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Veterans' Loved Ones Need To Take Care Of Themselves Too |
By Art Gib
 When your soldier returns from combat, you may hope that everything will be just like it was before. Hopefully, it will be! But many veterans struggle with adjusting to life following their service, and need extra help. You need to support him as he adjusts, but you need to take care of yourself too.
-- When a veteran struggles with depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders, he is not in a position to make wise financial decisions and may make decisions about money matters that are catastrophic for you and your family. Even if your soldier was in charge of your household finances before he left, you may need to take over those responsibilities altogether for a while. Nothing compounds adjustment problems more than added financial stress: try to keep it to a minimum by taking control.
-- Chances are, you have found a support group for your struggling vet, and that's a very good thing. Just remember you are suffering right along with him and may benefit from talking it over with others who are having similar experiences.
You will
gain wisdom and strength from those who know exactly what you are going through and who have found the courage to keep on going. Members of a veteran's family's support group are often a good resource for obtaining different kinds of outside help. And who knows? You may be the one to lift others up, too.
-- Some veterans cannot sleep well when they return. If you sleep together, you may not get enough rest as a result. It is essential that you find a way to let your own body recharge or you will not be as good a use to your soldier and the rest of your family. You might consider sleeping in separate rooms at night for a while or take an hour out of your day to get a really good nap.
-- Don't give up a healthy routine while caring for your veteran. You will be much better able to care for everyone you love if you are eating properly and getting plenty of exercise. It is never a good idea to turn to fast foods and junk for the sake of expedience: slow down and cook healthy. You have to maintain balance in your own life at all costs.
-- You will probably need to give up many outside activities and responsibilities for a while in order to have the energy to care for your veteran and your family. It's perfectly OK to say no to outsiders who want your time. Remind yourself that you are only human, and that there's only so much of you to go around. You are making the right choice in helping your soldier get well, adjust to life again, and reintegrate into your home and family.
Military families may be eligible for lower interest veterans' loans. For the very best rates onVA home loans, contact the professionals at Valley Capital Investments, LLC. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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