1 Post-Deployment Resilience Training for Civilians (3 – 6 Months Post-Deployment)

Mission and Vision 2 Mission: Develop a strong, resilient workforce (Soldier and Civilians) through resiliency training. End state: Sustain a resilient workforce that stands shoulder to shoulder, able overcome challenges and bounce back from adversity

Task: Learn that deep beliefs may be operating when an emotion or reaction seems out of proportion to what you’re thinking in the heat of the moment. Conditions: Within a classroom/small group environment and 90 minute timeframe. Standards: Understand that self-awareness and integration training can assist civilians in their transition to home life. Task, Conditions, Standards 3

You’ve been home for several months…  Is your transition going like you wanted it to?  How are you reacting to things differently than you did before the deployment? 4 Back Home

Activating Event Thoughts Consequences: Emotions Reactions ATC Model 5

 Activating events back home – A guy at the bar asking what combat was like – Being in crowds like the movies or mall – Hearing loud noises – A person complaining about “stupid” stuff – Someone moves your stuff (keys, jacket) – Having a couple of drinks with friends – Dining out with Family and friends – Playing with your kids 6 Activating Events

Strengths and Traps Taking responsibility Blaming yourselfMe, Me, Me Assessing the cause of problems Blaming othersThem, Them, Them Conducting mission analysis Not having control over negative events Always, Always, Always Conducting AARsRegretting/having guilt StrengthsThinking Traps Building cohesionInsulating yourselfNo one Else Understands Verifying information Making assumptions Jumping to Conclusions 7

 Strength: Taking responsibility – Being accountable and accepting responsibility for your actions – Determining the appropriate level of personal responsibility – Examining how the situation contributed – Limiting self-criticism The “One time – One thing” approach – Other ways? 8 Taking Responsibility

 Me, Me, Me: You are the sole cause of every problem you encounter  Action: Look outward  Critical Question: – How did others and the deployment contribute? – What are the facts about what happened?  Balance self-blame with taking responsibility 9 s Thinking Traps

 Strength: Conducting a mission analysis – Identifying what you can and can’t change – Developing a plan of action – Accepting reality: “Embracing the bad” – Other ways? 10 Mission Analysis

 Always, Always, Always: Believing that problems are unchangeable and you have little or no control over them  Action: Grab control  Critical Question: – What can I control? What do I have to accept?  Counter helplessness with understanding what you can and cannot control 11 Thinking Traps

Example: Going to the mall or movie theater and you feel like there is danger for no obvious reason ATC Example 12

Activating Event: Going to the mall Thoughts: This is a dangerous place Something bad is going to happen There’s something wrong with me Consequences: Emotions: Anxiety Reactions: Escape ATC Example 13

Activating Event: Going to the mall Thoughts Thinking Traps: Me, Me, Me Always, Always, Always Consequences: Emotions: Anxiety Reactions: Escape ATC Example 14

Activating Event: Going to the mall Alternative Thoughts: Lots of people go through this Adapting combat skills take time Consequences: Emotions: A bit nervous but confident Reactions: Tolerance of own reactions ATC Example 15

 Strength: Assessing the cause of problems – Accurately identifying factors that contributed to the problem – Looking at the facts – Examining how you may have contributed – Other ways? 16 Assessing the Cause

 Them, Them, Them: Other people or circumstances are the cause of every problem you encounter  Action: Look inward  Critical Question: – How did I contribute?  Counter blaming or faulting others with accurate assessment 17 Thinking Traps

 Strength: Building cohesion – Having Battle-Buddies – Knowing how to talk about what’s important – Other ways? 18 Building Cohesion

 No one else understands: Only those who have been there understand  Action: Practice communication  Critical Question: – How can I share important things about the deployment with the people close to me?  Balance the unique bonds made during combat with reconnecting to Family and friends 19 Thinking Traps

Example: Your Spouse complains you spend too much time with your coworkers and not enough time at home ATC Example 20

Activating Event: Your Spouse complains you spend too much time with your buddies and not enough time at home Thoughts: She’s over-controlling and always nagging me ATC Example Consequences: Emotions: Anger Reactions: Arguments, Isolation 21

