Triumphing over trouble
We give you some tips on how to cope with your emotions and what to tell your friends and family about traumatic events you deal with in your military life.

A medic from 1st Health Support Battalion takes a break and gathers his thoughts after treating severely injured locals at the Banda Aceh Hospital as part of Operation Sumatra Assist.

Photo by CPL Belinda Mepham.

The cleaning up of Banda Aceh has begun but workers face a huge task. Many ADF personnel – some with more than 20 years’ service – say Operation Sumatra Assist has been their most challenging deployment.

WHAT you see and do on deployment and exercises are some of the hardest experiences to tell others about.

It’s one thing for your family and friends to see and hear on TV the political upheaval in East Timor, the bombings in Iraq or the devastation and death toll of the Boxing Day tsunami.

It’s quite another to experience it first-hand. Is there a right or wrong way to deal with your emotions in these circumstances? No.

Everyone will react differently to the same event, sometimes immediately, sometimes a significant time after the incident.

Common reactions
Common emotions in the early stages after a traumatic event can include the following:

• shock, which leaves you stunned or dazed or acting on “autopilot”. You may have trouble taking in information and responding to your environment but can get the job at hand done competently;
• irritability or moodiness. You may be especially anxious or nervous, feel down or even depressed;
• behavioural changes, for example repeated vivid memories that can leave you sweating, increase your heartbeat or avoiding activities or people that remind you of the event. You could find it difficult to concentrate, sleep, make decisions, or become more easily confused;
• greater conflict with family, friends and co-workers which strains relationships. You may feel isolated or withdrawn; and
• physical symptoms of extreme stress, such as headaches, nausea and chest pain.

• monitor your level of re-exposure to the event;
• communicate your experiences: talk to people, write a diary, draw, paint, exercise;
• give yourself time to heal. Anticipate that this will be a difficult time and try to be patient with changes in your emotional state;
• ask for support. Speak to others who have experienced the same event or something similar, seek professional help or others who you usually rely on for support;
• eat well, avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and drugs and get plenty of rest;
• establish routines, such as eating meals at a regular time; and
• avoid major life decisions if possible.

• prepare: write a list of things you want to say on the phone. Think about how “best to put things” and write out key phrases. Also make a list of things you want to avoid saying which may cause unnecessary anxiety;
• remember their perspective: the people you talk to may only know as much as they have heard, seen or read in the media and they may be feeling overwhelmed or compassioned-out. If they seem disinterested, focus on what you’re doing and other aspects of the ADF’s presence there as a lead-in to talking about what you want to talk about. Try to focus on your feelings and how you are reacting to the experiences. For example, you may have been struck by the sight of a child and this triggered thoughts about your own children, thoughts that upset you. These are the important things to talk about with your partner, friends and family at home;
• be conscious of things changing at home to compensate for your absence: your flatmate may have a cat, your best friend may be socialising with other people much more, your partner may have rearranged the bedroom. Wait until you return to decide whether these changes are good or not; and
• check how you’re communicating with others: 60 per cent of communication is through non-verbal language such as facial expressions, hand actions, body posture and touch. When you use the phone, email or write a letter, be careful to clarify jokes and other subjects that may be ambiguous to another person who is anxious and preoccupied with your safety.

– Information for this article is based on DPE’s web site http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedhs/ and www.defence.gov.au/dpe/dhs where more information on managing reactions to major disasters and trauma can be found.

 

SUPPORT RESOURCES

All Hours Support Line – A confidential telephone triage support service for ADF members and their families is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone freecall 1800 628 036 or 612 9425 3878 outside Australia.

Local medical centres – Your local medical officer can provide immediate assistance and referrals as required.

Psychology support section – A 24-hour emergency service can be accessed through your local Duty Officer/Officer of the Day.

Defence Community Organisation – This group provides 24-hour assistance in crisis situations in all military locations and will help with referrals if required.The after-hours service can be accessed through your local Duty Officer/Officer of the Day.

Chaplains – Most units have chaplains who can provide support and referrals.

National Welfare Co-ordination Centre – The centre provides a freecall information and referral service for families of deployed Defence personnel. This is to provide timely, accurate information, reassurance and support and referral to other family support agencies. Phone 1800 801 026 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Lifeline – If you, or a friend, need to talk to someone about a problem immediately, call 131 114 for the cost of a local call.

Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service – This service is available to veterans of all deployments and their families 24 hours a day. Phone 1800 011 046.

Defence Civilian Employment Assistance Program – Confidential counselling for Defence civilians. During working hours call 1300 36 6789 or for after hours crisis telephone counselling call 1800 451138.

 

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