A Georgia Veteran’s Resource Guide

Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery

www.Veteransheartgeorgia.org

This grass roots organization that utilizes innovative approaches to helping veterans of all wars with the entire spectrum of the effects of war and military service. The organization is made up of veterans, mental health professionals, and citizens. Not only are the group members involved with helping veterans but their families and the community as well. This small grass roots organization is one that fosters alternative as well as mainstream approaches to helping veterans with the diagnosis of PTSD. Not only are the group members involved with helping veterans but their families as well. Since I am one of the founding members, I have a strong preference for the work. www.Veteransheartgeorgia.org
Veteran’s Heart Georgia fosters the healing of veterans of all wars by attending to the spiritual and emotional needs of veterans, their families, and our communities.
We are addressing the effects of war by creating a community-based network of services, resources and education.
This network includes:

consultation with specially trained counselors and mental health clinicians for veterans and families;
workshops and programs for veterans, couples and families, community gatherings and training for professionals;
outreach and mentoring by trained, seasoned veterans;
community education and involvement.

This work was influenced by concepts found in the book, War and the Soul, by Edward Tick.
We believe that:

There is healing for the invisible wounds of war-related PTSD*
The core work is the nurturing of a positive warrior identity
The suffering of families must be addressed, including the unaddressed wounds of war passed down through generations of families that have experienced war.
The citizens of our communities, those who are protected and guarded, must share the burden of the wounds of those who have gone to war.

“Veterans are the light at the tip of the candle, illuminating the
way for the whole nation. If veterans can achieve awareness,
transformation, understanding, and peace, they can share
with the rest of society the realities of war. And they can teach
us how to make peace with ourselves and each other, so we
never have to use violence to resolve conflicts again”.
-Thich Nhat Hahn

We invite all to begin the journey toward healing and resolution, recovery and reconciliation, moving towards a mature, peaceful and balanced Warrior identity for our veterans.
Veteran’s Heart Georgia has no political agenda, no goals beyond fostering healing from the effects of war. Our work is focused right here, on this healing.

The State of Georgia Department of Veterans Services (SDVS)

The State of Georgia Department of Veterans Services (SDVS) is the state agency charged with the responsibility of being the veterans advocate. The Department's mission falls into two basic tasks: 1.informing the veterans and their families about veterans' benefits. 2. Directly assisting and advising veterans and their families in securing the federal and state benefits to which they are entitled. This agency is for the veterans’ protection and is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the Federal Government fulfills its promises to Georgia’s Veterans.

About SDVS

The mission of the Department of Veterans Service is to serve the some 700,000-plus veterans residing in Georgia, their dependents, and survivors in all matters pertaining to veteran’s benefits.
The State Board of Veterans Service recommends policy, procedure and work projects to the Commissioner, and through him controls overall Department policy.
The Department's mission falls into two basic tasks: informing the veterans and their families about veterans' benefits; and directly assisting and advising veterans and their families in securing the federal and state benefits to which they are entitled.
The Department maintains a Claims Staff in the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office, 1700 Clairmont Road, Decatur, Ga.; operates field offices with itinerant service in the state's 159 counties; and provides representatives in the Atlanta, Augusta, and Dublin VA Medical Centers.
The Department owns the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville, which is operated under contract with Priva Trends of Toccoa, Ga., and the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home in Augusta, which is operated under contract with the Medical College of Georgia.
The Department of Veterans Service assists veterans and their dependents in filing claims and securing medical evidence and other data necessary to prosecute their claims filed with VA and other federal and state agencies.
The Department of Veterans Service also serves as the state approving agency for education programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Commissioner Pete Wheeler
State Veterans Service Board
State Veterans Leadership
Career Opportunities
Georgia Department of Veteran’s Services

The Disabled American Veterans organization is one of the oldest organizations helping Veterans. One of the criteria for working at DAV is that the service officers have a disability that was inflicted on the officer while he or she was in the military on active duty.

Disabled American Veterans has never wavered in our commitment to serve our nation’s service-connected disabled veterans, their dependents and survivors. Our largest endeavor in fulfilling that mission is our National Service Program. In 88 offices throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, the DAV employs a corps of approximately 260 National Service Officers (NSOs) who represent veterans and their families with claims for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Veterans need not be DAV members to take advantage of this outstanding assistance, which is provided free of charge.

NSOs function as attorneys-in-fact, assisting veterans and their families in filing claims for VA disability compensation and pension; vocational rehabilitation and employment; education; home loan guaranty; life insurance; death benefits; health care and much more. They provide free services, such as information seminars, counseling and community outreach. NSOs also represent veterans and active duty military personnel before Discharge Review Boards, Boards for Correction of Military Records, Physical Evaluation Boards and other official panels.

http://www.dav.org/veterans/MilitaryAffairs.aspx

National Association for Black Veterans, Inc.

My association with NABV has mostly been through my relationship with Balewa Alimayu, Georgia Chapter head for the state of Georgia. He works all the time, and helps veterans no matter what their color is. He can be reached by phone at 404 668 6541, or by email at Alimayu@yahoo.com.

The web page for the local chapter is under construction and will be up and running soon according to Balewa.

The Georgia Chapter has helped more homeless veterans than any other organization that I have been in contact with in the state of Georgia.
Mission
The National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. will provide ongoing strategic advocacy on behalf of its membership with Congress, the Federal Administration, State Administrations and other agencies and organizations. NABVETS will provide personal advocacy on behalf of veterans seeking claims against the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; advocacy for youth in all matters required for successful passage into adulthood; advocacy on behalf of families; and advocacy in creating positive lifestyles for veterans. It will also promote community involvement, and generate and preserve the historical record.
Vision
To be a professional organization with a membership that includes 50% of the total black veteran population nationally; an organization with State Departments and Command Councils located in every state and city with a population greater than 250,000; an organization that has an emphasis on younger veterans who are on active duty or who are recently separated veterans; an organization that offers its members a wide array of benefits and services; an organization that provides services to all veterans, but especially low-income veterans; and an organization that is financially viable.
National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. is:
 A nationally certified Veterans Service Organization and a United States Department of Veterans Affairs claims representative for the purpose of benefits and discharge upgrade services;
 A membership organization with membership and chapters throughout the United States and Puerto Rico;
 Working in unity with the community to end homelessness, empower low-income and minority veterans and working with disadvantaged youth;
 Preserving the historical contributions of minority veterans, such as the Congressionally approved National Day of Honor (May 25th);
 Advocating for amnesty for Vietnam era veterans;
 Publishing Eclipse Magazine (established in 1974 as Eclipse Newspaper);
 Calling attention to the needs of homeless and economically disadvantaged veterans;
 Developing affordable permanent housing for all low-income veterans and non-veterans;
 Rising to the challenge of addressing amnesty for Vietnam veterans and youth development in the community;
 Providing incarcerated veteran services;
 Providing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Agent Orange and behavioral health counseling through IVOCC Behavioral Health Clinic;
 Operating Veterans United for Community Services (VUCS), a nationally acclaimed program of NABVETS that brings veterans, today’s ‘citizen soldiers,’ to the table in overcoming barriers facing America’s growing population of low-income and homeless veterans and the problems faced by youth. Since 1995, VUCS members have volunteered over 400,000 hours of community service, with at least 70% of these hours dedicated to working with youth.
http://www.nabvets.com/

