Active Duty Military Substance Abuse and Mental Health Resources

It’s important for everyone on active duty to take preventative health measures, but particularly those who will soon be deployed. Exercising positive health habits at home can help ease the transition to deployment, which offers a unique set of challenges to mental and physical health. While duties during deployment can be difficult and unpredictable, establishing a sense of normalcy at home, and knowing that everything is taken care of while you’re away, can have a positive impact on performance during a deployment.

有很多方法可以确保积极的幸福before a deployment, including:

Developing healthy sleep habits:While your routine will likely vary during deployment, establishing a healthy sleep routine at home can give you a headstart later on. You want to be at your physical best for a deployment, and it’s harder to do so when you’re sleep deprived before arriving. Although your sleep schedule during deployment could potentially be disrupted (by jetlag, unconventional hours, etc.), rising early and resting often at home beforehand can set you up for success, and help you manage stress better overseas.

Understanding the Deployment Health Assessment Program:军队已经成立了一系列health assessmentsto ensure that each member remains mentally and physically well before and after a deployment. The Pre-Deployment Health Assessment is taken within 120 days of a deployment and helps evaluate your overall health to ensure that you are proactive with your well-being, and receive appropriate care if necessary. Resilience training is a key part of the preparation, and includes physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family categories to strengthen relationships and stamina. By taking preliminary measures, you can receive treatment before deployment so that you are able to offer your best. The preliminary assessment can be used as a basis of comparison after deployment to ensure consistency and overall health following time away from home.

与朋友和家人联系：Spending time with friends and family before a deployment can help you keep things in perspective while reminding you of what’s important while you’re away. Seeing friends and family can help foster positive relationships while you’re deployed and encourage people to keep in touch with letters, emails and messages. Feeling close to home before and during a deployment can help keep you grounded and healthy in the long run because you always know you have a support system at home.

Avoiding substances and bad health habits:Because veterans and active duty military are at risk for substance use and mental health disorders, staying on track ahead of a deployment can help you avoid using substances to cope. Even a substance like tobacco, which is widespread in many branches of the military, can become addictive. Because you’ll need to be at your physical and mental best for a deployment, avoiding drugs and alcohol early on will help you deal with the challenges of a deployment without substances later on. Not to mention that some substances like illicit drugs are explicitly banned and can result in discharge from service.

保持健身常规和健康饮食：Much like establishing good sleep patterns and family relationships, being physically fit before deployment can ensure that you perform your duties well and are able to manage stress. While your food and fitness routine may be disrupted during a deployment, having a strong base for nutrition and exercise enables you to adapt and know your body’s strengths and abilities ahead of time. You’ll also be more likely to fall back into a health routine when you return. Plus, regular exercise — whether it’s pushups by your bed at night or weight training in the gym — can help you stay mentally fit and potentially preclude feelings of anxiety and depression.

Automating and preparing your finances:Money should be the last thing on your mind during a deployment, so ensuring that everything is set up before you leave can help you breathe easy. There are several ways to automate or handle finances while you’re away. If you’d rather have someone you know and trust handling things, entrusting a spouse or other family member to manage money can be ideal. Make sure they know and understand when any recurring payments need to be made, and how to allocate spending and savings. You will likely be able to take care of electronic payments online, but for peace of mind, enrolling in direct deposit and autopay for some expenses can be helpful.

Deployment can be a challenge for military members and their friends and families, full of stress, trauma and potential danger. These can trigger issues like PTSD, depression, substance abuse and addiction, which can be detrimental to your health, career and family. But this doesn’t have to be the reality for all active service men and women. Managing your mental health early on in deployment can help you stay on the right track and avoid the negative side effects of such uniquely challenging and rewarding service.

Because active combat is often far more stressful than any training exercise, it is common for service men and women to experience some form ofcombat operational stress. Much like sore muscles after an intense workout, the emotional and psychological effects of active duty can be straining. Stress is not a sign of weakness, but rather a natural reaction to dangerous and difficult situations.

Some signs of combat stress include:

• 身心紧张
• 疲劳
• Grief
• 愤怒
• Moral and emotional dilemmas
• 失败的感觉，后悔和羞耻
• Guilt
• 令人失望的担忧
• Feeling limited or restricted
• Withdrawing from groups and friends
• 饮食变化
• Mood swings
• Loss of self-confidence
• 难以进食，睡觉或执行正常的每日任务

There is no instant cure for combat operational stress, but ignoring it will only elevate issues. Not acting can be more dangerous than addressing stress, as it can lead to deeper mental health issues like PTSD and depression, which often coincide with substance abuse. Not addressing it also puts others in danger, since your unit depends on you and vice versa. Most branches have programs in place to help active duty members cope with operational stress before it gets out of hand.

While the steps for each branch may vary, theU.S. Navyuses the following strategies when working with individuals going through combat operational stress. This model can be used by Navy leadership to help manage units and individuals, but is also a helpful resource for those on active duty.

加强：Individual, unit and family strength is at the core of establishing resilience, support and belief systems.

缓解：Balancing competing priorities can help mitigate inevitable stress and accompanying health risks. Although it cannot be completely prevented, eliminating stress in small ways can play a key role in development.

身份：了解自己和您的单位中的个人可以帮助您确定行为的变化。身份基于对自我和价值的理解。

Treat:Support can come from the individual themselves or a friend, a unit leader, chaplain, or medical or psychological provider.

恢复:Like most ailments, a stress injury heals over time. With monitoring and proper resources, service men and women can remain or return as active and productive unit members.

These are not definitive steps for healing, but rather guidelines for leaders and individuals. To learn more about resources available for combat operational stress, reach out to your specific branch. Finding help early on can help prevent further harm down the line. By seeking help from your respective branch, you can boost personal and group morale. Because others are counting on you, it’s important to find the help you need. With programs in place throughout the military, there is no shame in asking for help.

