As a military service member, you’re looking forward to life after deployment and being back home among family and friends. But adjusting to 'normal' life again can bring its own challenges. You’re not the same person you were when you left on deployment.
This book, written by military psychologists Moore and Kennedy, is a down-to-earth guide that’s full of practical advice. The authors talk straight about both the joys and challenges of returning home, advising that one size does NOT fit all when it comes to making the transition. They share thoughtful, constructive tips for dealing with unwanted surprises like relationship break-ups, financial problems, and kids who are suddenly strangers.
Experiences shared by many returning service members, like sleep disturbances, anger management, and learning to live with 'hyperstartle,' are also discussed. For those whose transition has been more difficult, chapters on identifying the signs of PTSD
Table of ContentsPreface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
- The Homecoming
- Anger: How Can It Be Healthy and Kill Me at the Same Time?
- I Can't #&$%!Sleep!
- The Deployment Wiped Me Out Financially
- It Looks Like I'm Going to Be Single Again
- My Child Has Changed
- Is Deployment Different for Women?
- Is My Substance Use or Gambling Out of Control?
- Dealing With the Grief of Losing a Comrade
- Living With Taking Another's Life
- Ducking Under the Table: Learning to Live With Hyperstartle
- What Is PTSD, Do I Have It, and What Can I Do About It?
- What's All of This Talk About Mild Traumatic Brain Injury?
- I'm Concerned About My Own Suicidal Thoughts or Those of Someone I Care About
- Is It Possible That I've Changed for the Better Because of Combat?
Appendix: Resources for You and Your Family
Index
About the Authors
