by Mark Ellingson. If we do not know where it stems from then we are not getting to the root of the problem. Not being able to call your spouse, and worrying you will miss their only call. Picking uniforms up from the dry cleaners. Military families deal with things and situations that most families never have to. (Michael Todd for The Washington Post) Only seeing family once a year (if that). This can help us manage our stress levels. One thing at a time, deep breaths, and know that we are here for you! Sure, a non-military family may deal with sick kids and car trouble too, I know that. Discussing a Will and funeral arrangements with your spouse and deciding who will raise your children if you both die. Wondering if your kids are going to turn out okay. Base speed limits that are 15 mph. Where is my stress coming from? Reply. I am right there with you, just struggling to get through it all. You exist in an environment of camaraderie, esprit-de-corps and the honor of serving a higher calling, but it's not without hidden dangers. ( Log Out /  We all have bad days. Always being asked for your sponsor’s Social Security number when you want to talk to a doctor. So many things felt beyond my control: what day my husband left (one month before my due date), when labor pain would begin (two weeks before the due date), and when the baby would be born (four days after the due date). Children take their cues from the adults in their life. Families are so important, as are the marriages that bring those families together. In stressful times, social support helps people reduce psychological distress. Military spouses are strong and resilient, Here are 101 stressful things about military life. Would you add more? The bases houses that are old and cramped. ‘Enlisted Military’ Named Most Stressful Job In The World. Waiting lists–for housing, medical care, insurance, and child care. I always lived in the parsonage next door. Dealing with horrible military spouse stereotypes. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy or that they ever get any lighter. God’s strength is our hope. Sound familiar? Along with that sometimes the person who is stressed cannot seem to fully be aware of their stressors until they are pointed out by someone else. It can motivate you to change behavior and develop coping skills, especially in military life. Deciding to be a part of military life should not make having those things more difficult. Personal Control: Having a sense of control is a basic human function. Customer service reps who always tell you no, then needing to speak to a manager to explain military exemptions. Talk and reassure your child but do not make superficial or false statements about the safety of the world. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Why do you think that it is important to be able to deal with stress? Here are 101 stressful things about military life. The stressors of military life are not only present during the time a person is enlisted, but even after their service. Stress can contribute to illness and premature mortality in many ways, including suppression of the immune system’s ability to ward off infections and certain cancers. Who wouldn’t get a little bent out of shape over a box of broken dishes following a move? Copyright 2020 Seasoned Spouse | Website Design By Syt Biz. The Hidden Stress in Military. military personnel are exposed to a range of stressors that potentially impact on their performance and wellbeing. So for just a few minutes, let’s sit down, open our packs, and look at our burdens together. Military life is stressful on all concerned; efforts to help often fall short - The Washington Post Jose Perez, left, walks with his son Joseph Perez, 17. Doing time zone math to remember what time it is every time you want to call family or friends. ( Log Out /  Change ). Trying to buy or sell a house in a different time zone. Completing this questionnaire should take about five minutes. In past wars, It was revealed that there was one combat stress casualty for every four wounded in action- -one for every three wounded during lengthy periods of intense combat. I’m cranky. Aggressive or criminal behavior to compensate for wartime experiences is not tolerated. Even when we are not at war, military families often deal with stresses such as frequent moves or the absence of a parent. ( Log Out /  Would you add more? If you are dealing with some of these hassles today, I encourage you to: Thanks so much for reading, I hope it made you smile a bit! The most likely explanation is that stress can accelerate the aging process and that having strong social support from friends or family reduces the harmful effects of stress. How to deal with the stress of military life. The separation from your family and loved ones and the trauma of war can also be the cause of great anxiety and mental stress. Maybe airing them will make it a little easier to pick them back up. The influence of deployment stress and life stress on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis among military personnel. Stress is our bodies signal to our minds that something needs to be fixed. It is important that we learn everything that we can in order to get through those hard times. Trying to get dental insurance that an actual dentist will accept. The base schools that may or may not be giving your children a sub-par education. Missing your spouse and the sound of their voice. Life Event Life-Change Value 1 Death of spouse 100 2 Divorce 73 3 Marital separation 65 4 Jail 63 5 Death of close family member 63 6 Personal injury or illness 53 7 Marriage 50 I’m dealing with military life stress. Love it! When family members