Life After Deployment : Military Families Share Reunion Stories and Advice

Author's Note vii Introduction: The Answers 1 Laugh, Love, and Buy More Underwear 2 Make Time for You 6 Help Your Whole Being 12 Maintain Strong Relationships 20 Support Children 22 The Mega Answer List 29 Chapter One: Planning the Rendezvous 35 Reflecting on Your Experience 40 Getting Ready for the Big Day 44 What to Expect in the First Days 49 A New Beginning 59 Chapter Two: Learning to Dance Again 61 Different Worlds 67 Intimacy 70 New Kind of Communication 73 New Routines 75 Rebuilding Relationships Through the Changes 77 When Is It Time to Seek Help? 80 Happy Reunions 81 Chapter Three: Stress and Other Things We Worry About 83 What Service Members Need to Adjust at Home 85 Getting Help 88 Anger 88 Anxiety 90 Depression 91 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 93 Kid Stress 99 Benefits of Talking with a Chaplain 101 Chapter Four: Caregiving and Grief 109 Caregiver Perspective 110 Grief Perspective 112 Common Symptoms of Grief 130 Working Through Grief 132 A Few Things I Have Learned 137 Chapter Five: Continuing the Journey 143 Much of Life is Perspective 144 Rebuilding with Your Spouse 146 Creating Trust with Children 146 Connecting with Teens 148 Exploring New Relationships Between Parents and Service Members 149 Coping with News of a Pending Deployment or Feelings About Going Back 150 The Next Chapter in the Journey 153 Appendix: Resources for Your Happily Ever After 155 Deployment and Reunion 155 Military Family Centers and Support Groups 158 General Military Life 159 Associations and Support Services 162 Service Branches 163 Military Services Relief Societies 164 Parenting 165 Anger, Depression, Stress, and PTSD 166 Living with Injuries 168 Death and Grief 171 Hotlines and Community Resources 177 Peer Military Groups and Veteran's Organizations 179