Can Therapy Help You Cope with PCS Season?

When PCS orders come they certainly don’t come with an instruction manual. There is no shortage of helpful advice on making it easier to live in a new place, but the process of moving may never seem to get easier. Having to move and ‘restart’ in a new place can be overwhelming and anxiety provoking whether this is your first PCS or your 9th.

PCS-ing is inevitable for most military families. Most families will move every two to four years, says Armed Services YMCA . Moves happen to meet the needs of the military, however, you may be left wondering how you meet your own needs with so much uncertainty ahead. How will you look ahead and maintain a positive attitude throughout the process? You aren’t alone and you certainly don’t’ have to spend countless nights scouring the internet for information on your new duty station.

All The Feelings

Moving to a new duty station can be the start of an exciting and challenging new chapter in your life. Your entire life is in a box waiting to be transported to a place you may not know. This move may offer a fresh start, giving you the opportunity to examine your own life and follow your passions. You may also find yourself feeling overwhelmed and even alone.

Experts say that moving is the third most stressful life event next to divorce and death of a loved one. For military spouses, it may be a way of life, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Finding new everything can feel excessive. When you move you need new primary care doctors, dentists, hair dressers, friends, support systems, communities, you even need to find a new grocery store! The list goes on and on.

All these things can wreak havoc on your emotions. It is understandable that many experience adjustment disorder symptoms, anxiety and even depression during these turbulent times. It is natural to grieve the loss of your previous home as you move to a new one.

You Deserve Support

A PCS move is like riding an emotional roller coaster that takes you in many different directions. You may have good and bad days. If you feel like the bad outnumber the good and the move is taking a toll on your emotional health, reach out for help. Admitting that you need help is not something to be ashamed of. It’s a sign of being a fearless and strong military spouse.

Find a therapist you can trust, contracted with Carolina Counseling Services in Sanford, NC. CCS contracts with in-network Tricare counselors who care, many are military spouses themselves or even served! Get the support you need and deserve, call now to get started!