Pre-Deployment Coping Strategies
- Communicate openly, honestly and often
- Encourage family discussion
- Involve family in many aspects of preparation for separation
- Begin journaling
- Participate in pre-deployment briefings and information sessions
- Take family pictures
- Do low stress but special activities together
- Set realistic goals for yourself during deployment
- Accept your feelings as normal reactions
- Practice patience with yourself and family members
- Keep your last week together free of time consuming and stressful commitments
- Create meaningful family time – quality versus quantity
Deployment Coping Strategies
- Keep in touch about every day events – maintain journal or log
- Begin and end phone calls or emails on a positive note
- Assist in maintaining communication between family and deployed member through regular emails, letters, phone calls, etc.
- Maintain healthy lifestyle – exercise and eat a balanced diet
- Ignore rumors and rely on official sources of information
- Enjoy new learned skills, freedom or independence
- Celebrate accomplishments and positive growths in self and family
- Offer empathy and support to others, when possible
- Seek professional support if feelings of depression/anxiety are threatening to overwhelm
- Share both negative and positive emotions and feelings
- Express expectations and desires for homecoming
- Reassure your partner of your love and commitment with what you say and do
Post Deployment Coping Strategies
- Communicate often and honestly, accept feelings as normal and not a threat to the relationship
- Try to be patient with your partner, yourself and your children
- Renegotiate household roles and responsibilities
- Seek professional support for stress management and be aware of the signs of PTSD
- Follow through with promises made during deployment
- Relax and enjoy your life and family
- Share what you have learned with others
- Identify what worked well in your planning and what could be improved in the future