Soldiersangels.org

Who We Are

This group has been very helpful in so many different ways that I will let it speak for itself.
Soldiers' Angels was started by a self-described ordinary mother of two American soldiers, Patti Patton-Bader. Her eldest son, Staff Sergeant Brandon, deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004, and her youngest was deployed in 2008.
In the summer of his 2003 deployment, Brandon expressed concern that some soldiers in his unit did not receive any mail or support from home. Being a loving and caring mother, Patti decided not to allow a situation like that to continue. She quickly contacted a handful of friends and extended family and asked if they would support a soldier or two. Within just a few months, Soldiers' Angels went from a mother sending a few extra care packages and letters, to an Internet community with thousands of Angels worldwide. With more and more merchants donating services, money and items for packages, Soldiers' Angels reorganized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2004.
Soldiers' Angels currently supports tens of thousands of American military personnel stationed wherever we raise our nation's flag. In December 2004, an online forum was created to provide coordination for the thousands of Angels helping to meet the needs of our heroes. As of April 2008, our membership numbers more than 200,000 volunteers, led by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees and Officers. Today, Soldiers' Angels works around the world to address military-related needs ranging from deployed support to wounded care to remembrance of the fallen, and a wide variety of assistance for military families.
As a volunteer-based nonprofit, we have over 30 different teams supporting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Through special projects, dedicated teams, and individuals supporting our troops, we make a visible difference in the lives of our service members and their families. To get involved, check out the list below or learn more here!

Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery

In 2008, The Rand cooperation published Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery. This comprehensive work is certainly the most complete work of its kind concerning PTSD, War, and soldiers and their situations on return from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since it publication, I believe it has become the most quoted work of its kind. The Rand group won the following award in 2008 for this body of work: WINNER — 2008 PROSE Award — Clinical Medicine. The American Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarly Excellence
This report is an objective investigation into the many costs (i.e., emotional, financial, physical, etc) of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It estimates "that PTSD and depression among returning service members will cost the nation as much as $6.2 billion in the two years following deployment."
The full text of the report can be found by clicking on the following link: Invisible Wounds of War (PDF). Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view the file
Due to the size of the report, it has been broken up into the following sections for ease of reading. All files are in PDF format, requiring Adobe Acrobat reader.

Part II: The Nature and Scope of the Problem

Part III: Immediate and Long-Term Consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Traumatic Brain Injury

Chapter Five: Immediate and Long-Term Consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom

Part IV: Economic Consequences

Chapter Six: The Cost of Post-Deployment Mental Health and Cognitive Conditions

Part V: Caring for the Invisible Wounds

Chapter Seven: Systems of Care: Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Access to High-Quality Care

Part VI: Conclusions and Recommendations

Chapter Eight: Treating the Invisible Wounds of War: Conclusions and Recommendations

I really like what these folks are doing and the fact that so many have used this service indicates to me that good is being done. I have been a volunteer on the web page for over a year and have not been contacted by the service or vets using the service. I still list them because I believe in the cause and it makes sense to have this service.

Our Mission
Our mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. Our first target population is the U.S. troops and families who are being affected by the current military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Give an Hour™ is asking mental health professionals nationwide to donate an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. Research will guide the development of additional services needed by the military community, and appropriate networks will be created to respond to those needs. Individuals who receive services will be given the opportunity to give an hour back in their own community. We are also offering services to parents, siblings, and unmarried partners who are not entitled to receive mental health benefits through the military
Our Focus
Our organization is currently focusing on the psychological needs of military personnel and their families because of the significant human cost of the current conflicts. Over 1.8 million troops have been deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf since September 11, 2001. Nearly 550,000 of these troops have been deployed more than once. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, as of March 24, 2009, a total of 4,926 American troops have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, 33,856 U.S. troops have been injured during these conflicts.
In addition to the physical injuries sustained, countless servicemen and servicewomen have experienced psychological symptoms directly related to their deployment. According to a RAND report released in April 2008, over 18 percent of troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan--nearly 300,000 troops--have symptoms of post-traumatic stress or major depression.
A major barrier preventing military personnel from seeking appropriate treatment is the perception of stigma associated with treatment. Many fear that seeking mental health services will jeopardize their career or standing. Others are reluctant to expose their vulnerabilities to providers who are often military personnel themselves, given the military culture’s emphasis on strength, confidence, and bravery. Servicemen and servicewomen might be more inclined to seek help if they know that the services provided are completely independent of the military. By providing services that are separate from the military establishment, we offer an essential option for men and women who might otherwise fail to seek or receive appropriate services.
Web address: http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG720/

Care For The Troops, Inc is a 501 c3 Non-Profit formed to develop a network of civilian faith communities, civic organizations, and networks of therapists all trained and able to work with the military members, veterans, and their families as they adjust to the changes experienced during and after returning from deployments and combat.

Our Mission…:

Work to improve the ability of the civilian mental health infrastructure in the State of Georgia, then nationally, to work with military family members
Facilitate connecting military families to providers of spiritual and psychological services familiar with the military culture and trauma
Focus on addressing combat stress recovery as well as other spiritual and mental health related problems impacting the marriages and families of military veterans
Educate and train clinicians, congregation and community leaders, extended family, and civilian groups about the military culture and trauma associated with military deployments in order to better assess and treat mental health symptoms, and provide more effective referrals and care
Provide opportunities for additional trauma treatment training to clinicians
Operate in an interfaith, non-political manner, focusing on the humanitarian interest that benefits the veterans and their extended family members

WHO is the site for? ... This site is for military members, their immediate and extended family members; whether there is a family member deployed, between deployments, recently returned, or separated. It is also for mental health professionals, congregation and community leaders, and others who are in positions to provide help, compassion, or advice to those who are recovering from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
WHY visit this site? ... This site will help those who are both near and far from the existing DOD and VA facilities; who may be having difficulty getting the help needed in a timely manner. We are working to help better educate and train an additional civilian cadre of mental health professionals and community and congregation leaders on how better to understand the issues of those affected by the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict. The goal is to be able to provide the needed resources that can address the mental health issues when they arise and cause any further delay in receiving treatment.
Congregation leaders would include leaders of all faiths. Community Leader examples are school counselors, family practice doctors, members of social service organizations, police chiefs, fire chiefs, or other employers. It is without limits as it includes all civilians who come in contact with our brave veterans and their family members.
Our Goal for this web site? ... We want this website to be a resource you can rely upon and trust to help better understand the mental health issues of US military and their extended families resulting from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. By better understanding the issues, more will recognize the symptoms and triggers and this will result in a better quality and quantity of referrals to mental health professionals.

