A Soldier's return from deployment is a time of great 

excitement and joy. It may also be a time of stress, 

frustration, or disappointment if the reunion does not 

meet your hopes and expectations. All Soldiers go 

through an adjustment period from being a combat 

Soldier to being your son or daughter, parent or 

spouse. This adjustment period is normal.

After Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 

Enduring Freedom, your loved ones may have 

problems readjusting because they have memories of:

 Witnessing or being personally involved in death 

and destruction

 Seeing destroyed homes and dead bodies

 Seeing friends wounded or killed

 Being ambushed, receiving small arms fire or 

being exposed to improvised explosive devices 

(IEDs)

They may also have problems due to: 

 Physical injury or illness

 Financial difficulties

 Relationship strains

 Feeling that they no longer fit in

 Dealing with different family routines or roles

Soldier Combat Stress Reaction:

A pocket guide for spouse and loved ones

WHERE TO GET HELP

 Active duty Soldiers and family members can contact 

their unit chaplain, unit mental health team, or primary 

medical provider.

 Reserve/National Guard Soldiers and family members 

can contact VA medical centers and Vet Centers that 

provide veterans with mental health services. VA 

medical centers and Vet Centers are listed in the phone 

book in the blue Government pages. On the Internet, go 

to www.va.gov/ and click on the “Find a Facility” tab 

near the top of the page or go to www.va.gov/rcs.

 All family members and/or returning Soldiers can 

contact the Military One Source at https://www.

militaryonesource.com and register for a free account. 

» Free confidential counseling (up to six sessions) in 

the civilian community is available.

» Call U.S. toll free 1-800-342-9647

» International: access code + 800-3429-6477

(all 11 digits must be dialed)

» Por Español llame: 1-877-888-0727

» Korea: DSN 550-ARMY (2769)

Photo courtesy of 99th Communication Squadron

J anuar y 2012

TA-056-0112

SOLDIER RETURNING HOME

http://phc.amedd.army.mil

1-800-222-9698
COMMON REACTIONS

Many of the reactions listed below are normal for 

people who experience high stress situations. It is not 

uncommon for most Soldiers to experience some or all 

of the following reactions:

Physical

 Trouble falling asleep

 Oversleeping

 Waking up in the middle of the night

 Difficulty with sexual and nonsexual intimacy

 Fatigue

 Feeling jumpy

 Being easily startled

Emotional

 Feeling overwhelmed

 Depression

 Irritability

 Feeling numb

 Difficulty readjusting to family routines

 Difficulty reconnecting with family

 Discomfort being around other people or in crowds

 Frustration

 Guilt

 Crying spells

Cognitive

 Difficulty with memory 

 Loss of interest/motivation

 Concentration problems

 Difficulty talking about deployment experiences

 Loss of trust

These normal reactions may be uncomfortable but in most 

cases are not causes for concern. Typically, the “common 

reactions” stop after 6 to 8 weeks.

FLASHBACKS AS A REACTION

 Flashbacks are episodes of reexperiencing the events 

that occurred during a deployment.

 During a flashback episode, Soldiers feel as if they 

are “back in the war” and may not be aware of their 

immediate surroundings.

 Although upsetting and uncomfortable, flashbacks are 

generally normal and not associated with a more serious 

problem UNLESS they persist for months or cause 

significant interference in a Soldier’s activities of daily 

living.

 Flashbacks may occur in response to a “trigger” 

(for example a loud noise that sounds like a 

weapons discharge) or spontaneously without a 

trigger.

WHEN NORMAL REACTIONS BECOME 

PROBLEMATIC

 Problems that interfere with a Soldier’s ability 

to do the things that he or she needs to do in any 

important area of life (work, home, family, social, 

spiritual) are the clearest signs that a normal 

reaction after deployment may be turning into a 

more serious problem.

 If a Soldier’s distress persists longer than 6 to 8 

weeks, it may be a sign that your loved one needs 

professional help. 

SOMETIMES the problems are too big to resolve 

by yourself. Get help if any of the following occurs: 

atypical behavior, depression, prolonged sadness, 

suicidal or homicidal thoughts, aggressive/violent 

thoughts or actions, verbal abuse, reckless behavior/

excessive anger, or alcohol/substance abuse.

If you are worried that your loved one is thinking 

about committing suicide or hurting himself or 

herself, remember the following tips:

 Act immediately!

 Be direct. Ask, “Are you thinking about hurting 

yourself?”

 DO NOT LEAVE YOUR LOVED ONE ALONE.

 Get help: Contact a chaplain, doctor, friend, 

family member, or call 911 or a hospital 

emergency room.

A suicidal person needs immediate professional help.

GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT Be patient and work with each other during the readjustment period. 

If problems continue or get worse, seek help for yourself and your loved one.

Photo courtesy of Fort Campbell Public Affairs

http://www.militaryonesource.com