It’s not always easy for military veterans to transition back to the lives they once knew. The protocol, habits, and language that help personnel survive in the field don’t necessarily translate well into life in the civilian world, and many veterans may feel like they’ve fallen behind their friends and families during their time away. Just because it can be challenging doesn’t mean it’s insurmountable. Here’s how you can make your transition more manageable.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Help
While there’s a lot of talk about PTSD, the transition to civilian life can be psychologically tiring even if you don’t suffer from a quantifiable mental condition. Deployment also puts strains on families, and you may have difficulty connecting with your loved ones in the ways you did before your deployment. There’s nothing wrong with seeking out counseling, and this can involve enlisting the services of both a personal therapist to help you vent about your problems and a family therapist to open the lines of communication between you and your loved ones more easily. Veteran Families United provides a wealth of resources for mental health professionals who specialize in the unique issues that veterans and service members face.
Find the Balance Between Civilian and Veteran Circles
Many of the challenges that veterans face on deployment simply can’t be understood by people who haven’t been through them. Transitioning to civilian life doesn’t have to mean putting your military experience behind you completely. By connecting with veterans groups like the American Foreign Legion and the National Association of American Veterans, you can keep in touch with others who’ve shared your experience. While it isn’t a replacement for social outlets in civilian life, events hosted by these organizations can give you a way to reconnect with those who share your experiences when you need to recharge your batteries.
Pursue a Higher Education
Leaving the military closes a chapter of your life, but it also presents the promise of a new future. There are a number of federal grants and public and private scholarships available to veterans looking to pursue a higher education. The university environment can help you develop a new social network in your civilian life, but it’s not the only option around. Online university for military veteran programs give you a lot more flexibility in scheduling, and you may even be able to apply your military experience as credits. It’s an ideal way to fast-track your education.
Exercise Patience
If you’re having trouble finding a job that’s satisfying, you aren’t alone. Many people, veterans and civilians, struggle to find a career that will make them happy. You likely won’t land your dream job on your first try, and you might not even know what you want to do at first, but that’s okay. Each interview will improve your skills, and pursuing a higher education can help you better equipped for your next. You may want to consider taking a career assessment to determine a path towards your future.
If you’re having trouble transitioning to civilian life, you’re not alone. A transition rarely happens overnight, but there are resources out there to make yours easier. With time, you’ll find yourself becoming more integrated back into the life you left behind.
