ADAPT - Helping children and families manage the stress of returning from deployment

Since 2001, more than 2 million American children have had a parent deployed at least once. Military families endure many forms of stress, either directly or indirectly related to their time in the service including multiple deployments, relocations, traumatic injury, loss, or long-term stress and anxiety. It is reported that over 25% of military members and veterans experience acute stress, depression, or even PTSD.
One of the challenges for many service members is understanding that their personal traumas are not traumas that their children had to endure, and that the stress their children feel over seemingly trivial events is real. When their child is upset about not being invited to a school dance, it isn’t that the stressor isn’t causing pain to their child. While this is different than worrying about combat or personal safety, it can still be traumatic and important to their child.