Women Veterans: Managing Post Deployment Stress

Despite good food, bright lights, and cheer, the holidays come with stress. The pressures, particularly on women, to cook special meals, give gifts, and decorate can be too much. If you are a woman Veteran who has recently left the service, the strain of it all can be particularly tough.

Holiday stress and readjusting after deployments and long absences from home can be hard. But VA is here to help. Vet Centers across the U.S. offer readjustment counseling services. Here, there is no shame in getting the help you might need.

Here are a few VA resources that offer support:

• Readjustment counseling services are available at Vet Centers nationwide for combat Veterans, service members, and their families. This includes family counseling for military related issues, bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death, military sexual trauma counseling, and referrals.

• VA Self-Help Apps, such as PTSD Coach, PTSD Family Coach, and Mindfulness Coach, can help you cope with symptoms related to PTSD and depression. Visit the VA App Store to learn more: https://mobile.va.gov/appstore.

• 877-WAR-VETS (877-927-8387) Combat Call Center is a 24/7 confidential service connecting Veterans with combat Veteran staff so you can speak in private with someone who understands your challenges.

If you need to talk to someone this holiday season, VA is here to help. For additional information about VA’s readjustment services, contact the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636). To find a vet center near you, visit https://bit.ly/2FmM0hM

About the author: This article was submitted to VAntage Point by VA’s Women’s Health Services Office. Created in 1988, the Women Veterans Health Program was created to streamline services for women Veterans to provide more cost-effective medical and psychosocial care.