The Emotional Cycle of Deployment During Deployment FACILITATORS

The Emotional Cycle of Deployment: During Deployment FACILITATOR’S NAME The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment (FEB 2013) Date 1

Objectives • Discuss the stages of the emotional cycle of deployment. • Identify common characteristics of the during deployment stages and corresponding coping strategies. The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment 2 (FEB 2013)

The Emotional Cycle of Deployment Post Deployment Return Adjustment and Renegotiation Pre Deployment Reintegration and Stabilization Anticipation of Departure Deployment Anticipation of Return Recovery and Stabilization The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment Detachment and Withdrawal Emotional Disorganization 3 (FEB 2013)

Anticipation of Departure Detachment and Withdrawal • • Denial Anticipation of the loss Feeling conflict Return Frequent disagreements Reintegration and Stabilization Adjustment Pre Deployment Anticipation of Departure Anger and resentment and Restlessness Renegotiation Depression Irritability • Emotional distance Detachment • Sadness Anticipation of and Return Withdrawal • Despair • Hopelessness • Increasing conflict Recovery and Emotional • Lack of energy Stabilization Disorganization • Indecisive • “What ifs” The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment 4 (FEB 2013)

Emotional Disorganization • • • Restless Confused Return Adjustment Disorganized and Renegotiation Indecisive Irritable Sleep Difficulty Anticipation of Anxiety Return Lonely Frustrated Reintegration and Stabilization Anticipation of Departure Deployment Recovery and Stabilization The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment Detachment and Withdrawal Emotional Disorganization 5 (FEB 2013)

Recovery and Stabilization Return Adjustment and Renegotiation Reintegration and Stabilization Anticipation of Departure Deployment Anticipation of Return Recovery and Stabilization The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment Detachment and Withdrawal Emotional Disorganization 6 (FEB 2013)

Recovery and Stabilization Exercise • • Work as a table. Concentrate on Recovery and Stabilization section. 1. What are some coping strategies to overcome the actions and feelings in the first two columns on Handout 1? 2. What do you find is the biggest challenge in this stage? And how are you overcoming it? 3. How are you dealing with long-distance parenting? The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment 7 (FEB 2013)

Anticipation of Return Adjustment and Renegotiation Reintegration and Stabilization Anticipation of Departure Deployment Anticipation of Return Recovery and Stabilization The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment Detachment and Withdrawal Emotional Disorganization 8 (FEB 2013)

Anticipation of Return Exercise • • Work as a table. Concentrate on Anticipation of Return section. 1. What are some coping strategies to overcome the feelings in the first two columns on Handout 1? 2. What are some things you are doing now that the Service Member did before the deployment? How will that affect you? Will you need to “give them back”? Do you want to? 3. What is the challenge for the Service Member at this time? 4. When do you tell the children about the return? 5. How do you think family members not in the Service Member’s household feel as they look forward to the return? The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment 9 (FEB 2013)

Return Adjustment and Renegotiation Post Deployment Return Adjustment and Renegotiation Reintegration and Stabilization Anticipation of Return Recovery and Stabilization The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment • Make up for past months Anticipation of • Departure Less independence • Resentment • Irritability Detachment • Negotiate new and Withdrawal normal Emotional Disorganization 10 (FEB 2013)

Reintegration and Stabilization Post Deployment Return Adjustment and Renegotiation Reintegration and Stabilization Anticipation of Departure • • • Anticipation of Return Recovery and Stabilization The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment Patience Communication Go slow Detachment and expectations Lower Withdrawal Take your time Emotional Disorganization 11 (FEB 2013)

Deployment Resources • General /Specific: www. militaryonesource. com • Deployment Information: http: //www. afterdeployment. org/ • Financial: www. dfas. mil • Fort Family: www. arfp. org/index. php/programs/fort-family-outreach-and -support • Military Family Network: www. emilitary. org • Joint Service Support: https: //www. jointservicessupport. org/ • Operation Military Kids: http: //www. nifa. usda. gov/nea/family/part/youthdev_part_military. html • Military Homefront: www. militaryhomefront. dod. mil • http: //www. yellowribbon. mil/event-support (The Emotional Cycle of Deployment) The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment 12 (FEB 2013)

Understanding The Emotional Cycle of Deployment Benefits: • a smoother overall deployment experience • recognize your emotions, strong or intense, are normal • plan ways to support the ones you care about • try new positive coping strategies • manage stress better • openly share your feelings • help children cope • handle multiple deployments • build resilience The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment 13 (FEB 2013)

Objectives • Discuss the stages of the emotional cycle of deployment. • Identify common characteristics of the during deployment stages and corresponding coping strategies. The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment 14 (FEB 2013)

The Emotional Cycle of Deployment: During Deployment FACILITATOR’S NAME The Emotional Cycle of Deployment – During Deployment (FEB 2013) Date 15