TRICARE, Your Military Health Plan

In This Section:

• Anxiety
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Stress
• Pre-Deployment
• During Deployment
• Post-Deployment
• Substance Abuse
• Suicide Prevention

Stress

Military life is challenging and often unpredictable for service members and their families. Frequent deployments, moves, and extended separations are just a few examples of the stresses service members and their family members face. Add to that the daily situations that create stress for everyone: job frustrations, problems at school, financial and medical health worries. It's not uncommon for these issues to lead to feelings of anxiety, anger, or sadness.

When stress is minimized or well-managed, these feelings will come and go, but ultimately should pass. When someone is exposed to long-term stress, serious physical, emotional, and behavioral health issues can result.

Stress can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight diseases. Because it can make you moody and tense, your relationships may suffer, and your performance at work or school may decline. If stress persists without treatment, it can lead to depression and more serious behavioral health conditions.

There are many other stressors you may face day-to-day and stress is unavoidable. Learning how to manage your stress is the best way to cope with it and decrease its negative effects.  Every person is different and what works best for you is not always the best option for friends or family members.

• Learn more about stress management. 

Stress and the Deployment Life Cycle
Deployment, perhaps the most challenging part of military life, can be an emotional roller coaster ride packed with unpredictable challenges for service members and their families. These emotional experiences are normal reactions to change, and even just knowing what to expect can help lessen the negative impact of those challenges.

Click on the links below for insight into what you may be feeling and tips for managing the transitions that occur during the deployment life cycle. Take note if any of these emotional difficulties last for an extended period of time. If so, it may be time to seek professional assistance.

• Pre-Deployment
• During Deployment
• Post Deployment

Getting Care
If you're having problems coping with stress or if it leads to more serious problems, then you can talk to a mental or behavioral health provider.  

Your rules for obtaining care may differ depending on who you are and which health plan option you are using. Learn more about getting mental/behavioral health care. 

Last Modified:June 20, 2012