Effects of a Career Change
You have been in the military for a number of years, and you are now making the transition
back to civilian life. Understanding stress, and coping with it, is an essential skill you
will need to get through this difficult time. The following information and resources will
help you prepare for a successful transition.
Leaving the Military Challenges Your Identity
You have worked hard to become a Captain, Sergeant, or Petty Officer. When asked what you
do, you probably replied, "I'm in the Army (Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marines)." Now
you must start over as a civilian. Now you are just another civilian.
Changing careers is a stressful undertaking, perhaps even more so for those leaving military
service after many years. A service member may have worked for 30 years to achieve a rank or
grade, but upon leaving the Armed Forces, he or she leaves this rank behind—and with it, a large
portion of his or her identity.
Some people find it easier than others to adopt new identities. Transition is traumatic
and stressful, but it also opens up a whole range of possibilities. If you approach your
transition as an opportunity to grow, you will have already taken a giant step toward
reestablishing your identity.
What Is Stress?
Everybody knows what stress feels like. But what is it really? The experts tell us that
stress is a state of being. It is not an attitude; it is not a sign of being
unable to handle things. Stress is a physical response, which, left unchecked, can lead to
mental and physical exhaustion and illness.
Natural stress in our lives is considered good. It allows our bodies to respond to
danger. You know the expression, "Fight or flight."
Unnatural stress comes from continued threats or dangers over which we have no
control. The body is alert for long periods of time with no chance to relax. It is
important to remember that the body, like any good machine, begins to wear out if it runs in high
gear for too long.
Life's Most Stressful Events
In his book,
Winning Life's Toughest Battles, Dr. Julius Segal outlines three broad categories of very
stressful events. These include the following:
- Events that lead to the loss of a special relationship, such as divorce
- Events you cannot control that make you feel helpless, such as an accident
- Events with lasting consequences, such as a terminal illness or the loss of your job
Transitioning from the military can have aspects of all three categories. In a sense, you
lose many special relationships by losing the daily interaction with your co-workers. If you
are transitioning involuntarily, you may be in a situation that is beyond your
control. Transition, obviously, has permanent consequences and being involuntary separated may
bring on some unforeseen stresses. When you change jobs, your life
changes.
The Stress-Health Connection
It is important to look for signs of stress overload. Here are some of the
symptoms:
- Constant fatigue
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Stomach problems
- More frequent colds or other illnesses
- Smoking or drinking more than usual
- Feeling nervous
- Being irritable or angrier than you want to be
- Desire to be alone, away from other people
- Inability to eat or eating more than usual
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it is likely they are stress
related.
The "Grieving Process" Is Normal
Research has shown that most people go through major life changes in stages. These stages
are present in a wide variety of major life traumas:
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Denial: "This is not really happening," or "This is not happening to me."
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Anger: Directed either at yourself or at others.
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Depression: Often accompanied by a sense of helplessness.
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Acceptance: The turning point, when you begin to accept your
situation.
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Resolution: Begin to take the steps necessary to return to a normal
state.
Proceeding through each step is normal, and the process should not be rushed. Often
however, people may progress out of a stage and then drop back into it. If uncontrolled, the
bouncing back and forth between stages can continue for a long time. As you make your
transition to civilian life, look for these stages in yourself and acknowledge your movements from
one step to the next.
Coping With Transition-Related Stress
The experiences of thousands of service members who have recently separated suggest that this
transition is likely to be stressful for you and your family. Those that have transitioned in
the past have found several tactics extremely important in dealing with the stress related to
separation from the military:
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Get going: It is your transition; no one can do it for you. Work through the
transition process and do not procrastinate. Put your situation in perspective and get on with
your life. After all, you are not the first person to go through transition, and you will not
be the last. You'll do okay too.
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Sell yourself: You have a great product—YOU! So sell yourself! Now is not the time
to be modest about your accomplishments. No one will come looking for you unless they know you
are available. Once you let them know, you will find many people who will help you.
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Work at it: Work at planning your transition as if it were a job. However, if
you spend every waking hour working on it, you will burn out. Take time for yourself and your
family.
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Lighten up: This is probably the most important piece of advice. Do not lose
your sense of humor. An upbeat disposition will see you through.
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Keep your family involved: Your family has a large stake in your
transition. They are experiencing many of the same feelings, worries, and uncertainties as you
are. Do not keep your plans to yourself; get your family involved in this process. Let
them in on your plans and ask for their input throughout the process. It's their life
too.
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Volunteer: Consider doing volunteer work. Your charitable actions will help
others and assist you in getting to know the community beyond the military installations and
enhance your networking.
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Take a change management course: Consider taking a change management course before
stress appears, or at the first signs of stress.
Date Last Reviewed: March 20, 2009