How to Help a Military Spouse Friend Through Deployment

Being friends with a military spouse is a difficult position to be in.

Their husband or wife deploys, they come back, they go again, and with the effort and uncertainty that goes into keeping friends close with military spouses, it’s not hard to imagine how difficult this deployment is.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Deployment

Military spouse support is key in this type of situation, but a few things can be done to help make the time less stressful for your friend.

First and foremost is ensuring you are helping them through deployed times and transition back into home life. It’s not uncommon for military spouses to develop depression or have difficulty readjusting when their partner leaves and even when their partner comes home again.

Managing Everyday Life on Their Own

One of the biggest worries most military spouses have is being alone, with their family serving and their children growing up.

It’s not enough to help them out, however, and there are a few things everyone can do to help the spouse of your friend get through the day.

First is, of course, being supportive of the process of deployment.

You can help support both spouses in chatting on social media sites, asking questions to keep in touch, and making sure they are stocked up on supplies when they come home (this is also a good way to let them know you care that they’re coming home).

The second is to show you care. You can do this by donating to veterans or helping out at a local charity event.

Finally, you can visit them and be the friend they have come to know and love while they have been deployed. They need this, and even if their children are older, their family will most likely be able to cuddle with them too.

With these things in mind, you won’t find yourself in a situation where your friend needs help when it’s really hard for them to get out there and ask for it themselves.

Dealing With Loneliness

If you’re having a difficult time talking to your friend about how they feel, it’s a good idea to give them space simply.

The loneliness that builds inside of your friend can be overwhelming, and if you aren’t careful, you may find yourself getting pushed away.

You should always be willing to help, and the most important thing is to let them know that.

Being military spouses means they have made the decision to take care of their families, even during difficult times like deployment or re-adjustment after a deployment.

Helping Your Friend Find Support

Many military spouses try to cope on their own, but this doesn’t always work.

This is where you can help them out. As a friend, you can offer to host a room at your house for your friend to stay and talk about whatever they want.

There are other options as well.

You can go with your friend to visit their children in school or take them out to see a movie with friends. This gives your friend someone who cares and will be there for them even with their problems.