Web address: http://www.careforthetroops.com/

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

“This group is one of the best, well organized and helpful organizations I have encountered. It was started by and maintained by Veterans that served in Iraq and or Afghanistan, certainly one of a kind. “

Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.
The Need: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in their sixth and seventh years respectively. More than 1.7 million American troops have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and thousands have been deployed multiple times.
IAVA addresses critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health, Traumatic Brain Injury, a stretched VA system, inadequate health coverage for national guardsmen and reservists, and outdated GI Bill educational benefits.
IAVA is dedicated to educating the public about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, advocating on behalf of those who have served, and fostering a community for troops, veterans, and their families.
History: IAVA was founded in 2004 by current Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff and his fellow Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. After returning home from their tours, these veterans came together after quickly becoming concerned with the way the war in Iraq was being portrayed in the media and the overall plight of newly returned veterans. There were many policy experts, and talking heads on TV, but very few people who had actually served on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan. There was no one talking about what our wounded friends needed, and the issues they faced. The creation of IAVA allowed thousands of veterans to join the national dialogue, and to explain what was really happening on the ground overseas and back home in the US.

IAVA Membership

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the country’s first and largest non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of OIF/OEF veterans and their families. We have over 125,000 veteran members and supporters are growing rapidly. IAVA members comprise the largest community of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the country.

Benefits of Membership

Join IAVA today, and become an IAVA Member Veteran. As always, membership with IAVA is free.

Link up with other veterans
Get information on local events
Gain access to Community of Veterans, our vets-only online social network

Other Resources

We maintain the following resource directory for OIF and OEF vets. To gain access to even more resources and benefits, become an IAVA Member Veteran today.

Email this page

Web address: http://iava.org/content/iava-action-fundIAVA Mission and History

The Veterans Administration is the U.S. Government’s department that is the direct care giver for our veterans that have served honorably during peace time as well as in time of war. Listed here is what they say about themselves. This department has been under fire for many reported abuses since its inception. It is our government, our department for helping veterans, and it is up to Americans to help this government agency perform at its best.

Their stated goal is to provide excellence in patient care, veterans' benefits and customer satisfaction. We have reformed our department internally and are striving for high quality, prompt and seamless service to veterans. Our department's employees continue to offer their dedication and commitment to help veterans get the services they have earned. Our nation's veterans deserve no less.
Our Nation's Veterans
Of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every four served during a war or an official period of hostility. About a quarter of the nation's population -- approximately 70 million people -- are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.


Veteran Data & Information	Veterans Day & Special Events	Veterans Organizations

VA Mission Statement
To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.
VA Vision
To provide veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned – and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship.
VA Core Values
Compassion – We will treat all veterans and their families with the utmost dignity and compassion. We will provide services in a caring manner, with a sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.
Commitment– Veterans have earned our gratitude and respect. Their health care, benefits, and memorial service needs to drive our actions
Excellence – We strive to exceed the expectations of veterans and their families. We strive to perform at the highest level of competence and take pride in our accomplishments.
Professionalism– Our success depends on maintaining a highly-skilled, diverse, and compassionate workforce. We foster a culture that values equal opportunity, innovation, and accountability.
Integrity– We recognize the importance of accurate information. We practice open, truthful, and timely communication with veterans, employees, and external stakeholders. By carefully listening and responding to their concerns, we seek continuous improvement in our programs and services.
Accountability– We will perform in a manner at all times that makes us accountable, responsible, and answerable to veterans and their families, our leaders and other employees as well as external stakeholders.
Stewardship– We will ensure responsible stewardship of the human, financial, and natural resources as well as data and information entrusted to us. We will improve performance through the use of innovative technologies, evidence-based medical practices, and sound business principles.
Strategic and Enabling Goals
Goal 1 – Restore the capability of veterans with disabilities to the greatest extent possible, and improve the quality of their lives and that of their families.
Goal 2 – Ensure a smooth transition for veterans from active military service to civilian life.
Goal 3 – Honor and serve veterans in life, and memorialize them in death for their sacrifices on behalf of the Nation.
Goal 4 – Contribute to the public health, emergency management, socioeconomic well‑being, and history of the Nation.
Enabling Goal – Deliver world-class service to veterans and their families through effective communication and management of people, technology, business processes, and financial resources.
Web address : http://www.va.gov/

Coping with Deployment: A Guide for Family Members

When a family member goes to war, the impact upon those left at home can be daunting. Here are some suggestions for managing the stress associated with the deployment of a family member.

The Emotional Cycle of Deployment
When a loved one is deployed, fluctuating emotions such as pride, anger, fear, and bitterness can add to the distress of uncertainty. Various emotions continue during the person’s deployment, based upon changes the family encounters as they adjust to the departure and absence of their family member, these emotions tend to occur in the following cycle:

A short period of intense emotions, such as fear and anger, often results when news of deployment is released to the family.
Detachment and withdrawal increase as departure grows closer.
Renewed intense emotions such as sadness, loneliness, and tension tend to be common at the time of departure; this can last several weeks or longer.
Adjustment to routine tends to follow during the first weeks of deployment, as families make meaning of the family member’s absence and develop new roles and routines.
Anticipation and stress tend to occur as the end of the deployment period draws near, and the family adjusts to the return of the service member.

Deployment and Patterns of Family Interaction
Deployment is always challenging, but sometimes these challenges become excessive. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Changes in family circumstances, such as those involved with deployment of a family member, always exaggerate preexisting family patterns. For example, if a family already has difficulty communicating with one another, such problems may worsen during times of stress, and add strain to the family.
Families that are flexible with respect to roles and responsibilities tend to do much better than families that attempt to maintain a rigid structure without the participation of the deployed member. A spouse or significant other may have struggles with income, employment, and childcare and discipline. Your military contingency officer and your employee assistance program can provide you with childcare referrals, including before- and after-school programs and in-home care. Getting information about difficult issues, such as separation anxiety, discipline, raising adolescents, and sibling rivalry, may help make care easier.
Denial, as for example those deployed downplaying the potential for danger in order to protect the family from excessive worry, can make family members feel their feelings of fear are being invalidated.
When certain family members, particularly children, do express their fear or anger, families should not view these feelings as too sensitive or as an annoyance. Instead, realize that those feelings may be emotions that everyone shares, but perhaps not everyone is courageous enough to acknowledge.
Fear of the unknown, as for example occurring when there is minimal communication with the deployed family member, may heighten anxiety and stress. Reliance on the media or even military channels for information may involve frightening commentary and images. Online discussion groups can also be a source of unreliable information that creates needless distress. Learn what you can about the issues from trustworthy resources, such as public libraries and published books. Put the risk in proportion so that you are in a better position to think realistically. For example, remind yourself that even though you hear regularly about deaths in the military, the vast majority of deployed troops are not harmed.
There are special concerns when the primary caretaker is deployed.

Suggestions for Families of Deployed Military Personnel:

Take time to listen to each other.
Know that deployment will be a painful and frightening time, particularly for children. Spend time listening to family members without judging or criticizing what they say. People may need to just express themselves during this time. The more family members can communicate with one another, the less long-term strain there will be on the family.

