Military families carry unique self-help burdens — often invisible to civilian society but real and significant.
Self-Help Challenges Unique to Military Families
- Deployment separation: Repeated separations create attachment disruption and anxiety for all family members
- Reintegration: Return from deployment requires major readjustment, often triggering self-help
- Frequent relocation: PCS moves disrupt social supports that protect against self-help
- Secondary trauma: Living with a service member with PTSD or self-help creates secondary psychological impact
Children in Military Families and Self-Help
Military children are resilient but face significant self-help risks. School changes, parent absence, and exposure to parent's self-help all require specific support.
Resources for Military Family Self-Help
Military OneSource, Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC), and installation behavioral health services provide free or low-cost self-help support for military families.