4 Tips
for a successful Unaccompanied Tour
By Sherri
1. Take care of
yourself. Remember you can’t help your loved one if
you are sick or emotionally drained. Take
the time to eat right, sleep and give yourself the occasional break; you
deserve it!
Resources the State
Department offers to DOS, USAID, and their family members:
·
Deployment Stress Management Program (DSMP) is
located in Mental Health Services within the Office
of Medical Services. The
DSMP is a community based program to support the psychological health of
Foreign Service Officers, Department of State (DoS) and USAID employees,
and their families who are or will be assigned to high stress /
high threat / unaccompanied tours (HS/HT/UT). The DSMP provides
information, referrals, initial assessment, and brief treatment for problems
related to the stress of deployment.
They offer a support group meeting twice a month in the Department of
State and meditation practice. For more information, visit www.state.gov/m/med/dsmp/index.htm
·
Employee Consultation Service (ECS) has
a staff of psychiatric social workers. They offer consultation,
evaluation, and referral services to families of U.S. government employees
assigned to diplomatic posts abroad and to employees and family members on an
unaccompanied tour. Walk-ins are
welcome, or you may schedule an appointment.
For more information www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/c21952.htm
·
MHN, Inc. is a comprehensive mental and
behavioral health services company with extensive experience in providing
confidential web-based, telephonic, and in-person resources to employees and
family members throughout an unaccompanied tour. Log on with the word (single word lower
case) unaccompaniedtour in the company code https://members.mhn.com/external/public/default/homepage
Other places to look:
·
The
Integrative Restoration
Institute (IRI) provides programs that show you how to live a
contented life, free of conflict and fear, by opening your mind and body to its
inherent ground of health and well-being: www.irest.us
·
Authentic Happiness is the homepage of Dr. Martin
Seligman, Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of
Pennsylvania and founder of positive psychology, a branch of psychology that
focuses on the empirical study of such things as positive emotions, strengths-based
character, and healthy institutions. www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
2. Be organized. Whether you are getting ready to leave for
the first time or getting ready for the final R&R, it is always a good idea
to look at, use, and make check lists. Times of transition (whether it be going
to or coming from Post) can be very stressful.
And, stressful situations can sometimes cause us to be forgetful
(amongst other things). This is where
those lists become very important for you and your family; they help you to
remember!
·
Overseas Briefing Center (OBC) helps U.S.
Government employees and their family members prepare for an overseas
assignment or a return home. We encourage you to explore the website and email OBC (FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov) with questions and requests for additional information www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/c49333.htm
3. Think security. Your home, your car,
your personal safety and your virtual presence all need extra care.
·
Create
good passwords and change them often.
Use sites like USAA’s Password Strength Indicator to see how strong your
password is. www.usaa.com/inet/pages/security_take_steps_protect_logon?action=INIT&wa_ref=SEC_CTR_YourSec_logon_CyberCodeText&SearchRanking=7&SearchLinkPhrase=password
·
Wondering about an offer and can’t get in
touch with your partner for advice? Use www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com
for advice.
·
Look
at State Department Federal Credit Union on their tips for the Foreign Service www.sdfcu.org/ForeignServiceCenter
4. Cultivate appreciation. Take time to appreciate the little
things! Appreciate the sacrifice your
loved one is making for you and for the service of this country. Appreciate all the hard work your family is
doing while you are away doing an unaccompanied tour. Tell your loved one how much you appreciate
them! Brag about them to others and let
your loved one overhear! Write words of
appreciation in your e-mails and other communications. Remember the words of Voltaire: “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong
to us as well.”
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