Limit exposure to news media programs.
Families should minimize exposure to anxiety-arousing media related to the war. News programs often emphasize fearful content and frightening images to create a "story." Watching a lot of TV news programs, for example, can create needless distress. When children worry about war, let them know that the war is far away. Acknowledge children's fears, and let them know that parents, teachers, and police are here to protect them.

Remember the deployed member is still a part of the family.
Find ways to keep a symbolic representation of the deployed member visible to the family. Keep photographs of your loved one in prominent locations. Get children's help in keeping a family journal of each day's events for the deployed member to look at when he or she returns.

Understand feelings.
Emotions such as fear, anger, and feeling "numb" are normal and common reactions to stress. Family members need to make sure these emotions aren't turned against one another in frustration. It will help family members manage tension if you share feelings, recognize that they are normal, and realize that most family members feel the same way.

Spend time with people outside of the family
Coping with stressful events is easier when in the company of caring friends. Ask for support from your family, friends, church, or other community group.

Join or develop support groups.
Forming support groups for the spouses of deployed military personnel helps spouses cope with separation from their loved ones. Peer-support groups, led by spouses of deployed service members, can be a tremendous aid to family functioning. Spouses can share ideas with each other, trade childcare or other responsibilities, and encourage each other if they are feeling taxed.

Keep up routines.
Try to stick to everyday routines. Familiar habits can be very comforting.

Take time out for fun.
Don't forget to do things that feel good to you. Take a walk, spend time with your pets, or play a game you enjoy.

Help others.
It is beneficial for everyone in your family, and your community, to find ways you can help others. Helping other families and organizing neighborhood support groups or outings can help everyone involved.

Self-care.
The more emotionally nurturing and stable the remaining caretaker is able to be, the less stress the children will feel. Trying to "do it all," however, can lead to exhaustion. Signs of caregiver stress include feeling as though you are unable to cope, feeling constantly exhausted, and/or feeling as though you no longer care about anything. It is especially important for caretakers to devote time to themselves, exercise, and get plenty of rest.

Get professional help if needed.
When stress becomes overwhelming, don't be afraid to seek professional help. Ongoing difficulties such as exhaustion, apathy, worry, sleeplessness, bad dreams, irritability, or anger-outbursts warrant the attention of a professional counselor. The military employment assistance program provides free counseling for family members impacted by the stress of deployment. Contingency planning personnel are available on bases around the country to help.

Much of this information is based on this document.

Web Links

Veterans Heart Georgia: This grass roots organization utilizes innovative approaches to helping veterans of all wars with the entire spectrum of the effects of war and military service. The organization is made up of veterans, mental health professionals and citizens.

CareForTheTroops Inc. is a 501c3 Non-Profit formed to develop a network of civilian faith communities, civic organizations, and networks of therapists all trained and able to work with the military members, veterans, and their families as they adjust to the changes experienced during and after returning from deployments and combat.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is the information forGeorgia’s largest provider of VA services and the web site address.
Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033
Phone: (404) 321-6111 hrs. 8:00a.m-4:30p.m.
Website www1.va.gov/Atlanta
24-hour VA suicide hot line : 1-800-273-TALK

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

America's Heroes at Work: Welcome to America's Heroes at Work - a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) project that addresses the employment challenges of returning service members living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

U.S. Vets Over 200,000 veterans will sleep on the streets of our nation tonight. Our VISION is that one day there will no longer be homeless veterans in America...U.S. VETS provides housing, counseling, job assistance, and HOPE to thousands of homeless veterans each year. Our programs foster the skills necessary for every veteran to return to the community and remain self-sufficient.

This is a link provided by the US army for soldiers that help with some information on stress, suicide facts, and some veteran benefits that are available.

Welcome Back Veterans is resource to help welcome back veteran returning from deployment.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

Substance Involvement and the Military Experience

Although healthy use of substances is part of many peoples’ way of being human, excessive or dysfunctional use, abuse, or dependence can lead to various problems. These tendencies are particularly common in individuals who experience stress related to military deployment, service, return home, and in support of those who serve or who have served. This fact sheet is intended to help military members, veterans, and family members make decisions about responsible substance use and to evaluate when their substance use is a problem.

Most active military personnel, veterans, and family members who drink alcohol are social or recreational drinkers. Social drinkers...

...drink simply to enhance the pleasure of normally pleasurable experiences, and that's what happens.
...don't experience problems of any kind associated with drinking.
...never feel out of control or that they've had too much to drink.
...don't think about how much or how often they drink; it's just not an issue.
...never get complaints about how much or how often they drink because there's nothing to complain about.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Some people who drink alcohol, or who use other substances, become substance abusers. People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are more likely than others with similar backgrounds to have alcohol use disorders both before and after being diagnosed with PTSD, and people with alcohol use disorders often also have PTSD.

Alcohol and drug abusers, or substance abusers...

... use alcohol or other drugs to help them change the way they feel about themselves and/or some aspect(s) of their lives.
... experience some problems associated with their alcohol or other drug use but use those experiences to set appropriate limits on how much and how often they drink or use.
... seldom, if ever, repeat the alcohol- and drug-related behaviors that have caused them problems in the past.
... know what their limits are and drink or abuse within those limits - unless they have a good reason not to.
... get complaints about their drinking or using and accept those complaints as expressions of concern for their well-being.

Substance use can become dysfunctional when it becomes the preferred or sole way to manage life struggles such as:

Sleep problems
Anxiety
Grief, loneliness, or boredom
Escape from the present situation
Difficulties in relationships with others
Unpleasant memories or traumatic events

Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to see if you are developing a problem:

Have friends or family members commented on how much or how often you drink?
Have you have found yourself feeling guilty about your drinking or drug use?
Have you found yourself drinking (using) more over time?
Have you tried to cut down your alcohol (drug) use?
Does your drinking (using drugs) ever affect your ability to fulfill personal obligations such as parenting or work?
Do you drink (use) in situations that are physically dangerous such as driving or operating machinery while under the influence?
Have you found that you need more alcohol (drug) to get the same effect?

If you find that you are answering “yes” to one or more of these questions, perhaps it is time to reevaluate your use, cut back, and seek help from friends, family, or a professional.

Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Some people who drink alcohol or who use other drugs become alcoholics and/or substance addicts. Alcoholics and drug addicts...

...experience negative consequences associated with drinking or using but continue to drink or use despite those consequences.
...set limits on how much or how often they will drink or use but unexpectedly exceed those limits.
...promise themselves and/or other people that they will drink or use in moderation but break those promises.
...feel guilty or remorseful about their drinking or using but still fail to permanently alter the way they drink or use.
...get complaints about their drinking or using and resent, discount, and/or disregard those comments and complaints.

Alcohol and Drug Use Management

Social drinkers and users, substance abusers, and alcoholics and addicts can best manage their relationships with alcohol and drugs in different ways.

Social drinkers are fine. They need do nothing. Drinking is not in and of itself the issue. If it's really not a problem, then it's not a problem.

