Program prepares Airmen for deployment stress Published Sept. 11, 2009 By Deborah Silliman Wolfe Thunderbolt staff writer LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Deploying is a fact of life in the Air Force and the 56th Fighter Wing is no exception. As of Sept. 8, there are 268 Luke members deployed to 18 locations throughout the world. With deployments come stress, and the Landing Gear program offered at pre-deployment briefings by the mental health flight is set up to help Airmen prepare for the stresses they will face before, during and after a deployment. "I can't over emphasize the importance of preparing our men and women for the stresses they will encounter in the area of responsibility," said Michael Smith, 56th Medical Operations Squadron, Behavioral Health Flight psychiatric technician. "It is essential that our troops understand what they will be dealing with, and how to successfully confront issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. Looking out for your wingman is absolutely necessary in today's combat environment in order to eliminate instances such as that at Camp Liberty, Iraq, where a stressed out Soldier killed five Americans at the mental health center. Intervention is a must when the signs of escalating stress, depression or PTSD are evident, and that means knowing what to look for and what to do when you find it." Mr. Smith is passionate when it comes to the mental health of Airmen. "No one has to suffer needlessly, even in the AOR," he said. "There are combat stress teams everywhere, dedicated to helping all service men and women struggling with stress and the pain of depression and PTSD." The military is a demanding profession where high standards of personal conduct are expected and members move frequently, deploy to austere and hostile locations, and work long hours. With these conditions, stress can enter a person's life and if it is not taken care of, that stress can negatively impact job performance, relationships, and health, according to the Landing Gear program. Some of the signs of traumatic stress include: ·Disturbing thoughts and feelings that are constant, repetitive and uncontrollable or recurring distressful memories, thoughts dreams or flashbacks. ·Changing habits to avoid things that remind person of the event, feeling distressed in response to things that remind you of the event, and decreased interest or participation in activities. ·Feeling the fight or flight urge all the time, difficulty sleeping, irritability, poor concentration, agitation, feeling tense, restlessness or anxiety. ·Feeling disconnected from self or others, feeling numb, dazed or in a dream-like state, can't remember things, feeling that you or the world around you are strange or not real. To help manage stress, the Landing Gear program suggests that Airmen: ·Stay positive and keep an open mind ·Communicate and express themselves ·Establish a stress sanctuary ·Adjust expectations ·Keep a sense of humor ·Find personal meaning in work ·Stay connected with coworkers and social circle If an Airman is having difficulty coping or functioning day-to-day, is abusing drugs or alcohol, has thoughts of suicide or signs of traumatic stress that are getting worse, they should find help by seeking guidance from family members, friends, supervisors, a chaplain, representatives at the Airmen and Family Readiness center or the mental health clinic. For more information about the Landing Gear program, call Mike Smith at (623) 856-7579.