Well, we are fast approaching the Holiday Season. For many, it is a very stressful time of year–particularly in light that many of you have your family member deployed, or things at home have changed dramatically due to the loss of your loved one or wounding.
It is a time to gather together and form strong bonds of love and remembrance to help us all get through a rather difficult time of year.
I recently lost my father, and this will be my first holiday season without him, and I have noticed that I am not quite myself. I feel all sorts of emotions and I don’t even see them coming. So, on that level I can offer my own insights, but for those of you who have lost your loved one or who are longing for them to be at home with you my heart truly goes out to you.
The holidays bring about a certain amount of nostalgia, along with that comes wishing for warm memories of the past. This is where it gets quite difficult to bear.
For this holiday season take some time to remember, but also take time to reach out to others to make their season a bit smoother. It is through helping others that we can move beyond some our own pain and make a difference in the lives of others.
Having your Warrior home for the holidays is exciting, but it also offers some new challenges for them as well as for the family. Here are some practical tips for reducing stress in your household.
1) If your Warrior is home with you this year after being deployed, do your best not to expect that things will be the same.
2) Give your Warrior plenty of space and don’t demand that they join in the festivities. The commotion and chatter may create an undue amount of stress for them.
3) Inform your guests and family members not to ask questions. Just let things flow naturally without going into Iraq or Afghanistan. Let your Warrior direct the topic.
4) Discuss the plans with your Warrior. Let them know what the schedule of events consists of, and give them an option to bow out if they feel more comfortable doing so.
5) Fix some of your Warrior’s favorite dishes. This can certainly be a treat for them.
6) Watch the amount of alcohol that is passed around. Nothing is worse than someone who gets tipsy and starts spewing off without even giving it a second thought of how your Warrior may be affected.
7) It may be up to you to run interference to create a better environment from which to celebrate this holiday season.
8 ) Flexibility is the key here–what may have traditionally been standard protocol may need to be re-evaluated to accommodate and create a smooth landing for your Warrior.
9) Get plenty of rest in order to have the energy and resiliency to handle whatever comes your way.
10) Keep it simple. What may be of paramount importance to you may not have the same significance for your Warrior.
11) Don’t expect them to run errands for you because bright colors, crowds, and excess stimulation may push many buttons for them.
12) Don’t be over alarmed if your Warrior sits quietly, watches TV, plays video games or isolates, as this may be a healthy alternative and positive coping mechanism over the holiday season.
13) Bring out the board or card games and just enjoy the togetherness without getting into any heavy conversations.
14) If gift giving is part of your tradition, talk about cutting back and setting a limit on the amount spent.
15) Don’t be alarmed if your Warrior does not feel comfortable attending your place of worship as in the past. Just let it go and look at this as their way of reducing the stress by not being around people.
16) Be sure to set some personal, family and professional goals for this new-year.
Have a blessed holiday season, and may we all take this time to remember those who serve our country today and in the past. Let this holiday be the beginning of a year of filled with compassion, peace and kindness that we extend to all our fellow mankind.
With Deep Gratitude and Respect,
Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D.
Hearts Toward Home International
1050 Larrabee Avenue Suite 104, PMB 714
Bellingham, Washington 98225
(360) 714-1525
inquire@heartstowardhome.com
bc@bridgetcantrell.com
www.heartstowardhome.com
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful informative article to assist families in welcoming their family member home for the holidays. May God Bless them for their service, their families for the sacrifice they give and you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us.
Dr. Bridget,
I’m not aware of what your PHD is in, nor from where it was acquired. Your advice does not come from personal experience. When a soldier or marine returns from combat, he wants escape from the horrors of war. He wants to get drunk, smoke pot, and cry in his beer over the loss of his best friends, and the stress of knowing that he could have bit a bullet. And he wants to do it in privacy so that he shows no outward emotion. Don’t ask him how he feels, as that should be obvious by the anxiety in his eyes. Put the food on the table, and simply be thankful that he is physically there. He will eat when he is ready. He will talk when he is ready. The best thing you can do, is leave him alone, and ask if there is anything he needs.
SFC “Bear” Dixson
U.S. Army Special Operations Task Force
Middle East Advisory Command
(Medically Retired)
Although we don’t claim to know the ‘ins and outs’ of the Warrior mind, especially after coming home from conflict, much of what you commented was approached by the doctor. Her counsel does advise to allow the Warrior his privacy – by not asking him to share his feelings or to get out in the hustle and bustle of the holiday. Her advice to fix some of the favorite dishes of the Warrior should obviously come with anticipation that the Warrior eats when he/she is ready. Dr. Bridget is not counseling the Warrior with her words, but those around them – and her advice is for the Warriors benefit and good, not to create further anxiety or stress.
Bear, let it be known, we love you and thank you for all you have done for our “Freedom” and our country. May “blessings”be great for you and your family, “each day”, each year to come. Papa Smurf