When in doubt about redeployment emotions, don’t fear to seek help

18. January 2008
When in doubt about redeployment emotions, don’t fear to seek help


Glad to be home, but...
Screening for traumatic brain injury is a routine part of care at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. See story and photo by Chuck Roberts

Written by Chuck RobertsLandstuhl Regional Medical Center Public Affairs
LANDSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER – Persistent chest pain, difficulty breathing and high fever are symptoms that normally prompt people to seek medical help.

Anger, apathy, irritability and insomnia can also be symptoms alerting Soldiers they may need medical treatment, said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Gary Southwell, an Army psychologist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

For Soldiers redeploying from downrange, such symptoms can often be normal reactions to abnormal situations encountered in Afghanistan or Iraq. When Soldiers find themselves struggling to cope, Southwell encourages seeking help.

"Just look at it as a checkup," Southwell said. "If you’re feeling odd, it doesn’t hurt just to get checked out. Just come on in and say, ‘This is what I’m going through,’ and we can help sort it out."

When they do seek medical help, Soldiers often learn they are experiencing normal symptoms and are going through a normal recovery.

For those requiring more extensive help, Southwell there are a variety of avenues for treatment, such as anger management classes, and individual or group therapy.
In some cases, a physical problem may be discovered during a behavioral health examination, Southwell said.

Thanks in part to increased awareness and strong backing from the Army Chief of Staff and leadership down the chain, more Soldiers view seeking such help as a normal and positive thing, Southwell said.

"People now feel like it’s an acceptable condition just like any other medical condition," Southwell said. "It’s one of the hazards of war, and problems such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder need to be evaluated and treated just like any other medical condition."

However, some remain reluctant to seek help for reasons such as fear of being seen as weak, or concerns that coming forward may be a career killer in regards to security clearances.

Behavioral health is part of the security clearance coordination, but Southwell said anyone’s record of seeking treatment is viewed as a positive indicator.
click post title for the rest