Article MilitaryShoppers Page 63

5 Barriers to Mental Health Treatment for Military Spouses

07/16/2014 By Jessica Aycock

Last month we talked about PTSD and mental health of our service members. Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones who need therapy. The all-too-familiar stressors of military life– such as deployments, separations, frequent moves and a feeling of isolation– can be a catalyst for psychological distress.

Military Spouses Face Hurdles to Mental Health Help

Depression and other mental distress can affect military spouses. Many don’t seek help because they face serious hurdles.

It’s normal. What isn’t normal is the barriers that stand in the way of receiving treatment for military spouses.

Three doctors with the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Sciences University did a study recently that examined why military spouses are underserved when it comes to mental health treatment. The study outlined 5 barriers military spouses face:

inability to attend daytime appointments
inability to find a counselor who understands their needs
inability to find a counselor they could trust
concerns about confidentiality
lack of knowledge about where to get services

With at least 1 million spouses of active duty, Reserve or National Guard service members, this is highly unacceptable.

Let’s take a closely look at each barrier to mental health treatment for military spouses.

Barrier #1: Inability to Attend Daytime Appointments

Most military spouses are either working outside the home or have children. While spouses are quite resourceful, sometimes it’s not possible to get away in the middle of the day. Solution: Counselors should offer evening appointments or provide child care for clients. Another option, although nontraditional, counselors could make house calls and meet the client in their environment.

Barrier #2: Inability to Find a Counselor Who Understands Their Needs

Anyone who has sought mental health help knows how important it is to find a therapist or provider you connect with. Someone who understands your situation and can advise accordingly. This shouldn’t be difficult in military towns, but it can be particularly difficult for National Guard or Reserve families. Solution: Find a counselor you can connect with and educate them throughout your sessions. If that feels too daunting, check out MilitaryOneSource.mil and set up a phone or online counseling session with someone knowledgeable about the lifestyle. ALL members of the National Guard and Reserves and their immediate family members are eligible to use MilitaryOneSource.

Barriers to mental health treatment for military spouses

Finding someone you can trust can be a huge hurdle. Don’t give up.

Barriers #3 & 4: Inability to Find a Counselor They Can Trust & Concerns About Confidentiality

It’s not uncommon for individuals to be nervous about divulging a lot of personal information to a perfect stranger. Especially for individuals who have been drilled with the importance of OPSEC and PERSEC. On top of that, spouses worry that anything they say could be used against their spouse and damage their career. Talk about a barrier. Especially one that is completely irrelevant. Solution: Educate yourself.

MilitaryOneSource addresses this issue in their post about counseling options:

Family members may use counseling services without the notice or consent of the service member. For service members or their families seeking counseling through military support channels, those services are confidential. The only exceptions to confidentiality are for mandatory state, federal and military reporting requirements (for example, domestic violence, child abuse and duty to warn situations). Even then, only those who need to be notified will be informed.

Barrier #5: Lack of Knowledge About Where to Get Services

We’ve all be in a new place and feel completely lost about where to go to find anything. Mental health services shouldn’t be one of those things. It should be as easy to find as the closest grocery store. Solution: A one-stop shop for finding help. MilitaryOneSource does a great job of highlighting options on their website. Not only can they help you find local counselors, but they also outline when you should seek treatment through Tricare or your nearest Military Treatment Facility or VA Center. When in doubt, ask.

Bottom line: There’s absolutely no reason a spouse should go without treatment for a mental health issue, no matter how big or how small. Educate yourself and others on the opportunities and options available and help each other out.

We’re a strong military family. Let’s make sure we’re a healthy military family.

Why do you think military spouses are underserved when it comes to mental health treatment?

Special Needs Met with Caroline’s Carts

07/14/2014 By Kimber Green

Carts for special needs children available at 40 military commissaries.

Imagine taking your special needs child to the commissary and being able to maneuver the produce section.

Maneuvering through the commissary is a difficult task to say the least. Add pushing a cart and a wheelchair and you have an even bigger challenge. Thanks to Drew Ann Long, things just got a little easier. Her daughter Caroline has Rett syndrome, which makes her unable to walk, talk or use her hands. Knowing that she would one day outgrow a traditional grocery cart, Mrs. Long invented Caroline’s Cart. This uniquely designed cart is specifically tailored to children with special needs.