Alcohol abusers may not need to abstain completely from the use of alcohol, but they need to deal with the problems and issues that make them want to change the way they feel, even it means getting professional help.

Alcoholics and addicts need to abstain completely from all addictive and potentially addictive mood- and mind-altering substances, and they will almost surely need professional help and/or support to accomplish that goal. Getting help is the most useful tool in decreasing or stopping problem drinking or drug use, even if you have doubts about being able to quit or if you are feeling guilt about the problem. Call your health provider, contact a physician or therapist, call your local VA hospital, or contact your local Alcoholic’s Anonymous for guidance in your recovery. These contacts can help you on the road to the life you want.

Information in this fact sheet is based on information from this site and a fact sheet from the National Center for PTSD called Stress, Trauma, and Alcohol and Drug Use.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

The Five Phases of Homecoming: A Guide for Veterans and Their Loved Ones

Throughout this website we have emphasized that recovery from disasters is a process, and not an event. It takes time and requires personal meaning-making adaptation to change. As with other processes, having a “map” or a guide can help us in navigating the territory. Here are some guidelines to help veterans and their loved ones during the homecoming process.

Many veterans and their families merely assume that homecoming will go well, or “hope” that it will. But preparing for homecoming, and having a sense of where veterans and their families are in the process, can help you all meet the challenges you and your family may encounter. The five phases of homecoming are as follows:

1. Anticipation 2. Reunion 3. Realization of Changes 4. Acceptance 5. New Normal

Phase 1: The Anticipation Phase
This phase can begin as soon as the service member leaves for deployment and is sometimes the single most important motivation for coping with life’s challenges while they serve and anticipate eventual homecoming. Similarly, loved ones are anticipating the veteran’s return, and this anticipation is the beginning of the homecoming process.

Phase 2: The Homecoming Reunion Phase
This phase can be both exhilarating and terrifying for all involved. So many wants, needs, and expectations are present but not clearly defined. We have included information elsewhere on this website to assist with this reunion process.

Phase 3: The Realization of Changes Phase
Veterans and their loved ones become aware of this phase when they begin to realize fully the subtle and significant changes that have occurred in family or system members, and in the context in which the family or system resides, during the time apart from each other. Change is a necessary and unavoidable part of the military experience -- and of the human condition in general. During this phase it will be helpful to try to not label change and growth as positive or negative. In reality, the only thing that is definite is change; all people grow and adapt to cope with their surroundings. The key to dealing with these new realizations in order to move to the next phase of homecoming is effective communication.

Phase 4: The Acceptance and Adaptation Phase
Once we take the time to observe and acknowledge the reality that the veteran has been apart and has returned, and that changes have occurred in him or her and in the family system, it is up to us to learn how to grow and accept these changes so that we can then begin to adapt to them. Acceptance allows us to move to the next phase of homecoming. Some of this process involves grieving the old ways of being and moving toward acceptance of the fact of military involvement and its consequences for veterans and their families.

Phase 5: The “New Normal” Phase
We begin to enter this phase when we feel a settling awareness that our time apart and individual experiences have created a new and different understanding of what is now normal for ourselves and others.

Homecoming is a process, not an event, and it occurs over time. Knowing the phases of homecoming can help veterans and their families adjust to the realities of the military service experience.

Parts of this fact sheet are excerpted and modified from this site.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

10 Tips for Parents and Teachers of Preschool Children in a Time of War

Talk with your children. When they have questions, answer them honestly but simply and with reassurance. Ask them what they think is happening, and listen to their answers. Be ready for questions that may be difficult to answer, such as, "Why do they hate us?" and "Will Daddy die when he's fighting over there?"
Use your family like a security blanket for your children: Wrap them up in family closeness. Especially during a time of war, make sure your children have lots of family time. Spend more time with your children playing games, reading to them, or just holding them close.
Limit the amount of news your children watch during a time of war. Turn off the TV or radio when war coverage is on. You don't need to hide what's happening in the world from your children, but neither do you have to expose them to constant stories about war. Put away newspapers and magazines that have extensive photo coverage of war or frightening covers.
During a time of war, map out a routine and stick to it. Young children like routines and rituals. If bedtime is the time you read stories to your children, make sure you keep that time for stories. Your child may be less able to handle change at home when the world situation is unstable.
Make sure you take care of yourself. Your children read your face for clues as to how to feel. If they fall down and see concern on your face, they will be much more likely to decide that the fall hurt. Similarly, if your face reflects the stress and fear you may feel in a time of war, they will pick up on that. Many people find that turning to a higher power, whether through organized religion or privately, can help. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of your children.
Use play to help your children express their fears about what is happening. Encourage them to use art or pretend games to express what they may not be able to put into words.
Tell your children that they will be all right. Reassure them that they will be protected. Have an emergency plan for the family and share whatever parts of it you think your children can understand. You might tell them, for example, that home is "base" if something happens, but that Aunt Carol's house is another safe place you can visit.
Watch your children for signs of fear and anxiety they may not be able to put into words. Have your children become extra clingy, needing more hugs and kisses than usual? Have your children started wetting the bed or sucking their thumb after you thought they had outgrown that behavior? They may be feeling the pressure of what is going on in the world around them.
Enlist your children's help. Just because your children are very young does not mean they can't do age-appropriate chores, even if it's just putting placemats on the table. If your children know that they have a role to play and that they can help, they will feel more in control and more confident.
Put things into a positive perspective for your children. Your children have not been around long enough to know that things can change and that wars end. But, they may have experienced something bad or scary that they overcame, and you can point out a time when they had courage before. When you talk about bad times, make sure you talk about the good times in the future as well.

This fact sheet is based on information found at this site.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

Coping and Anxiety Management for Deployed Personnel and Veterans

Military service is a difficult, disruptive, and sometimes life-threatening experience. As a result it is common to experience traumatic stress and perhaps even some symptoms of depression and anxiety during and following this life experience. Military service may also influence physical problems such as changes in sleep and appetite, digestive problems, more susceptibility to colds or other illnesses, and increased use of alcohol and other substances. Persons on active duty and veterans may also have emotional responses such as fear, irritability, nightmares, difficulties concentrating, feelings of betrayal, and loss of interest in everyday activities.

How can deployed personnel cope with the stresses of military service, and how can veterans manage and integrate the stressors of military service into their life experiences? Here are some helpful suggestions:

Whether deployed or having returned, you may use grounding, a technique designed to keep your experience in the “here and now” and remind you that you are alive and present to life.

Focus on breathing as a calming and centering strategy. A natural part of our "fight or flight" response to threat or anxiety is to breathe rapidly and deeply, which can often result in hyperventilation. Hyperventilation produces uncomfortable or even frightening sensations that can actually increase anxiety, creating a "vicious cycle" in which anxiety or fear provokes hyperventilation, which in turn increases anxiety and fear. Breathing training can help stop this cycle before it gets out of control.
Experiment with watching your thoughts to identify those that may be catastrophic or lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Whether deployed or having returned, realistic and present-centered thoughts can contribute to a sense of presence and stability.

