Stressors

All of us experience some kind of stress during our lifetime. The question of exactly what is stress is difficult to describe because of its complex nature. The most common definition of stress is emotional strain, and physical and/or mental tension.

For military families, stress and strain is an everyday occurrence. Whether it is being married to a service member, experiencing a military move to a new location, raising children, experiencing a serious illness or death of a family member, and/or dealing with a deployment, life in the military can create an endless list of potential stress. Some of these stressors and strains can be anticipated, while others come out of nowhere. History has shown that military families are resilient and able to successfully manage these potential multiple stressors.

Stress is an integral fact of life and complete elimination of stress, especially as a military family member, is impossible. However, you will need to learn to manage your stress so you can have better control over its effects on your physical and mental health. Everyday stress can be managed when acknowledged and addressed early in the process. However, sometimes it can take additional help to relieve symptoms of stress. Please refer to Getting Help for additional resources.

Resources to help you and your family manage stress

Department of Defense Military Health System: www.health.mil/Pages/Page.aspx?ID=39

Child Development Institute - Stress Management for Parents: www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/stress.shtml)

Mental Health America Stress Resources: www.nmha.org/go/stress

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