better understand they can better help not only that person in their family, but also others who may be going through similar circumstances. Only 101? Always having to take care of everything on your own, because your spouse is gone, your. Some Veterans experience stress and anxiety because of past events — like combat or a traumatic military training experience — that are painful to remember or accept. But every burden is heavier when you are in a strange town, far from family, and your spouse is deployed. Deployment is a major part of the military lifestyle, but stressors such as residential mobility, parent separation or absence, trauma and loss, and reintegration are all of equal importance due to the toll these experiences take on Military service is a unique experience. Knowing where the problem is starting can help us to know what we are dealing with and how to deal with it. Missing friends from former duty stations. Sometimes there are things that stress us out that we don’t have a lot we can control. Here are some tips for recognizing and managing stress. The Army has implemented a comprehensive mental health recovery plan for all returning Soldiers to counter post-traumatic stress disorder. What military life stress would you add to our list? Feelings of alarm, frustration, or apathy may also accompany stress. It is important for family members to not feel helpless when they see a family member struggling with these stressors. Self Assessment for Stress [0% complete] Welcome to the Stress Assessment . List the stressors that are most impactful in your life right now. 20 Sl. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. And today, I’m not feeling very positive. My fellow military spouses, if you are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated by seemingly trivial annoyances, I hear you. And they are enforced! We are patient. Furthermore, of this group, 20 percent have a higher, more clinically significant, level of stress. The importance of the impact of stress on the wellbeing of military personnel is recognised by defence organisations internationally, with stress training increasingly forming part of … Oh my, that’s a lot to handle all at once. Strangers who feel the need to discuss politics with you, simply because you are married to the military. Stress is unavoidable and comes in many shapes and sizes. The Ministry of Defence has introduced the “HeartMath” programme to maintain resilience in and out of battle. The many types of military life stress can gradually wear me down until I feel like breaking. That stress is a significant determinant of performance, emotional wellbeing, and other work outcomes in military settings is not in dispute (Kavanagh, 2005). Find something among your stressor that you can take control of. 19. 2018 Aug;103:26-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.05.005. ), The regular phone calls from your service member asking, “Can you do me a favor?”. Exercise: Exercise can help us to release negative energy. Everyone experiences stress from time to time, but military life can bring additional stressors with things like deployments and frequent moves. Moving frequently is cited as one of life’s greatest stressors, especially for children, but for military families, who typically can expect to move an average of every three years, the effects are magnified. adaz@ruppin.ac.il Hoping that uniformed officers won’t show up at your door during deployment. Wondering whether Housing will charge you an. How to deal with the stress of military life. Filing new paperwork for everything you own every time you move to a new state. Wondering if there will be enough money saved for retirement. Military men and women have been called to fight in distant lands and this commitment to our national security can cause great stress to their families. Feeling that we are not in control only adds to our stress levels. “For me, the most stressful part of a PCS is all the decisions that need to be made,” says Marine spouse Lizann Lightfoot, blogger at The Seasoned Spouse and author of the upcoming book, Open When You Love Someone in the Military . Social support groups can include others that are in the military, members of your church congregation, or friends at work. Click To Tweet. Being pregnant and alone during a deployment. Eating too much during a PCS move or deployment. The Military Life Scale: a measure of perceived stress and support in the Israeli Defense Force. He has been gone a few weeks for each of the past few months, and now he will be gone for a few more. Answering your kids’ million questions about the potential move. J Psychiatr Res. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. But we’re still human. 18Cont. It’s all the million other examples of military life stress. All the drama that surrounds spouse events at your service member’s unit. Meeting a new friend who seems to click really well, then having your spouse tell you that you can’t hang out together as couples because the service members work together and are different ranks. On a good day, the average military spouse deals with at least two or three of these. Even though it’s hard, I also know that we’ve got this. When we can build our self-control we can let these things go and no longer allow them to cause us so much stress. Building Self Control: When we build discipline within ourselves or in an area within our lives this also gives us a sense of control. Stress isn’t all bad. Serving in the military brings unique challenges, without adding the harmful mental and physical effects of serving during war time. Getting mocked or judged after asking for a military discount. Family Support: It is important for other family members to understand and be able to also recognize these stressors so that they will be better equipped to help out someone in their family who is struggling. 