Challenge negative beliefs. Replace such thoughts as, "It is always going to be like this” with, "This experience is something that will pass.”
Adjust self-talk. Convert negative messages into positive ones, for example, replace "I’ll never get through this," with "I can do this, but it’s normal and okay to feel scared and overwhelmed."
Use previous ordeals that have been successfully overcome as a "power base."
Consider alternative outcomes for worst-case scenarios, for example, "I can still see my friends, I can enjoy the little things in life."
Imagine how this event will be viewed in the future, remembering how things do change over time.

Learn to manage anxiety through such strategies as guided imagery and relaxation.

Mobilize a support system or group to reach out and connect with others, especially those who may have shared the stressful event. Although there are professional resources to organize and facilitate recovery following military service, there is a lot we can do on our own. Consider joining a veterans’ support group.
Talk about the traumatic experience with empathic listeners in your circle of colleagues, friends, family, and spiritual community.
Cry if that works for you, or laugh or yell, but do something to express yourself emotionally “Getting things out” helps.
Exercise can contribute to greater well-being following military service.
Prayer, meditation, or other spiritual practices are helpful coping strategies
Look for opportunities for service to others, that even in the midst of your own challenges while being deployed or on your return can help enhance coping.
Use creativity to fill your life with “food for your soul.” There are some wonderful pieces of art and music being created by deployed military persons and by veterans.
Nourish yourself through healthy eating and drinking, and avoid self-medication, alcohol, or other drugs.
Write about your experience in detail, just for yourself or to share with others

Remember that as difficult as military service is, it is possible to pass through and integrate it as a meaningful part of your life. Focusing on your coping during your service and upon your return will nurture inner strength, compassion for others, self-awareness, and a perspective on your service and its meaning for you and others.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

Issues in Mental Health Help-Seeking for Veterans and Their Families

Some recent research indicates that one in three veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from significant to severe stress, anxiety and/or trauma, yet close to 60% of them do not seek help, typically for one or all of the following reasons:

Fear of being stigmatized by peers and superiors

Fear of having documentation in their medical records that could prevent future advancement or civilian employment opportunities

An emphasis on self-reliance that may make it difficult to ask for help

A discomfort or aversion to counseling and to sharing or reliving difficult experiences, especially if the counselor is a non-Veteran or non-Combat Veteran
The lack of availability of culturally sensitive or financially practical help sources

Psychotherapy involves talking with a trained mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or counselor. The professional helps people gain insight into their feelings, change behaviors, resolve problems or learn how to deal with feelings like stress, grief, loss, fear and sadness. Talk therapy is sometimes combined with homework assignments between sessions. Therapy can be held one-on-one, with couples, families or even in groups. Participation in short-term counseling or psychotherapy can help active personnel, veterans, and family members recognize and begin to recover from the influence of trauma related to military service and its consequences. Millions of Americans have found help changing some aspect of their life through psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or counseling.

Consider Therapy If...

You feel an overwhelming and prolonged sense of helplessness and sadness, and your problems do not seem to get better despite your efforts and help from family and friends.
You are finding it difficult to carry out everyday activities: for example, you are unable to concentrate on assignments at work, and your job performance is suffering as a result.
You worry excessively, expect the worst, or are constantly on edge.
Your actions are harmful to yourself or to others: for instance, you are drinking too much alcohol, abusing drugs, or becoming overly argumentative and aggressive.

This fact sheet is based on information contained at the following websites:

APA Help Center (pdf)

Brainguidance.com (pdf)

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

Managing the Homecoming Process

Much of our experience of events is influenced by our expectations about them, and having realistic expectations of one another and of the process during the homecoming transition can contribute to mental health. Here are some common tendencies regarding the homecoming process and some suggestions for managing them:

Normal parts of the process for Veterans:

You may miss the excitement of the deployment for a while.
Some things may have changed while you were gone.
Face-to-face communication may be hard at first.
Sexual closeness may also be awkward at first.
Children will have grown and may be different in many ways.
Roles may have changed to manage basic household chores.
Spouses may have become more independent and may have learned new coping skills.
Spouses may have new friends and support systems.
You may have changed in your outlook and priorities in life.
You may want to talk about what you saw and did. Others may seem not to want to listen. Or you may not want to talk about it when others keep asking.

Normal parts of the process for Significant Others:

Veterans may have changed.
Veterans, used to the stimulation and the open spaces of the deployment, may feel closed in.
Veterans also may be overwhelmed by the noise and confusion of home life.
Veterans may be on a different schedule for sleeping and eating.
Veterans may wonder if they still fit into the family.
Veterans may want to take back all the responsibilities they had before they left.
Veterans may feel hurt when young children are slow to hug them.

Normal parts of the process for Family Members:

Babies less than 1 year old may not know the returning veteran and may cry when held.
Toddlers (1-3 years) may also show fear and be slow to come to the returning veteran.
Preschoolers (3-5 years) may feel guilty over the separation and be scared.
School-age children (6-12 years) may want a lot of time and attention from the returning veteran and also the significant others.
Teenagers (13-18 years) may be moody and may appear not to care.
Veterans may require additional time adjusting to the changes that occured within the family while they were deployed.
Reunion is part of the deployment cycle and is filled with joy and stress. The following tips can help you have the best possible reunion.

Tips for Veterans for managing the homecoming process:

COMMUNICATE! Try to involve your significant other in the homecoming experience by sharing your emotions (nervous, scared, happy, uncertain), and Listen. The best way to get through the re-acquaintance jitters and to regain closeness with your loved ones is to talk and actively listen
If you are not comfortable talking or being close to people around you try to help them understand by communicating in a calm and sincere way that you are in need of some private decompression time and ask for their patience.
Be aware of how the intensity of your surroundings has changed and how your circumstances may require less intensity and confrontation than during your deployment. If you experience quickness to anger try to catch yourself sooner in the reactive process. It is normal to feel keyed up and on edge after deployment.
Be prepared to make some adjustments, and go slowly in finding a role in the family.
Be supportive of good things that your family has done.
Take time to talk with your significant other and children, making time for each.
Intimacy and closeness may feel distant at first. Again, be patient and communicate with your partner. You may have been in a dangerous environment where you had to put your emotions and feelings safely away to focus on your job. It is normal to need time to reopen these areas of intimacy and closeness. Expect that sex may be awkward at first.
Take time to listen and to talk with loved ones.
Avoid excessive drinking or use of other substances during the transition time. Although these may seem harmless and fun and you may have a sense of “deserving” the relaxation, substance struggles are a serious problem among veterans.

Tips for Significant Others for managing the homecoming process:

Avoid scheduling too many activities.
Go slowly in making adjustments.
It is okay if you and your veteran need time individual time at first to reestablish your roles in the family and your relationship to one another.
Remind the veteran that he or she is still needed in the family.
Discuss reallocating family responsibilities and chores to involve the veteran.
Try to begin the process of making decisions together that you have formerly had to make individually during the deployment. This includes decisions about finances and activities and friendship relations.
Along with time for the family, make individual time to talk just to each other.
Be patient with yourself and your partner.

