The Effects That Deployment Has on Families
Cause and Effect Essay
English 121
February 12, 2012
The Effects that Deployment has on Families Whether good or bad, we all experience stress at some point in our lives. Stress is our body’s normal reaction to a physical or emotional adjustment. Because of the daily contacts we encounter with stress, we all have an idea of what it is and how it affects us, physically and mentally. Military families often deal with extra stress from the result of a loved one’s deployment. Families face numerous emotional challenges before, during, and after a deployment- causing greater amounts of stress. Preparing for a family members deployment can cause many underlying problems with both the spouse and children. This may cause anxiety, shock, denial, disbelief and confusion. Children are greatly affected by the tensions that come during this time due to the upcoming disruption to their lives. Children, during this phase, may show signs of withdrawal and moodiness. They may also have anxiety issues that cause irritability and hyperactivity. Arguments between spouses may result from the anticipation of separation; consequently, creating more tension with the children.
When a family member deploys, there are many added family stressors and behavioral changes that a spouse and children may be faced with. They must learn to adapt to their new lives without the deployed parent. Each remaining family member will experience similar feelings of loneliness and sadness. The family may have a heightened sense of concern, worried about their loved one while they are gone. They might have difficulty sleeping and eating. Surely, they will have extra responsibilities and chores to make up for the slack of the deployed loved one. A spouse may now have to take care of the bills in the absence of the deployed member, and if they were never faced with this responsibility before, they may find themselves overwhelmed. Young children tend to suffer from separation anxiety;
English 121
February 12, 2012
The Effects that Deployment has on Families Whether good or bad, we all experience stress at some point in our lives. Stress is our body’s normal reaction to a physical or emotional adjustment. Because of the daily contacts we encounter with stress, we all have an idea of what it is and how it affects us, physically and mentally. Military families often deal with extra stress from the result of a loved one’s deployment. Families face numerous emotional challenges before, during, and after a deployment- causing greater amounts of stress. Preparing for a family members deployment can cause many underlying problems with both the spouse and children. This may cause anxiety, shock, denial, disbelief and confusion. Children are greatly affected by the tensions that come during this time due to the upcoming disruption to their lives. Children, during this phase, may show signs of withdrawal and moodiness. They may also have anxiety issues that cause irritability and hyperactivity. Arguments between spouses may result from the anticipation of separation; consequently, creating more tension with the children.
When a family member deploys, there are many added family stressors and behavioral changes that a spouse and children may be faced with. They must learn to adapt to their new lives without the deployed parent. Each remaining family member will experience similar feelings of loneliness and sadness. The family may have a heightened sense of concern, worried about their loved one while they are gone. They might have difficulty sleeping and eating. Surely, they will have extra responsibilities and chores to make up for the slack of the deployed loved one. A spouse may now have to take care of the bills in the absence of the deployed member, and if they were never faced with this responsibility before, they may find themselves overwhelmed. Young children tend to suffer from separation anxiety;