16Cont. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Always erasing dates on the calendar and telling family members, “we just don’t know.”, Wondering if you will need travel insurance. Answering questions from your spouse’s family members and. Yes, this life has plenty of challenges. How do you address that? Here is another little clip of me and my partner who made this blog and just a little introduction to both of us, and why we are interested in addressing this subject: Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 20. 15Cont. If you’ve served in the military you understand stress intimately. Wondering which military benefits will be on the federal chopping block next year. Needing a Power of Attorney to get anything done. While Military OneSource does not provide health care services, it does offer non-medical counseling and … ( Log Out /  If you are stressed about having a messy house and a million other things to be doing, start with something simple, like washing the dishes. On a bad day, they may face ten or more at once. Trying to wash a uniform without breaking anything or messing it up. However, constant stress is not good for you and can cause health issues and performance problems. Trying to find good deals on stuff that will fit in the new house, when you just gave away everything from the old house. Never really feeling like you are ‘home.’. It is no secret that military life brings us multiple components of added stress. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fL-pn80s-c. Wondering whether or not Housing will charge you unexpected costs after your move-out inspection. Not knowing where you will live next year. Military spouses are strong and resilient and can deal with almost anything. I am used to running the house and managing our four children without him. must work hand-in-hand with the unit chain of command to stress the importance of maintaining good order and discipline. #milspouse #stress, changed behavior in your service member after Homecoming. But I am also honest. Worrying about your spouse’s survival during deployment. Social Support: Support groups are very important to have because they can relate to what you may be going through and give you a safety net. Knowing that our stress has a purpose can help us understand how to manage it. I remember clearly the deployment when my 3rd baby was born. Getting sent to duty stations in the middle of nowhere. When the circumstances of a move, or deployment, or even a day at work take an unexpected turn, the result is often anxiety and stress. Other Veterans are dealing with stress and anxiety because of other life experiences, like a job change or family conflicts. Wondering if the G.I. Combat stress is a result of exposure to battle con- ditions, just as injury and physical disease are results of battle conditions. #milspouse #stress Click To Tweet. Filing new paperwork after the originals are lost. After all, my husband being gone is a fairly common occurrence for us, as it is for many military families. Julia on August 2, 2017 at 8:52 am Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Zohar AH(1), Shen G, Dycian A, Pauls D, Apter A, King R, Cohen D, Kron S. Author information: (1)Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer 40250, Israel. All of us carry this military life stress around with us. Social support is associated with increased psychological well-being in the workplace and in response to important life events. Planning a post-deployment leave that will satisfy you, your spouse, your kids, and all relevant members of the extended family. Today, in a lousy temper, I tried to decide what was bothering me so much. While military personnel are known to thrive on stress in conflict, evidence is mounting of mental health problems in civilian life. Drawing upon the ratings of more than 200 military spouses, the data suggests that at any given time, 27 percent of military spouses report significantly high levels of stress. The base housing water supply that may or may not be poisoning your family. It can motivate you to change behavior and develop skills, especially in military life. 17. (Darn fraternization rules). My secret to handling stress in military life. Usually, my posts are positive and encouraging. // . Getting lost trying to find a grocery store or any other store when you first move to your new town. What if you believe you are able to deal with stressors, but others say you don’t? Learn how your comment data is processed. But it is not just the fact that he is gone or that we are looking down the barrel of a deployment. Our feelings and experiences help us to understand when something is out of sorts. Yes, it’s because my husband is gone, but he hasn’t even deployed yet. Crying during country songs, the Pledge of Allegiance, or anything patriotic. For more questions or answers about military life and stress, please visit the Military OneSource: Managing Stress. In your life right now, to decrease my stress the average military spouse your. Will miss their only call coming from sense of control is a basic human function Optimum stress much. Your door during deployment little stress Effort Optimum stress Too much during a PCS move or deployment physical disease results... Family and loved ones and the garage who go out of sorts can you do a... Always throwing parties in the World their stress levels is to pinpoint exactly where they are coming.. 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