Activating Event: Your Spouse complains you spend too much time with your buddies and not enough time at home Thoughts: Thinking Traps: Them, Them, Them Always, Always, Always No one else understands Consequences: Emotions: Anger Reactions: Arguments, Isolation ATC Example Consequences: Emotions: Anger Reactions: Arguments, Isolation 22

Activating Event: Your Spouse complains you spend too much time with your buddies and not enough time at home Alternative Thoughts: My Family loves me Relationships take time and effort Consequences: Emotions: Feel loved Reactions: Family time ATC Example 23

 Strength: Verifying information to ensure accuracy – Conducting inspections – Ensuring accurate information – Double checking – Eyes on – Other ways? 24 Verifying Information

 Jumping to conclusions: Being certain about a situation despite having little or no evidence to support it  Action: Slow Down  Critical Question: − What’s the evidence?  Counter jumping to conclusions with verifying information 25 Thinking Traps

Example: A guy at the burger place takes 5 minutes to special order his meal while you’re waiting behind him in line ATC Example 26

Thoughts: He’s wasting my time I have no tolerance for this nonsense Consequences: Emotions: Frustration Reactions: Rage, Heart Racing Activating Event: Guy at the burger place takes 5 minutes to special order his meal ATC Example 27

Thoughts Thinking Traps: Jumping to conclusions No one else understands Consequences: Emotions: Frustration Reactions: Rage, Heart Racing Activating Event: Guy at the burger place takes 5 minutes to special order his meal ATC Example 28

Activating Event: Guy at the Burger King takes 5 minutes to special order his meal Alternative Thoughts: Maybe the guy is ordering for someone else I don’t have to get angry – I know what’s important Consequences: Emotions: Calm Reactions: Relaxed ATC Example 29

 Watch out for the iceberg of always needing to be in control  Apologize when needed  Use Active Constructive Responding and Praise  Show appreciation and gratitude for each other 30 Re-Connecting

 S trength: Understanding complex events – Reviewing events objectively – Realistically appraising situations – Conducting an After Action Review (AAR) – Acknowledging personal limits in preventing critical events – Other ways? 31 Understanding Events

 What Ifs and Shoulds: Things would have been ok if I had done something different  Action: Be objective  Critical Question: – Could I reasonably have known what would happen? – Are my thoughts about the deployment hurting my ability to enjoy life now?  Counter second-guessing/guilt with accepting and learning 32 Thinking Traps

Example: You are reminded of something bad that happened during the deployment ATC Example 33

Activating Event: Reminder of something bad that happened during the deployment Thoughts: It’s my fault I should have done something different I don’t deserve to be happy Consequences: Emotions: Depression, Grief, Guilt Reactions: Withdrawal ATC Example 34

Thoughts: What Ifs and Shoulds Consequences: Emotions: Depression, Grief, Guilt Reactions: Withdrawal ATC Example Activating Event: Reminder of something bad that happened during the deployment 35

Alternative Thoughts: I would have done something different if I’d known what would happen I did my best Consequences: Emotions: Sad Reactions: Acceptance ATC Example Activating Event: Reminder of something bad that happened during the deployment 36

 What makes acceptance so important in your transition?  What are ways to facilitate acceptance? – Expect the transition to take time – Be aware of memories – Talk it out/Write it out – Focus on what you can control 37 Practice Acceptance

 Practice deep breathing – Take a normal breath, hold, and count to 5 – Breathe out and focus on relaxation – Breathe in and out slowly in 10-second cycles (or whatever is comfortable for you)  Focus attention – Keep bringing attention back to breathing – Practice builds attention capacity 38 Mindful Breathing

How do you know if you or one of your buddies are struggling with the transition? 39 Resilience Checks

 Driving  Alcohol  Revved up  Sleep  Over-controlling  Over-reacting  Angry  Detached or numb Resilience Checks (1 of 2) 40

 “You’ve changed”  Intrusive memories  Guilt and grief  Relationships  Weapons  Risk taking  Adrenaline highs  Future focus Resilience Checks (2 of 2) 41

 Hunt the good stuff  Practice humor 42 Optimism

BG Cornum 43 Resilience in Action

How have you grown from the deployment? 44 Personal Growth

45 “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared with what lies within us.” -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Welcome Home!

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AAR What went well What can be improved