Stress isn’t just a mood. Stress creates a direct response in your body, leaving you irritable, tired, and wired. During a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), your stress levels can go through the roof. Let’s look at five ways to help you process your PCS stress.
What can you control?
Identifying what you can change (or not change) helps you know what you need to focus on now, and what can be put off for later. The website PCS Like a Pro helps military families move with ease by providing resources and a Facebook Group to ask questions.
What can you simplify in your life?
The month before you move is not the time to volunteer for four extra shifts a week. Instead, 90 days before you move, wind down your commitments so you don’t feel pulled in a hundred directions. Army spouse Kelsey didn’t have the energy to cook every night, so she used a meal delivery service to lighten the load. What does simplifying look like in your life?
What does your body need?
Movement helps your body process and let go of stress. Moving your body can be a walk around the block, a Zumba class, a workout video, or even dancing it out to “Let it Go” with your little ones. Your body may need a good night’s sleep, a full meal, a long hug, deep breaths, or even a glass of water. Give yourself what feels supportive for a healthy day.
Are you feeling your feelings?
The emotions you feel during a move are entirely valid and expected. Don’t shame yourself for having conflicting emotions. Instead, release the stress by letting yourself feel and process them all. If you don’t feel like you have a safe place to cry, grab your favorite snacks, take your car to a local park, put on some blues, and feel the feelings. Your nervous system will thank you.
Have you written it down?
Brains can occasionally feel like overzealous hoarders of everything that can go wrong. Free-writing a page ‘brain dump’ style clears up space in your brain to think clearly. It might be about your to-do list for the day, appointments coming up, the weird conversation you had a week ago, or your dreams for the next base. Anything you write down gives you a little more breathing room to think.
PCS stress can take its toll on even the toughest of spouses, so remember that your mental health is worth taking care of during this moving season of your life.