R D S T O R E M E M B E R

OOOLDLDLD P P PROBLEMSROBLEMSROBLEMS—Realize problems that were there before you deployed may still be there.

GGGRIEFRIEFRIEF— ~Active Duty MemberActive Duty Member: As strange as it sounds, you may miss the deployment and its camaraderie, significant responsibilities, predictable routine, focus on the mission without distractions and the foreignness of the deployment site. ~SpouseSpouse: Your spouse may miss the undisputed control over the household and kids, and the ability to focus on his/her own personal growth.

PPPATIENCEATIENCEATIENCE—Practice flexibility and patience.

RRRESPECTESPECTESPECT—Communicate respect for each other.

SSSCHEDULESCHEDULESCHEDULES—It is important not to try to pack too much in at one time. The active duty member may feel overwhelmed by the every day noise and confusion of home life.

TTTIMEIMEIME T T TOGETHEROGETHEROGETHER—Make time for one another. Be aware that interruptions by family and friends will reduce the amount of time you have together.

FFFUTUREUTUREUTURE—Together, plan for your combined future in the military. Your worldviews may have changed. Previous priorities may seem much less important now.

EEEXPECTATIONSXPECTATIONSXPECTATIONS—Recognize that unrealistically high expectations about homecomings are common, the reality of the experience may be different than imagined. Be flexible.

GGGRATITUDERATITUDERATITUDE—Thank your family for managing the household in you absence. Resist the very strong temptation to provide “helpful” feedback on their actions during your absence in regards to the car, house, yard, money, kids, etc.

IIINTIMACYNTIMACYNTIMACY—Don’t be surprised if it takes a little while to redevelop a sense of intimacy. Sex may be awkward for awhile, or it might be the opposite and fully satisfying—it’s

impossible to determine how you and your spouse as unique individuals may respond. Make intimacy your goal—not just sex.

AAAPOLOPOLOPOLOGIZINGGIZINGGIZING—As happy as you are to see one another, don’t be shocked if you argue the first week, it’s normal. To lessen the impact of the event, don’t hesitate to use an apology where fit.

FFFRIENDSRIENDSRIENDS—Each of you may have a new circle of friends. Talking about who these people are and what you appreciated about them will help bridge the gap between “my” friends and “our” friends. Don’t resent these “new” friends or see them as intruding on “our” time. Be grateful these people helped your loved one survive.

PPPHHHYSICALYSICALYSICAL S S STATETATETATE—Don’t be surprised by changes in appetite, energy levels, sleep, etc. In fact, may people report feelings of exhaustion upon their return.

WWWHATHATHAT TOTOTO E E EXPECTXPECTXPECT WWWITHITHITH C C CHILDRENHILDRENHILDREN

Expect changes in your children as well. They may have residual feelings of anger/abandonment about your absence. Younger children may be shy and reluctant to hug you. Teenagers may act like they don’t care—but they do; reach out to them. Children frequently have a sense of loyalty to the parent left behind; if you criticize that parent, the kids may feel compelled to take their side and defend them. They may test the limits with you—it does not mean they are out of control or dislike you. Take it slow in re-building relationships with them. Make time for each individual child. Focus on things your child did well in your absence and try to limit criticism.