Those crazy emotions that come with a deployment.
There's the I-just-want-to-hurry-up-and-start-dealing-with-this feelings that come when you're contemplating the ordeal.
There's the fear.
Impatience when you're stewing over what still needs taking care of: wills, Power of Attorney, passwords, checklists that go on an on.
There's excitement of having a little mini-vacation where you sleep diagonally in the bed and stay up to watch any movie while eating chips--in bed. That wears off in a couple of days though after being the only one doing two people's jobs.
There's the wall. The one that goes up as you try to gear up for being alone. The wall is the hardest, and unfortunately, each spouse builds one. It usually comes tumbling down as you approach the drop off point for the deploying member-- leaving you to arrive back to your empty home either numb or a blubbering mess.
Regrets. There's always regrets. I suppose it could compare somewhat to the regrets one feels at the death of a loved one, "I wish I had...", "I'm sorry I didn't make____ a priority".
The hubby will be arriving at his first stop while I am racing kids to their activities. He could be there for days, so I can't begin counting down to his return since technically he's not deployed just yet.
The last 36 hours he was here, we were dealing with the possibility that this house we just moved may soon be repossessed (we're renting, so the worse case scenario is we'll be given a couple of days to move our things out if it happens). We had to contact the banks taking action, the Landlord and the Base Housing Management office. I'll let you know if we become homeless.
In the meantime...
this eye twitch that I've developed the last few months when stressed, my google results show that it could be caused by damage to nerves (possible since during the allergy attacks, I was forced to rub makeup down my face every few minutes) or stress (funny).
What I'm also reading is that other than cutting the nerves, there's not a lot I can do about it.
That's where you come in. please.
Any homeopaths out there? Any natural relaxants anyone recommends?
Until chaos allows me back out again,

I know people say this to you all the time, but I really don't know how you do it. May the time pass quickly for you. Everything crossed that you won't have to move out of the new house!
ReplyDeleteSmoking weed might help - but I have a feeling that's not your thing.
ReplyDeleteTry writing a letter to husband naming all the things that are worrying you. All your fears and regrets. Don't hand it to him, but go out to the garden and burn it. That should release a lot of your stress.
Oooohhh.... hard times, and sometimes you just wonder why do all the 'bad' comes at the same time!? *urggghhhh*
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I could tell you, "YOU, super woman, drop everything and soak yourself in spa NOW..."
You send the kids away for a week and sit in the corner sucking your thumb and rocking while they're gone. No? Sass E-mum's suggestion is a good one. You're a strong woman, but not meant to carry everything on your own. I'm glad you're writing about it. Love you, sis.
ReplyDeleteOuch. How high is your wall now?
ReplyDeleteWhat a hard thing to have to deal with... agree with the letter thing. apparently when we write things down, it (the problem)shifts from one side of the brain to another and we can deal with it better... so there you go!
Thinking of you. X
Crawl up in the arms of your Heavenly Father and let him have all the junk. Cast all your cares on Him before bed and let Him deal with it while you sleep; He's up anyway.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it doesn't sound creepy, if you send me your address I have something I'd love to send you as a thank you for helping me through my valley too.
Blessings, Carolynn
Apparently God is testing you again because he knows it will make you even stronger. I'm just sorry that you're getting so much all at once. Life can be unfair that way.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was going through the most stressful time with our son & his drug abuse, I had the twitching eye thing, but it liked hopping back & forth between the left & right. I found that sleep often helped to relieve it. But not always. Once I got him clean & straightened out, I began to notice that it happened less often. Now, I can't even remember the last time I had *The Twitch*.
I pray that you can get through all of this with your sanity. Sending prayers, good thoughts & hugs your way...
The letter idea is good, ans so is having this place out here to rant.
ReplyDeleteIf that fails you, tequila works as well. ;)
You are such a strong and capable woman...this too shall pass. And know that you have all of us out here to listen and send you light.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was there to give you a big hug and tell you that I will help you out. You certainly have a lot on your plate! Possibly losing your beautiful new home? Oh my! I'll bet you are tired of people tell you that you are strong when you feel like curling up in a corner and crying but - you are strong. You will do what you need to do to get through. Your friends will help - even if it is just emotional support from a LONG distance.
ReplyDeleteAs for the twitch - when I had a particularly difficult year at school I developed TWO twitches in my eye. They went away when the year was over.
With eye twitching, I think it's time to go out for a pub lunch, and hope there will be a few handsome punters there who think you're winking at them and who jolly up your life with some jolly banter!
ReplyDeleteApart from that, fret not - you are probably the only one who can tell it's there at all...
hmmm....no real help for ya Jeri----good luck! my brother is finishing his AF training in Texas right now and he and his family are going to be stationed in Washington state (he would have preferred England, in all honesty---served his mission in Scottland)
ReplyDeleteI think Vodka helps. Oh wait, you wanted a homeopathic solution. Nevermind.
ReplyDeleteKnow well wishes are on their way!
oh honey, I'm so sorry. And I sort of understand. I am hugely stressed right now. And I can't really say why in a public forum so perhaps I'll just wait a couple days... but you know what? I think you can probably guess what is happening.
