Real-time Raman measurements of graphite are performed during and after deuterium ion irradiation at sample temperatures between 353K and 473K. There are two distinct thermal relaxation processes, i. e. fast and slow ones. The activation energy of the fast process is 0.91±0.15eV and is comparable with that for helium ion irradiation. The activation energy of the slow process is 0.25±0.11 eV and is obviously different from that for helium ion irradiation (1.8±0.3eV).