Unsung Heroes: The Military Family
Celebrating the Military service men and women and their families this Fourth of July!
As we approach the 4th of July, America’s Independence Day, it's essential to remember that the freedoms we celebrate were won at a considerable cost. This cost was borne not only by our brave service members but also by their families, who navigate the unique challenges of military life. While the sacrifices of our uniformed men and women are rightly honored, the equally significant sacrifices of their families often go unrecognized. These families, who often did not choose this path but were thrust into it by a loved one’s decision to serve, exhibit incredible strength, resilience, and courage.
The Sacrifices of Military Families
Sacrifice, defined as giving up something of value for something considered more important, is a daily reality for military families. When a family member enlists, their loved ones also make profound sacrifices. The mix of immense pride and constant worry is a daily companion, and each family member’s journey is marked by their love and support.
The Parental Perspective
Parents raise their children to be independent and courageous, but when a child enlists, it can feel overwhelming. Despite the internal struggles, parents ultimately support their child’s decision. Over time, the initial fear is accompanied by pride as their child’s growth and dedication are witnessed. However, anxiety and worry for their safety and well-being still become a part of who they are. A parent's strength is tested, but they endure with pride and fear intertwined. As employers, friends, or family members, it is important to check in with these parents as they may be silently struggling and may benefit from an additional layer of support.
The Sibling Experience
Siblings play a crucial yet often overlooked role in the military family dynamic. The enlistment of a brother or sister can evoke a range of emotions. Their emotions are often difficult to communicate as they may feel their emotions take a back seat to what their parents are feeling. The military environment often changes a person, which may create a disconnect from what was known in the previous family home environment. This can lead to feelings of guilt, depression, and anxiety among siblings. However, these relationships also provide grounding and support and are a crucial connection for the service member and their siblings.
The Role of Military Spouses
Military spouses are the backbone of their families. They manage the emotional and logistical challenges that come with their spouse’s service. Frequent relocations often disrupt careers, education, and social ties, while long deployments leave them alone to manage the household. Their ability to maintain stability and to support their spouse’s mission is vital and yet can become overwhelming. All of these disruptions and experiences can cause mental health symptoms and instability. Offering support and engagement to military spouses during times of increased stress is essential to empowering them to focus and maintain their mental health. This in turn allows them to adapt and persist all while shouldering the burden of uncertainty.
The Experiences of Military Children
Children of military families face unique challenges and stressors that impact their mental health. Children’s mental health has been a prominent concern nationally. Add in coping with a parent’s deployment or enduring frequent relocations, and the issue is magnified. These children often feel anxious, depressed, and disconnected from their peers. Yet, these experiences may also allow them to develop resilience, adaptability, and confidence. Education on emotions and mental health are effective strategies in teaching children how to develop lifelong positive coping skills. Communication and awareness are essential when supporting military families and their children, as they often experience unexpected circumstances.
The Importance of Support Systems
Navigating military life is not for the faint of heart. The complexities of this experience are balanced by immense pride and significant challenges. Feeling alone and isolated while navigating this life can feel like an obstacle you cannot cross. Support systems are crucial for military families. They offer a sense of community and connection that civilian communities often cannot. Shared experiences are deeply impactful and provide opportunities for communication and understanding. Support groups, whether online, through local churches, or on military bases, provide a vital sense of belonging and stability. They help families manage the roller coaster of emotions, celebrate promotions, endure separations, and cherish reunions. These networks are essential for military family members' mental health, and their ability to keep moving forward and maintain their strength during challenging times.
Seeking Help
Mental health conditions are as prevalent in military families as they are in the civilian population. Mental health is as important as physical health and can have serious consequences such as letting your blood pressure remain uncontrolled. The stressors of being a military family may impact the mental health of the family members and may result in symptoms of mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. These conditions are different from the emotions of feeling anxious and depressed, which are expected responses to certain situations. Anxiety and depression as mental health disorders look very different than fleeting emotions. Anxiety as a disorder is excessive, is typically out of proportion to the situation, and impacts a person's ability to function fully. Depression is a mood disorder that causes severe symptoms affecting how a person feels and thinks and impairs areas of functioning such as sleep, appetite, and social and occupational engagement. Understanding what these disorders may look like is an important step in encouraging someone to seek help or in seeking help for yourself. Early identification through screenings can be completed during routine primary care appointments. By seeking help early, treatment can begin early. Treatment can lead to a more fulfilling life with increased resilience and can provide the tools needed to successfully navigate future stressors that may otherwise trigger a relapse of symptoms.
Conclusion
The experiences of military families shape their identities, foster resilience, and instill a profound sense of duty and patriotism. Their struggles often go unnoticed, but their support, love, and resilience are fundamental to the strength and success of our military. As we celebrate our nation’s independence, let us also honor the unsung heroes—the military families whose sacrifices enable our service members to protect our freedoms. Their dedication and strength deserve our recognition and gratitude.
-Dr. Charissa Duffy, DNP, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years experience in the nursing field. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Walsh University and her MSN through Kent State University. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Charissa is currently the Senior VP of Clinical Operations at MindCare but continues to see patients and focuses on providing quality, evidence based patient centered care for residents in the Long Term Care Communities.
Outside of her professional life, Charissa is a proud mom of an active duty military member, volunteers with the USO and enjoys biking, hiking, playing pickleball and spending time with her husband and children.
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