Common Reactions to Deployment45
| Feelings . | Behaviors . |
|---|---|
| Preschool | |
| Confusion | Clinging, demands for attention |
| Anger | Problems separating from the remaining parent |
| Guilt | Irritability and aggression |
| Regression (thumb sucking, bedwetting) | |
| Sleep disturbances | |
| Feeding issues (more picky) | |
| Easy frustration and more difficult to comfort | |
| School-age | |
| Same feelings as preschool plus: | New behavior problems or in intensification of already existing problems |
| Increased sadness (lack of family normalcy and loss of deployed parent) | Regression |
| Worry about deployed parent | Rapid mood swings |
| Fear that remaining parent might leave or die | Changes in eating and sleeping |
| Anger at parent for missing important events | Anger at both parents for disrupting normalcy |
| Changes in behavior at school and with friends (anger, aggression) | |
| Need to be and do “normal” things (eg, parties) | |
| Somatic complaints | |
| Adolescent | |
| Anger | Misdirected or acting-out behavior toward others or themselves |
| Sadness | School problems |
| Depression | Apathy, loss of interest, noncommunication, and denial of feelings |
| Anxiety | Increased importance of friends to the detriment of reasonable family life |
| Fear | Trying to take charge of the family |
| Feelings . | Behaviors . |
|---|---|
| Preschool | |
| Confusion | Clinging, demands for attention |
| Anger | Problems separating from the remaining parent |
| Guilt | Irritability and aggression |
| Regression (thumb sucking, bedwetting) | |
| Sleep disturbances | |
| Feeding issues (more picky) | |
| Easy frustration and more difficult to comfort | |
| School-age | |
| Same feelings as preschool plus: | New behavior problems or in intensification of already existing problems |
| Increased sadness (lack of family normalcy and loss of deployed parent) | Regression |
| Worry about deployed parent | Rapid mood swings |
| Fear that remaining parent might leave or die | Changes in eating and sleeping |
| Anger at parent for missing important events | Anger at both parents for disrupting normalcy |
| Changes in behavior at school and with friends (anger, aggression) | |
| Need to be and do “normal” things (eg, parties) | |
| Somatic complaints | |
| Adolescent | |
| Anger | Misdirected or acting-out behavior toward others or themselves |
| Sadness | School problems |
| Depression | Apathy, loss of interest, noncommunication, and denial of feelings |
| Anxiety | Increased importance of friends to the detriment of reasonable family life |
| Fear | Trying to take charge of the family |