The real deal on coming home

  • Published
  • By Dr. Tom Patterson
  • 509th Medical Group
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  If you have recently returned to Whiteman Air Force Base, let me first of all say to you a very heartfelt welcome home and well done.

Anyone who has counted down the days knows the sweetness of returning to loved ones and familiar surroundings. Often there is a "honeymoon" period after deployment, when problems are few and life is great. For many of us, it may be a smooth transition back to the familiar.

Sometimes Airmen returning from a combat deployment may notice some things are different, especially in the first month or two after their return home. With heavy media focus on PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, a person may have a fair question: "Gee, what about me? Do I have PTSD?" They may experience a sense of relief when they discover that their reactions to combat are not unique. Many times this is not PTSD as such, just some normal transitional issues as a person emotionally recalibrates.

Let's take a look at some of the very common issues. Many returning Airmen may notice temporary concerns in one or more of the following areas:

Sleep - This is the single most commonly noted issue. Sleep may be interrupted or a person may sleep through the night but not feel well rested. Nightmares get talked about a lot in the media, but more commonly they are not nightmares, but memory-like dreams which may be of great clarity and realism. "When I woke up, I really felt like I had just been driving through Bagram a minute before." Dreams of mixed content are also common, such as, "My wife was at Burger King on base and she had a helmet on and an M16." Quantity of sleep may also vary a lot, from difficulty falling asleep and frequent waking on the one hand, to sleeping much of the off-duty time on the other.

Energy level - Energy may be lessened and this often will go hand in hand with the quality and quantity of sleep.

Concentration - For a time, it may be difficult to focus on the task at hand. Stateside duties may not seem as relevant or as exciting. A bit of daydreaming may occur. Work may not seem quite as meaningful in a non-combat environment.

Distancing from friends or family - This item is more often reported by a spouse or other relative than by the returning Airman. "Bill just wants to sit in his recliner. He's not interested in family events and often turns down invitations." This may not be so noticeable to the individual, so listening to feedback from loved ones and friends can really help in getting a valid overview of what's going on.

Reengagement in familiar hobbies, sports or activities - Sometimes there is no problem with sleep or energy, but old pastimes may not hold as much interest as before. An Airman who always loved to fish may look at his tackle box a lot but not really get out of the house. "I want to want to," is sometimes heard

Alcohol - Some people may note increased alcohol use for a time after returning home. This may be a safety risk. Be careful about alcohol and don't overdo it. Protect your family and your career by drinking sensibly. Never drink and drive.

Vigilance - This is a common area of concern. Personnel keep their "radar up" despite being in low threat or non-threat situations. Agitation about other drivers getting too close, checking and rechecking door and window locks, going out of the way to avoid driving past a parked car or a box by the side of the road are examples.

Becoming anxious with a Giant Voice test is another. These are instances where combat-related skills become extraneous once back home. This is really essential behavior in Iraq or Afghanistan, when avoiding a box by the side of the road may be a life-saving part of force protection. It is hard to just turn off that training and experience when you see a box beside the road in Warrensburg or Knob Noster. That is not to say we are no longer concerned about security, just that it needs to be calibrated for the current threat environment. This is another area that generally improves with time, but go easy on yourself and give it time.

What is the good news about transition from deployment? First of all, so much of these are temporary issues. Go confidently with the knowledge that today's inconvenience may be little noticed in the weeks to come. Don't draw any conclusions from the first month or so home. Give it time and a little optimism will not be wasted.

What about help? These things will often improve on their own if you do nothing, but they will improve faster with a little help. Your friends and family are the first line of assistance. Your chaplain or minister may be a help. The Mental Health staff 687-4341 is always ready to assist as well. Don't be reluctant to talk and don't forget to pay attention to what you hear in return.

How long will this take? In World War II and the Korean War, Air Force personnel may have come home by ship, providing weeks of time to readjust and plenty of time to air their feelings with friends and colleagues. Nowadays a person may step off the plane in the US only hours after being shelled by insurgent mortar fire or dodging rocket propelled grenades. Is it any wonder that we need a little time to adjust? Though annoying for a time, most people will find much of this resolves within weeks or at least becomes noticeably better. This doesn't take forever, even if it feels that way for a time.

Finally, remember that psychologically the idea of combat is a normal person in an abnormal, or at least uncommon, situation. Now you are home. You are still you; loved, respected and valued. Go gently with yourself as you transition back to the familiar at Whiteman AFB.

Dr. Tom Patterson is a retired Army Social Work Officer with 35 years of practice, specializing in marital counseling and military mental health. He transferred to Whiteman AFB in February 2008. He can be reached at 687-4341.