ReplyDeletewish I could help you out.
hugs
I have no idea what to do about your twitching eye, but I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all of this right now. I'll pray for you.
ReplyDeleteYou already have some great comments and answers. I know just a little of your pain as my husband works in Alaska 2 weeks on and 2 off. We used to do 6 on and 1 off. So I know that there is not a lot out there to help that won't get you a stint in rehab. Hang in there--I really so wish I could be closer to help!!
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine how it must feel... but thank you for giving us a glimpse.
ReplyDeleteok, so here's my remedy for it. Both my eyes were twitching, drove me nuts. Go off anything that could be considered a stimulant, yes this includes caffeine, also try taking some stuff called "Slow Mag" Magnesium is a natural relaxant and when I get stressed I take this stuff. Your doctor can prescribe it, but it is time released Magnesium. Helps a ton. I also get massages periodically and that keeps the tenstion from building up too much. Try these things and hopefully you can find a routine and try not to get too major stressed!
ReplyDeleteOK lets see if I have this straight. We just had Christmas, yep the busiest part of the year, and you moved during that, like during the holidays,...yep you did. you did NOT get any extra rest either. You do have a two year old and several other kids to take care of, and now your husband has been deployed. Did I forget anything? Yup, the house you just moved into you might have to move out of,...lets see, um the sheer quantity of stress here indicates full body spasms with seizures and total nervous breakdown. Victim has minor complaint of eye twitching, remarkable, amazing, simply incredible. You also still breathe and you can read and write comprehensibly, I think you are doing quite well all things considered. Farm out the kids and take afew days holiday to sleep.
ReplyDeleteValerian root is herbal Valium and some people think melatonin helps relax a person. I think you could use a break more than drugs of any kind. As we say out here, "Bless your heart!"
My goodness! Your life is such a whirl right now. I can't imagine all the emotions you must be feeling all at once.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is thank you. Thank you for YOUR bravery and tackling these hardships for the benefit of the rest of us. Thank you for being willing to endure the stress and deployments and a million and one inconviences and lost moments so that MY family has a more secure world to live in. Words can never adequately express that, I know. People thank our deployed members all the time (which they richly deserve) but often forget their families. So, on behalf of myself and everyone I love, I'm thanking YOU.
My prayers will be with your husband, you and your family during his deployment. Thank you both for your service.
ReplyDeleteI wish that there was something that I could do to help. You guys are in my thoughts. Hoping for the best in all areas.
ReplyDeleteGirl, I don't envy you. Been there, done that, with the deployment thing. It's never easy and never fun. I'm not a good military spouse for that stuff. I worry myself to the point of illness and eat my heart out until Randey's safely back at home.
ReplyDeleteI hope the housing situation gets resolved without too much upheaval for you and I will be thinking of you often!!!! You e-mail me if you need to rant and rave (Lord knows I usually do plenty of that when Randey's deployed!!). Take care and STAY BUSY!! (Twitching eyes does not count as "busy work", by the way!).
Tell your husband Godspeed and I'll be thinking of him, too!!
:)
Kari
I suggest exercise because you get endorphins and time away from the situation. Dance class, yoga class, maybe even pottery (exercise for your fingers?). I hope your eye stops twitching, I think you are very brave.
ReplyDeleteWow! You pinned the description of deployment exactly! The emotions and things that happen is right on. I'm sorry that your eye won't stop twitching. I hope you get it fixed!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be able to deal with this stress half as magnanimously as you. Keep it going, you're almost there. (I think.)
ReplyDeleteI sometimes have problems with a twitching eye. I put it down to tiredness although I do not always seem to be tired when I have the problem. It is irritating but usually goes away after a time.
ReplyDeleteMy natural relaxant of choice - a glass or two or wine.
You have some amazing readers, but that stands to reason...they're attracted to an amazing woman!
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest:
valerian root
wine
sleep
massage
less computer time (I know, I know)
and magnesium (coupled with calcium, Calcium to magnesium 2:1)
I've had an eye twitch, too.
Your other friends have said everything I wanted to say to you, so, ditto! Please, take care of yourself. You deserve it.
I wish I could give you an idea of what to do with the twitching eye...how but the twitch in my hiney...giggle...that help??
ReplyDeleteWhen do you get to come back to the homeland so I can rescue you for a spa day?!
BTW...a Krispy Kreme chocolate covered, whipped cream filled pill would be soooo good...hmmm maybe that would help with the hiney twitch!!! LOL...HUGS!!!
My cure-all of choice is chocolate, but that is probably just in my head, I think. Another thing that really helps me de-stress, especially in the winter is heat. A heating pad on my back, a hot cup of tea, a steamy shower, a warm wet cloth across my eyes and forehead, a soft cuddly blanket to wrap up in--these all help me to calm down and de-stress a bit. I so hope all of this gets worked out for you. You are carrying way more on your shoulders than is reasonable for anyone to have to deal with alone, yet you will get through it. You are much stronger than you realize. It will all be OK eventually.
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