Tips to help Children in managing the homecoming process:

Go slowly, be patient, and try to understand the roles and routines and rules already in place before changing them. Delay making changes in rules and routines for a few weeks.
Let the child set the pace for getting to know the veteran again.
As a veteran try to learn from and build on how your spouse or significant other managed the children in your absence. Don’t make sudden disciplinary changes.
Be available to your child, both with time and with your emotions.
Expect that the family will not be the same as before you left; everyone has changed.
Focus on successes with your children; limit your criticisms. Expect changes in both your significant other and in your children. Adapt accordingly, remembering that most of the changes mean growth and maturity. If some of the changes are negative, be patient; you and your family will have plenty of time to bring things back around to a position of comfort.

Much of this information is modified and adapted from this source.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

Mental Health in Time of War: 10 Principles for Military Members, Veterans, and their Families

Make connections:
Keep in touch with family, friends, and others. Connecting with people provides social support and strengthens resilience. Some people find comfort in connecting with a higher power, whether through organized religion or privately.
Help yourself by helping others:
Assisting others in a time of need, such as doing volunteer work at a community organization or helping families of active reservists or military personnel serving in the war, can be empowering.
Maintain a daily routine:
Keeping up with your daily routine of work, errands, household chores, and hobbies can provide you with a feeling of stability when the world around you seems chaotic. Sticking with a routine can be comforting to your children as well.
Take care of yourself:
Make time to eat properly, exercise, and rest. Schedule time for things you enjoy, such as hobbies and social activities. Caring for yourself and even having fun will help you stay balanced and enable you to better deal with stressful times.
Give yourself a "news" break:
Be sure to control the amount of time you and your family spend watching and reading war-related news coverage. Although it's natural to seek out the news to keep informed, too much news can make you more anxious. Consider limiting your news intake to no more than one hour a day, and try not to watch the news right before you go to bed, when you need to "wind down." It's okay to turn off the TV or radio and allow yourself to focus on non-war-related things.
Have a plan:
Having an emergency plan in place will make you feel in control and prepared for the unexpected. Establish a clear plan for how you, your family, and friends will respond and connect in the event of a crisis. Have a family or neighborhood meeting to talk about whom to call in emergencies or designate a place to meet if you can't reach someone by phone. Make a plan for your pets and a list of items you will need to take in an emergency.
Prepare a security kit:
When pulling together an emergency kit, remember to include those things that give you comfort and security, such as a favorite book, a journal, or pictures of loved ones. Also include a list of your loved ones' phone numbers so that you can reestablish connections with them as soon as possible.
Nurture a positive view of yourself:
Recall the ways you have successfully handled hardships in the past, such as the loss of a loved one, a divorce, or a major illness. Draw on these skills to meet current challenges. Trust yourself to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.
Keep things in perspective:
Even when facing very painful events, try to consider the stressful situation in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective. Remember that wars end, and circumstances can ultimately improve. Previous generations have faced war and gone on to prosper--use their examples to inspire you.
Maintain a hopeful outlook:
An optimistic and positive outlook enables you to see the good things in your life and can keep you going even in the hardest times. There are positive things in everyone's life, such as good health, a comfortable home, and strong friendships. Taking the time to identify and appreciate them will enhance your outlook and help you persevere.

This fact sheet is based on information contained in this brochure.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

Mental Health Issues in Military Personnel and Veterans: An Overview

Traumas are events in which a person has the feeling that he or she may die or be seriously injured or harmed, or events in which he or she witnesses such things happening to others. Trauma is of course common among active military persons and veterans, and in addition to the immediate consequences of intense fear, helplessness, or horror, there are sometimes longer-lasting stress reactions that can be surprising, distressing, and difficult to understand. This fact sheet is intended to help military personnel, veterans, and their family members understand the nature of trauma and its consequences.

In reviewing the list of effects of trauma below, keep in mind that:

It is very common to have problems following exposure to war or other trauma. But traumatic stress reactions often become less frequent or distressing as time passes, even without treatment.
People with traumatic stress often worry that they are going crazy. This is not true. Rather, what is happening is that they are experiencing a set of common symptoms and problems that are connected with trauma.
Problems that result from trauma are not signs of personal weakness. Many mentally and physically healthy people experience stress reactions that are distressing and interfere with their daily lives following exposure to traumatic experiences. But if traumatic stress reactions continue to cause problems for more than a few weeks or months, treatment can help reduce them.

Here are some common (often temporary) consequences of trauma:

Unwanted remembering or re-experiencing
Almost all veterans experience difficulty controlling distressing memories of military experience, particularly when there has been combat experience. Although these memories are upsetting, on the positive side, the memories provide an opportunity for the person to make sense of what happened and gain mastery over the event. The experience of these memories can include:

Unwanted distressing memories as images or other thoughts
Reexperiencing of the original traumatic situation, or the feeling like it is happening again (flashbacks)
Dreams and nightmares
Distress and physical reactions (e.g., heart pounding, shaking) when reminded of the trauma

Physical activation or arousal
The body's fight-or-flight reaction to a life-threatening situation helps prepare persons in a dangerous situation for quick response. Unfortunately sometimes this pattern of activation or arousal continues long after the event is over. Signs of continuing physical activation, some of which are somewhat common following military experience, can include:

Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Irritability, anger, and rage
Difficulty concentrating
Being constantly on the lookout for danger (hyper-vigilance)
Being startled easily for example, when hearing a loud noise (exaggerated startle response)
Anxiety and panic

Shutting down: Emotional numbing
Another survival response involves the shutting down and numbing of emotional response in times of trauma. As a result, some military personnel and veterans may have difficulty experiencing loving feelings or feeling some emotions, especially when upset by traumatic memories.

Active avoidance of trauma-related thoughts and feelings
Painful memories and physical sensations of fear can be frightening, so it is only natural to try to find ways to prevent them from happening. One way that many trauma survivors including veterans might do this is by avoiding anything people, places, conversations, thoughts, emotions and feelings, physical sensations that might act as a reminder of the trauma. This process can be helpful if it is selective and specific (for example, in avoiding upsetting news or television programs). But when avoidance is used too much, it can have two big negative effects. First, it can reduce the ability to live life fully and with enjoyment as people become isolated and limited in where they go and what they do. Second, avoiding thoughts and emotions connected with the trauma may reduce the ability to recover from the trauma. It is through thinking and talking about the traumatic experience with trusted others, a process that some term “working through the trauma,” that survivors may come to manage and integrate the traumatic experience. By constantly avoiding thoughts, feelings, and discussions about the trauma, this potentially helpful process can be short-circuited.

Depression
Most persons who have been traumatized experience short-term depression. But when this experience lasts too long it becomes an area of concern, and may involve:

Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
Loss of pleasure in usual activities
Lower energy
Pervasive and extreme sadness (“I don’t know why, but I’m just crying all the time,” some people with depression say)
Changes in appetite and sleeping patterns

Depression is a serious and life-threatening struggle. It is important to let others know about feelings of depression and, of course, about any suicidal thoughts and feelings, which are sometimes a part of feeling depressed.

