5 Tips to Help Service Members Reintegrate When They Return Home

Holidays can be stressful for anyone, but especially members of the armed services.

Returning home after serving for so long takes some readjustment and when there are a lot of family and friends around during the holidays, it can be even more overwhelming.

“Citizen Warriors may feel isolated following deployment, and large events such as holiday parties can be overwhelming,” Colonel Christopher Robinson, senior executive director of psychological health at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), says.

Here are 5 tips to help your friend or family member feel more comfortable if they have recently returned from active duty, according to the DCoE-sponsored Real Warriors Campaign (www.realwarriors.net).

Reconnect with Family Members

The stress of returning should be addressed – allow service members quiet time with spouse, kids and parents. Also allow them to discuss their experiences while deployed and to discuss any stresses they are feeling by returning home.

“When Service members return from deployment, friends and family may want to celebrate their return,” Robinson says. “If large parties feel overwhelming, Service members should talk about their anxieties and what friends and family can do to celebrate their homecoming.”

DCoE also offers special help lines for anyone experiencing stress – either through a virtual chat at www.realwarriors.net/livechat or phone lines at 866-966-1020. Health consultants from the DCoE Outreach Center are available 24/7.

Prepare mentally for parties/gatherings

Service members should think about what they are comfortable talking about from their time serving and anticipate what questions they may be asked. This way, they can also decide what they are willing to discuss, what they might say and what they may want to politely decline speaking about.

Limit alcohol

With holiday parties, including New Year’s Eve parties, drinking may seem an integral part of the holidays – eggnog, spiced cider, hot coffee drinks, and lots of beer. Long term alcohol use can lead to relationship problems so the use of it should be limited.

Overcoming Feelings of Isolation

Returning home can cause culture shock after spending so much time with fellow troops. This unfamiliar feeling can lead to soldiers wanting to isolate themselves from their friends and families since their lives are so different.

“After deployment, Service members may feel alone, especially if they are separated from their unit,” Robinson says. “Service members may feel like no one understands how they feel.”

Make plans and stick to them with friends and family to help reintegrate into society.  Also, while the internet can help soldiers stay in touch with unit members, it should not substitute for actual human contact.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

“Many warriors feel isolated after deployment, and those feelings are increasingly common among members of the National Guard and Reserve who return to a civilian job and may not maintain relationships with those with whom they served,” Robinson says.

“Our warriors aren’t alone, though, and I encourage Service members and their families to reach out for support through resources like the Real Warriors Campaign, which provides tools and tips for warriors at www.realwarriors.net.”