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When your spouse is in the midst of a deployment, the loneliness you feel can seem unbearable, making you question how you can make it through the next month, week, day, even hour.
The stress can make it a struggle to get out of bed some days. You’re not alone. Spouses everywhere are fighting deployment depression by finding ways to cope with the situation.
Here are some successful coping methods used by those who’ve been through it:
Don’t let a deployment control your happiness.
A weekly activity can give you something constant to look forward to as well as keep you moving and active. Some deployment depression can lead to and be elevated by weight gain, so joining a regular class at a gym or having a walk with a workout buddy can act as a double defense.
There are plenty of groups dedicated to deployment, depression and the military life in general. A blog on Military Money lists some great mental health resources for spouses to turn to including online sources. If you can’t get to a support group in your neighborhood the online message boards are a great way to connect with people going through the same thing.
Be sure to remain connected with friends or meet new ones by picking up a hobby or joining a club. They may not know exactly what you’re feeling, but a weekly coffee or lunch date is a way to get out of your own head and have some fun. Some spouses experience guilt when it comes to having fun, but consider it a way to take care of yourself and be in tip top shape for your spouse’s return.
Make sure you are meeting your needs to stay healthy in body and mind.
Missing your spouse gets harder when you realize you can’t always share the day-to-day life with them. Journaling is a way to release those urges and record details for when you do get the chance to speak. You can write out your feelings, your memories, fears or whatever else you need to soothe your mind.
The mind can be your biggest enemy when it comes to fighting depression, so focusing on someone or something else can be a great ally. Volunteer somewhere or create a project for yourself, like redecorating the house. It could also be a great opportunity to take on some higher education. Check out our post on taking on new hobbies.
Eating right, aiming for eight hours of sleep, exposing yourself to sunlight and being sure to relax can help keep your health and mood intact. Taking little steps like eating a nutritional meal or taking a yoga class can go a long way toward helping you fend off depression.
Photo thanks to The National Guard via Flickr Creative Commons and Minimoko via Visual.ly Creative License
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4 Comments
great advice for those spouses who don’t have young children to care for.
my husband is leaving for his 6th deployment next week and i’m an emotional wreck, whats wrong with me?? never have I felt like this, I hate feeling like I have no control on my feelings and thats not like me. Is this normal? Help?
I just wanted to say thank you for the articles. This going through a deployment is a very first for me and it has been a little rough at times. But I work and that keeps my mind busy, and just hearing from my fiancee helps alot, knowing he is alright. I’m going to do some of the ideas you suggested. Thanks again….
I agree these are great ideas for spouses without young children.
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[...] Defend Yourself Against Deployment Depression [...]
[...] Spouselink.org, a website dedicated to connecting military spouses through “supportive, informative, and inspiring” articles, cites self-care as a basic need to efficiently manage the stress. Even taking a few minutes a day to relax can be beneficial. Starting a hobby, such as yoga, taking a nap, or taking a walk can also provide an outlet to recharge, supplying the energy necessary to handle the highs and lows of the military life. [...]