回到civilian life after an extended period of time on active duty can be difficult. Reconciling the sights, sounds and realities of combat with the seemingly trivial aspects of everyday life is a challenge for many. Militaryveteransface a unique set of challenges and risks when returning to their daily lives, including issues like PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, chronic pain, flashbacks, anxiety, difficulty finding work and more. But with the right help and resources, it can be a smooth transition.

服务的积极影响可以帮助您过渡到民用生活中。作为退伍军人或退回部署的人，您可以在许多其他职业中提供独特的技能和戏剧感。虽然有可能的接触或其他行为健康障碍潜力，但寻找连接的方法可以帮助抢占或管理这些问题。如果您发现自己挣扎着心理健康，或者使用物质18luck新利app官网alcohol, prescription medications, or illicit drugs to cope, reach out for help. Speaking with a family member or rehabilitation center like The Recovery Village can be the first step to finding healing in a supportive, understanding environment.

如果你是朋友或family memberof a military member, you know how difficult a deployment or active duty service can be. But there are several ways to help active duty military men and women, especially when it comes to treating mental health or substance use disorders. Some ways to help include:

• Maintaining contact before, during and after service or deployment
• Offering emotional support
• Being available to talk about experiences and emotions
• Encouraging and participating in healthy coping mechanisms and lifestyle choices
• Calling for help on behalf of your friend or family member (anonymous calls are available at many treatment centers)

军事人员和退伍军人是美国社区的重要组成部分。确保他们得到了他们所需的资源，有助于社区茁壮成长。从工作场所和学校到敬拜和娱乐场所的地方，总有一些你可以做些帮助你知道的人，即使它可以像可以谈谈那么小。如果您注意到行为或难以管理压力和情绪的困难，直接与家人联系，或直接与该人交谈，或者称为恢复村等中心，以帮助防止PTSD和药物滥用等问题，从而防止控制。

With approximately18.5 percent那些从伊拉克和阿富汗displ返回aying signs of PTSD or depression, it’s more important than ever to address the issues facing active military members and veterans. These men and women are faced with immeasurable stressors and have experiences that can change their minds and bodies for life. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that 19.5 percent of service members returning from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan report experiencing a traumatic brain injury. The effects of service are both physical and mental, but cultural stigmas often limit the lengths people will go to find help.

Not asking for help for a behavioral or mental health concern can quickly escalate to issues like substance use disorder, homelessness and even suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These negative side effects are often intertwined, with70 percent of homeless veteransalso struggling with substance abuse. With early identification and treatment, you can help prevent further issues down the line. If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of war, combat, or service, reach out for help today to ensure a healthier tomorrow.

现役军事成员和退伍军人的治疗取决于手头的问题。对于心理18luck新利app官网健康和物质使用障碍，治疗计划可能包括医用排毒，住院病，门诊和清醒的生活选择的组合。用于物质使用障碍的典型治疗计划可以包含以下任一组合：

Medical Detox:This is often the first part of a treatment program. Detox can take place at a rehabilitation center or other medical office. Withdrawal symptoms and side effects can be life-threatening, so employing medical assistance is often a necessary step.

Intensive Inpatient:This is a more involved stage of residential treatment, with several hours of therapy and medical treatment. For those with severe addictions, intensive inpatient is often the springboard for recovery.

Inpatient Residential:An inpatient program offers a stable living environment with involved treatment and 24-hour access to staff and nursing supervision.

部分住院治疗（PHP）：This type of program uses evidence-based treatment for those who need more structure and access to staff. Some programs offer PHP to patients living on site, while others offer it for those living off site.

强化门诊(IOP):This program is usually reserved for patients who wish to reside in sober living housing, or at home with a strong support system. Clients are able to travel to a center for treatment during the day and return home at night.

Outpatient:For those who have been through other levels of treatment, or wish to balance treatment with a work schedule, outpatient care allows for check-ins and meetings throughout the week, usually during the morning, evening or weekend.

清醒生活:After rehab treatment for drugs and alcohol, it can be difficult to find your place in a world that once fostered addiction. At a sober living home, you’ll find staff and other residents dedicated to continuing life without substances.

通过联系您的军队分支，您将能够找到个人和集团资源。与领导持开放可以帮助您收到您需要的治疗，无论您是否正在努力满足心理健康，药物滥用或更多。18luck新利app官网除本地或分支资源外，您还可以找到其他组织的帮助，包括：

Military Crisis Line:This hotline was established to help in the event of a crisis situation involving a military member. This 24-hour line is completely confidential for service members and their loved ones.
电话号码:1-800-273-8255
Online Help:www.veteranscrisisline.net.

真正的勇士竞选：该组织旨在提高对军事成员和退伍军人面临的问题的认识。
电话号码：866-966-1020
Online Help:www.realwarriors.net

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:The largest integrated health care systems in the United States, the VA can help you find resources. In some cases, active duty members can access VA facilities for emergency situations.
Phone Number: 1-844-698-2311
Online Help:www.va.gov

The Recovery Village:With several substance use disorder treatment centers across the country, The Recovery Village specializes in caring for substance abuse alongside co-occurring mental disorders to uncover and treat the roots of addiction.
Phone Number: 844-843-2946
Online Help:www.koabox.com/contact

您作为服务成员的贡献是宝贵的，您的健康和福祉也是如此。您所在国家的一部分是您的国家是确保您保持健康和强大，无论您是在现役，还是过渡到民间生活。通过合适的资源和帮助，您可以克服和管理PTSD，抑郁，物质使用障碍等问题，以及更多地继续为您的自我，家庭，社区和国家提供积极贡献。