By Crystal Coleman, DCoE Public Affairs
Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from those close to you, or from life in general, is a common symptom of some psychological health conditions. If you feel emotional numbness, there are actions you can take to improve your emotional well-being and your psychological health. Below are four tips that may help.
- Start with your doctors. Your family doctor can help you identify any physical issue that may cause you emotional distress. You can also reach out to a psychological health care provider such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor or social worker to learn techniques you can use to bring your feelings back. For more information on what to ask a psychological health care provider, visit the Real Warriors Campaign website.
- Talk to those you trust. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with your family, friends or chaplain may help you find the motivation you need to make changes that will improve your mood and feelings. You can also reach out to the DCoE Outreach Center day or night, email resources@dcoeoutreach.org or live chat with a resource expert.
- Stay positive with help from mobile apps. Virtual Hope Box is a mobile app you can use to help relax and focus on the positive. Using the app, you can create your own virtual collection of uplifting items (such as photos, music, inspirational quotes) to keep with you on the go. The National Center for Telehealth and Technology offers many more apps that can help you reduce stress and address other concerns. Find the complete list of available iOS and Android apps online.
- Get active, sleep well and eat healthy. Operation Live Well has a comprehensive list of resources to help you make physical activity a consistent part of your routine, get better sleep and eat a healthy diet.
U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s Family Advocacy Program hosts free classes available to all ID cardholders at Army Community Service located in Building 2915 on Panzer Kaserne. The class, SOS for Emotions (Formerly Managing Emotions), is scheduled multiple times throughout the month from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. to offer assistance to service members, personnel and their families to take charge of their emotional health and learn new skills and strategies to identify stress, anger, coping communication skills, and how to let things go. For information, contact DSN: 431-3518/civ. 07031-15-3518. View the class and event calendar here.
Service members in crisis should seek help immediately by going to the nearest emergency room or contacting the Military Crisis Line.
All active-duty military, civilians, family members and contractors can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line by dialing DSN 118 from any Army garrison DSN phone or commercially via a toll-free European number, 00800-1273-TALK (8255).
The toll-free number can be dialed from fixed-line telephones and most cell phones in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The toll-free number may not be reachable from all prepaid cell phones and some cell phone callers may incur charges.
A live Internet-based chat service is also available at www.militarycrisisline.net.
The U.S. crisis hotline is also available at 800-273-8255 (press “1″ for military) for 24/7 crisis support. The crisis line provides a confidential chat and text service (838255). Family members and friends of service members or veterans can also use the Military Crisis Line to reach immediate help.
