Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Mental Health

6 Resources For Military Spouses Struggling With Anxiety and Depression

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6 Resources For Military Spouses Struggling With Anxiety and Depression

I suffer from anxiety. Having a spouse in the military can add to the struggle. Over the years I have learned what works and how to deal with my anxiety. Sometimes that means changing little things in my life, other times that has meant going to see a counselor.

I know I am not alone in my anxiety. Other military spouses struggle with it too. Some spouses struggle with depression as well. No matter who you are or what you do, struggling with anxiety and depression can be a lifelong battle.

Anxiety and Depression

Mental health is a serious issue in the US and our military. It has touched our family personally as well as many other families I know. We shouldn’t be sweeping it under the rug, and we shouldn’t be embarrassed to reach out and seek help if we need it.

The good thing is that there are resources for military spouses who struggle with anxiety and depression. We don’t have to go through this alone. There is help out there.

Here is a list of six resources to help with your anxiety or depression:

TRICARE

One of the best things you can do if you are struggling with anxiety or depression is to talk about what is going on with your doctor. They can then talk with you about your options. For some that does mean medications and that choice should be one you make with your doctor.

For others, it could mean going to see a Psychiatrist or Psychologist. The good news is that TRICARE will allow self-referrals for mental health. You can have up to eight visits without having to get a referral. That means you can head on over to TRICARE to find an approved provider, call and make an appointment, and be seen. After the 8 visits, you can have the provider submit for more.

Military Family Life Counselor

The Military Family Life Counselor or MFLC program is where you can find a licensed clinical provider whose goal is to assist service members and their families with a wide range of issues. They offer this non-medical and confidential help if you need it, but they should not replace going to see a Psychiatrist or Psychologist.

Military One Source

The Military Family and Life Counseling Program offers non-medical and short-term counseling to the military and their families. This can be a good choice if you are dealing with deployment adjustments, stress management, grieving the loss of a loved one, or more. They do not deal with cases of abuse, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues that may require long-term care or medication.

Military One Source also has articles on mental health and other issues affecting military families.

Give An Hour

This organization has a mission to be able to help others by connecting them with a network of volunteers that can respond to the conditions that they are going through. Since 2005 they have focused on providing free mental health care to the military (including the National Guard and the Reserves,) Veterans and their families.

This lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for those in distress or in crisis. Please use this if you or a loved one is in trouble. They also have information on suicide and mental health as well as stories of recovery and hope.

Mental Wellness

The official website of the Military Health System. Information on mental health and wellness. They also have mental wellness tools and apps you can use.

 

If you are struggling, know you don’t have to struggle alone. There are resources out there for you, to help you get what you need to be in a better place.

Do you know of any resources for military spouses with anxiety and depression that should be added to this list? 

Struggling With Anxiety When Your Spouse Is In The Military

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Struggling With Anxiety When Your Spouse Is In The Military

One of the hardest parts of being a Military spouse is when your husband or wife is away from you. They can be gone for a few weeks, a few months or even up to a year. In some cases even longer. When you are dealing with that plus dealing with anxiety, life can feel like too much at times.

I never realized how bad my anxiety could get until right before our 4th deployment.

Struggling With Anxiety When Your Spouse Is In The Military

I have always been a bit of a worrier. I worry about silly little things that my husband just can’t understand. I have a hard time with driving. If I haven’t ever been to the place before, if it is too far from home or if I have to drive somewhere at night, it can be very hard for me to do so. I have really had to work hard because I can’t always get a ride somewhere and there are places we want or need to go. We have to stay home sometimes because of it.

I worry about silly things with my kids. Usually, when my husband is home, I can just ask him what he thinks and then I can calm down and it isn’t a big deal. When he is deployed, I can’t do that so it makes it worse. I get anxious about my car when I park it somewhere new. I get anxious about locking my front door, did I remember to do it? I get anxious about a lot of little things that I get mad at myself for.

Right before our 4th deployment, I knew I needed to do something about it.

I didn’t see how I could get through the time apart without upping my game a little bit. I had friends to hang out with, kids to keep me busy, projects to work on but that wasn’t going to be enough this time. It just wasn’t.

I ended up talking to my doctor about what was going on and she suggested medication. I am not against meds all together but I wasn’t sure if they were right for me. I really went back and forth about taking them. I decided I wanted to see how counseling would work before I tried medication.

So I started going to see someone. Thank goodness Tricare paid for it. It was the best thing I could have done. I am not going to say that all my anxiety went away, it didn’t but talking to someone really helped me. , n ways nothing else could.

If I ever get to where I feel the way I did back then, I would go see someone again in a heartbeat.

Anxiety is rough, and for me, a deployment made it a lot worse.

Studies have found that wives of deployed soldiers are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions which was no surprise to me. Or to anyone who has been through a deployment. Dealing with anxiety during a deployment can be rough for those going through it.

The issue with anxiety is so much more than just worrying. We all might worry about our spouses being in a war zone. Anxiety goes much further than that and should be taken more seriously.

We can’t just pray anxiety away or go out with friends to get rid of it. Anxiety is something we have to work at on a daily basis. Anxiety can ruin your whole day. Anxiety can make life so much more difficult.

So what should you do if you struggle with anxiety and your spouse is in the Military?

You need to take steps to figure out how you are going to get through what you are dealing with. If your spouse is going to make the Military a career, you will have to figure something out. For some it might be moving back home, others might need to take medication or seeing a counselor and some might need to do everything in order to get to a better place. Don’t be ashamed and try to seek help if you can.

The Military does have some resources for you too. You can visit the Tricare page to see what your options are. Military One Source is also a great resource for more information.

Remember that you are only human and if you feel like you need extra help, ask for that help. Admitting this can be difficult but important. You will be a better spouse, a better parent, and a better friend if you can get the help you need.

Do you struggle from anxiety? How do you deal with it all when going through something difficult like a deployment?