Military service members who serve in military operations put their lives at risk whenever they are deployed in areas suffused with terror and violence. Many stories have been told how these brave men and women face the uncertain circumstances of war while experiencing the emotional trauma of being separated from their loved ones.

Struggling along with them are their families. The long deployment can take its toll on the family, and the hardest to be hit are the children who grew up with soldier parents being sent on overseas assignment. While the spouses and other adult members of the family have the faculty to express their feelings, the children have a tougher time articulating their emotions, making it difficult for parents or guardians to gauge how they fare.

Reading through the Minds of Military Children

Even with the best prepared plan and despite putting on a cheerful demeanor, you can’t prevent your child from experiencing stress once the soldier parent is called to duty. Your child may not fully comprehend why the parent is leaving. Besides worrying about safety, he or she may be thinking that they are the cause of separation. These thoughts can subconsciously trouble your child and make him or her afraid to talk about what’s going on inside their head.

Depending on your child’s age, level of thinking, closeness with the deployed parent, and his or her perception of how you handle the situation, your child may either act out or withdraw. This is most true if your child is approaching the teen years, the notorious period when young people don’t talk to parents about things. Your child may demonstrate behavioral changes, such as sleep disturbances, bed-wetting, poor academic performance, and aggressiveness. The negative impact of depression makes your child highly vulnerable to anxiety, depression, anger, and a host of other possible emotional and psychological issues.

Ending the Silent Sufferings

The difficulties the child endures may not disappear even when the deployed parent returns home, particularly if the trauma of war is included in the luggage or if there were injuries sustained. Seeing the ill effects of deployment, your child continues to suffer in silence and the thought of the next PCS may linger in his or her young mind.

All the more, this highlights the importance of protecting your child emotionally. However, you may not be able to successfully face the challenges alone. You may need to call a professional that can help put an end to your child’s sufferings, regardless of any type of psychological or behavioral problem. Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC is the place to call. Independently contracted counselors can provide age specific treatment in the type of issue you suspect your child to have. Don’t allow your child to worry any longer.

Call now to request an appointment.

Related Articles:

• A Change in Child Behavior: Before During and After a PCS move
• Help your Child Survive PCS Challenges
• Understanding How a PCS Move May Effect Military Children