Did you know research shows that simple joys like dancing around the room in your PJs are important to our overall happiness?
Studies indicate that our experience of happiness in life, to a great degree, is made up of simple daily joys. It’s a matter of learning to be in the moment enough to enjoy simple pleasures as they occur. Not so easy in our fast-paced military lives.
Army Wife Talk Radio is the leading internet talk radio show for Army wives, by Army wives. AWTR is hosted by the Army Wife Network Core Team - www.ArmyWifeNetwork.com. AWTR guests bring exciting, relevant topics and resources to the attention of our military...
Years ago, Cheryl Richardson, a life coach and author of Take Time for Your Life and many other books, was booed by the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Why? Because she suggested that mothers need to take time for themselves.
My co-author, Holly Scherer, and I used to get a similar reaction to our first book title, Help! I’m a Military Spouse—I Get a Life Too! People would say, “That’s selfish.”
By whose definition? Research on happiness in life indicates that one of the keys to happiness is to know what you want in life and to work toward that goal. That includes doing activities you enjoy for work and for play.
Army Wife Talk Radio is the leading internet talk radio show for Army wives, by Army wives. AWTR is hosted by the Army Wife Network Core Team - www.ArmyWifeNetwork.com. AWTR guests bring exciting, relevant topics and resources to the attention of our military...
I have debated on writing on this topic for some time, but haven’t wanted to touch the subject. Recently though, I ran across a page that where fellow female veteran posted about feeling alone in her battle. So I decided it was time to face my own battle and share a little bit more openly.
So here is goes…
I have PTSD.
You don’t have to look very far to find research that supports the idea that stress can lead to serious health problems: blocked arteries, heart attacks, strokes, and even mental health issues. Reality says that there is no way you can avoid stress, and military life reinforces that almost daily.
So, let’s manage it.
Dear Mr. Dad: A few months ago, my husband got back from his third Army deployment—two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He’s been diagnosed with PTSD and is getting treatment, but I’m worried that his condition is somehow rubbing off on the rest of the family. Our children are having problems in school, I’m finding myself on edge and agitated all the time, and my temper seems to be getting shorter by the minute. I used to think that if we survived three deployments we could survive anything. But now I’m not so sure. What can I do?
Are you busy? Do you take care of your home, your kids, your spouse, and your car? Do you volunteer? Work a full-time job? Are you involved in organizations? Do you give, give, and then give some more? Do you take the kids from one activity to the next? Are you always there for a friend in need?
When was the last time you took care of yourself?
My husband is currently going through the medical board process for severe PTSD. His doctor told him that they would possibly “medically retire” him. I have never heard of this term, but I have heard of being “med-boarded.” Can you explain to me what the difference is (if there is any) between these two things? Also, when someone is medically retired, what benefits do the veteran and their families get to keep?
Shaylen; Fort Sill, OK; Active Duty Army spouse of seven years
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904