Self-blame, guilt, and shame
In trying to make sense of their traumatic war experiences, many military personnel and veterans blame themselves or feel guilty in some way. They may feel bad about some thing(s) they did or didn't do in the war zone. Feelings of guilt or self-blame cause much distress and can prevent a person from reaching out for help. Therefore, even though it is hard, it is very important to talk about guilt feelings with a mental health professional.

Interpersonal problems
Not surprisingly, the many changes noted above can affect relationships with partners, family, friends, or co-workers. Particularly in close relationships, the emotional numbing and feeling of disconnection that are common after traumatic events may create distress and drive a wedge between the survivor and his or her family or close friends. The survivor's avoidance of different kinds of social activities may frustrate family members and contribute to isolation. And other people who don’t understand trauma may respond in ways that worsen the problem rather than help recovery. They may become angry with the active duty person or veteran, communicate poorly, and fail to provide support. Just as the military person needs to learn about trauma and its effects, people who are important to him or her also need to become educated so as to be empathic and kind.

Physical symptoms and health problems
Because many traumas result in physical injury, pain is often part of the experience of veterans. This physical pain often causes emotional distress, because in addition to causing pain and discomfort, the injury also reminds them of their trauma. Because traumas stress the body, they can sometimes affect physical health, and survivors may experience stress-related physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea or other stomach problems, and skin problems.

Some of the information in this fact sheet is based on information found here.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

Returning Home After Military Deployment: An Overview for Personnel and Family Members

Military service is a difficult and unique life experience in which personnel face challenges and disruption and even threats to safety and well being. They experience things that most people – including families, friends, and co-workers – could not begin to understand or appreciate, things far apart in time and space and power from everyday lives. One of my practicum students spoke of an “airlock” between the hospital entrance and the psychiatric inpatient ward, in which he experienced the distance between that space and the space in which he ordinarily lived, both going into and coming out of that space. Here are some general suggestions, excerpted and elaborated from this document, on how to ease the airlock transition from military service to your home.

Return is a Process, not an Event. I think in my own work about the process of atmospheric reentry: too direct an approach to returning home and you burn up, too indirect and you bounce off. Try to get it just right. Returning veterans should be patient with themselves and with family members in their reentry, and family members should also be patient with themselves and with veterans. It is a process with predictable phases (see Managing the Homecoming Process above).

Rest. One of the common features of military service is a disruption in sleep and eating and exercise and wellness, and personnel returning home may feel exhausted. It may require days or weeks to regain health (as opposed to merely staying safe), and veterans, their family members, and employers need to make time for rest and recovery.

Pace and Routine. Military service frequently demands a fast-paced and even frantic task approach in which efficiency and speed are required instead of the more purposeful and deliberate approach generally available at home. Returning personnel, and their families, need time to “synchronize” their task approach. Similarly, military service (described by more than one veteran as “lots of boredom sprinkled with moments of sheer terror”) often requires an abandonment of many familiar routines as tasks emerge and must be managed spontaneously. Again, it may take time for military personnel and their families to “get in step” together again with routine, perhaps even developing new routines.

Sharing. Returning veterans may want to share with family members and co-workers about their experiences, and family members may be eager to “catch veterans up” on their experiences. The military service experience may seem in contrast much more dramatic and significant, but veterans should try to remember that family members’ experiences are as important to them as yours are to you. In dealing with children try to explain your military involvement in a way that is appropriate to their level of development, and involve them in disaster preparedness efforts for your family.

Emotions When you return home, some feelings or emotional swings associated with stress may surprise or frighten you. If you anticipate some of these emotions, you can manage them better.

Disappointment: Returning veterans may find that others are not interested in hearing about your experiences, or that your reunion with your family and co-workers does not live up to your expectations. You may expect they will be happy to have you home and be surprised to find they are angry at your absence. Similarly, family members may be puzzled or disappointed at elements of homecoming. Anticipating this response will help all of you in managing it.

Frustration and conflict: Veteran’s needs may not match those of family or colleagues. Although you may want nothing more than to resume a simple and predictable life, family members may have changed.

Anger: The problems and challenges of everyday life experienced by veteran’s family, friends, or co-workers may seem very trivial compared to those you have witnessed and experienced. Try to remember that the folks at home feel that their problems are just as important to them right now as yours are to you. Appreciate how your own anger and grief.

Survivor identification: The actions or characteristics of people at home may remind you of your experience in military service. You may experience emotional reactions that can surprise and confuse not only you, but also them. Try to make others understand the reasons behind your reactions.

Daydreaming: This on the part of veterans is a normal response to trauma and is a part of healthy dissociation. Veterans may be confused at how they are reliving their service experience, and surprised at how distant they may feel at times from daily life and routine. This is all a normal part of return.

Mood swings: These are normal for veterans after returning from a deployment and are one of the ways to begin to experience and resolve conflict feelings you may have experienced related to your military experience. Veterans may change from happy to sad, tense to relaxed, or outgoing to quiet without much warning. When you have time to put your military work into perspective, these sudden changes in mood will pass.

Returning from military deployment is a difficult process Practicing self-care and developing resiliency during the process of your return will allow you to continue giving your gifts.

Web Links

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Our Mission: IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

This is a resource to help veterans and families with information about the signs and symptoms of suicide ideation.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project this is a resource to help find homes for our disabled veterans in need of shelter.

How to Help

Adopt a Soldier - Individualized support throughout deployment

Angel Bakers - Homemade treats for the deployed

Blankets of Gratitude - Handcrafted love for hospitalized veterans

Blankets of Hope - Handcrafted comfort for the wounded

Cards Plus Team - Extra TLC for soldiers & families

Chaplain Support Team - Help chaplains support the troops

Community Team Leaders (CTLs) - Representing Soldiers' Angels at home

Eagle Cane Project - Handmade canes for the wounded

First Response Backpacks - Supplies for wounded in-country

Hero Flights - Emergency travel assistance

Hero Packs - Care packages

K-9 Support - Caring for military working dogs and their handlers

Ladies of Liberty - Extra TLC for deployed females

Letter Writing Team - Personal letters for the deployed

Living Legends - Remembering the fallen and their families

Memorial Portraits - Drawings for families of the fallen

Operation Birthday Cake - Shipping gourmet birthday cakes to deployed troops

Operation Outreach - Supporting families waiting at home

Operation Phone Home - Calling cards

Operation Top Knot - Handmade gifts & virtual baby showers

Scarves - Handmade heat and sand protection

SOS:Kids - Helping deployed soldiers help local kids

Tank Support - Helping Veterans Travel to Medical Appointments with Gift Cards for Gasoline

Valour-IT - Adaptive laptops for the wounded

VA Crochet & Craft - Handmade comfort & dignity for hospitalized Vets

Veterans Support - Assisting veterans facilities

Wounded TLC - Letters and care packages for the wounded

"Just navigating through your site humbles me. Just the concept of how much you do for us brings a tear to our eye. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart." - Anonymous Soldier