Please note:I'm not a mental health professional;
I propose to know nothing about life, the meaning of life, or
coping with anything. If you need help, please seek professional
advice. That being said, here are some web resources that I
have found useful.
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder
National Center for Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder
http://www.ncptsd.org/
While this site is aimed primarily at mental health workers who are
taking care of our military veterans, it does provide some insite
into an issue that very likely could also affect our civilian loved ones
returning from a war zone.
Some topics at their website that I have found interesting and/or
useful:
National Mental Health Association
National Mental Health Assoc. - Coping with War Related Stress
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/mentalHealthWarMilitaryFamilies.cfm
These tips are taken straight from their website, and I have
found them useful for myself (for more details, visit their site
at the link above):
- Talk about it
- Take care of your physical health
- Limit your exposure to the news media
- Engage in activities that you find relaxing and soothing
- Do something positive
- Seek Treatment
In addition, they list the signs of stress (for more details, visit
their site at the link above):
- Difficulty completing tasks
- Trouble concentrating
- Fear and anxiety about the future
- Apathy and emotional numbing
- Irritability and anger
- Sadness and depression
- Feeling powerless
- Extreme hunger/lack of appetite
- Difficulty making decisions
- Crying for “no apparent reason”
- Headaches or stomach problems
- Difficulty sleeping
- Excessive drinking or drug use
- Feeling withdrawn
Mental Health Association of
Greater St. Louis
Mental Health Association of
Greater St. Louis - Drawing on your Faith
http://www.mhagstl.org/War_Related_Stress.htm#Faith
These tips are taken straight from their site (for more details,
visit their site at the link above):
- Reflect
- Connect
- Talk
- Act
- Get Help
What I do for ME
These are just some of the things that I do that help me.
Maybe they will be useful to you, maybe not. Everyone's situation
is similar but different. Also, I am interested in hearing how YOU
cope, also.
- DON'T watch the news (this is difficult sometimes, but worth it).
When people ask me did you hear about such and such, I reply,
"Sorry, my husband is over there, and the whole situation is too close
to me. I am practicing ignorant bliss right now."
- DO drive my mother crazy with all the latest news from my husband,
no matter how small and insignificant ("He coughed once on the phone
today - do you think he's getting sick?!")
- DO find one or two wives of contractors to trade laughter and
tears with
- DO surround myself with up-beat, happy, possitive people
- DO keep pictures of him everywhere including taped to the
dashboard of my truck
- DON'T have an official position on the war or the company he works
for - just concentrate on taking care of him
- DO write every day, even if it is just a short note or card
- DO write long, detailed letters about the little and big things
in life at least twice a week
- DO subscribe to a contractor support Yahoo! group
- DO exercise every day (or nearly every day)
- DO keep an emergency supply of chocolate on hand for one of
"those" days
What I do for HIM
These are just some of the things that I do to help HIM. He's not the
real communicative type, so I'm not always sure these things work. I
will note where he has actually had a comment.
- DO write every day - the mail gets to him in fits and spurts, but when
it does arrive, he is happy to see that there are several cards and
letters for him. He says this is the number one thing that keeps
him going.
- DO send pictures of the kids, his truck (mine's a mechanic
with a taste for mopars and muscle cars), the house, and, of course,
of yourself. I know I like being the one with the camera, but
I hate being the one in the picture - but he said to send
it any way - even if I felt that I looked fat in it.
- DO put stickers with American Flags and famous quotes on his
letters and packages
- DO promptly send whatever he asks for, and special snack foods
that he likes but won't ask for
- DO send a small package every week, even if he doesn't ask for
or "need" anything
- DO let him know that I'm in as much distress over the whole sex
issue as he is, but that I am being faithful and not to worry
- DO tell him I love him and I'm proud of him and that I'm
coping just fine (even when I am not quite coping well at the moment)
