As we train civilian providers around the country through our Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) program, one thing that is new to many people---is the fact that reintegration is frequently more stressful for military-connected families than the deployment itself.
During the month of May, CDP is focusing on reintegration. I initially planned to share about my transition from active duty service to Veteran status and the resources available to Service members. However, as I was doing some initial research I came across a program that supports military spouses throughout their military journey. Given that there are not a lot of resources focused on spouse transition, and being a military spouse myself, I was eager to find out more. The program is called the Military Spouse Transition Program or MySTeP for short
Current social-distancing has limited ways we cope with both internal and external stressors. The less we are able to distract ourselves with the external world, the more time we have to listen to our own thoughts. How do we and our patients cope with personal demons when usual distractions are out of reach? What about those of us who are loving isolation because it has cut down on the external stressors?
The first time my husband deployed was just a few short weeks after we got married. We had a son who was three and a half at the time, yet the three of us had never actually lived together. To say we received more than our share of doubts that our family would “make it” would be putting it lightly.