What makes Caroline’s Carts different from traditional shopping carts?

It has a large seat that holds up to 250 pounds and the 5-point harness ensures the passenger’s safety. The handles swing out making it easier to place the child in and take him or her out. No more back pain the moment you enter the commissary from lifting. Doesn’t your back need a rest?

The cart has a foot rest for the passenger and unlike traditional carts, this one also has a much needed brake. This will not only be helpful in loading your child in the commissary, but also keeping them safe in the parking lot as you transition them into your vehicle.

Don’t worry, this cart is so well designed that you still have plenty of space for groceries. You don’t lose the undercarriage either. You know, where you usually toss the toilet paper that comes in bulk packaging.

You can also toss your anxiety. Some parents worry about going to the commissary and maneuvering the isles with their child. They either bring family members or friends with them to make it easier or leave their child at home with a caregiver and tackle the commissary alone.

Caroline’s Cart will be welcomed by thousands of families who have children with disabilities. This shopping cart will make it possible for kids with disabilities to be part of a family shopping outing. More than this, when families use Caroline’s Cart in neighborhood stores, it sends an important message to everyone who sees them that kids with disabilities are kids first and need to be included.

–Sara Brewster, VP Marketing Communications National Easter Seals

Now imagine taking your special needs child to the commissary and being able to maneuver the produce section easier. More importantly, imagine how your child will feel. They will now be part of the the trip, sitting up high with better visibility of the fruits and vegetables. You’ll be able to look your child in the eyes as they will be sitting up higher than a traditional wheelchair. Hopefully they will look forward to going to the commissary now. Shouldn’t everyone?

Caroline’s Carts are now available in 40 military commissaries in the U.S. and Randy Eller, DeCA’s deputy director of logistics, said more may be added as demand is evaluated. Check out this list of commissaries in 24 states and D.C. to see if your commissary is on the list. Next time you stop to pick up a cart look for Caroline’s Carts.

Have you seen Caroline’s Cart in your commissary?

5 Tips to Reduce Relocation Expenses

07/10/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

How do you save money during a PCS? Share your tips in our comments sections.

I always underestimate the cost of a PCS. I tell myself that the Navy moves us so relocating from one military installation to another isn’t expensive. I don’t pay for anything. Right? This is my mental talk 30 days prior to a PCS. Then the whirlwind of the PCS happens and I am reaching for my credit card more than I have in the last 2 years. 60 days later when I am reviewing our credit card bill at our new duty station, I am shocked by the balance. How did we spend ALL this money?

The average service member shells out $1,725 for non-reimbursable moving expenses. That’s nearly $2,000. Let’s say that we move every 2 years during my husband’s 20-year career. That’s a total of $17,250 of MY money to move for the Navy. No thank you.

This year, we will be moving again and I’m committed to reducing our relocation expenses. But how do I cut costs when we are homeless and living out of our car?

Here are 5 tips for reducing relocation expenses when transferring to a new duty station.

Save for a Sensible Spending Plan.
Call it a budget. Call it a spending plan. It doesn’t matter. But make a plan for how much it will cost to set up your new home. Calculate an estimate for security deposits for housing and utilities. Cut back on eating out in the last 3 months of your current duty station and put that money in to a savings account. You’ll need it when you establish your new home. Do not depend on your Dislocation Allowance to cover all of your expenses. It never does.
Negotiate and Ask to Speak with a Manager.
Practice saying this phrase “Is that the best price you can give me?” When you set up your Internet and cable, ask for the “best price.” Let them know that you compared prices between different providers and ask if the company offers a military discount. You will never get a discount if you don’t ask for it. If you have a credit score of higher than 600, ask if your landlord will consider reducing the security deposit. Mention that you’re a classy military person who pays your monthly rent on time every month.
Embrace House Camping.
Hotels are expensive. Even staying at the lodge on base can get expensive after more than 5 days. If you don’t have your household goods, but you have a home, consider house camping. Eat on the floor, sleep on an air mattress, let your kids bounce a ball against the wall and eat food that you prepare out of your microwave. Is it ideal? No. Will it save you money? Absolutely.
Buy Used –Not New– Whenever Possible.
When we moved to Maryland, for the first time we had a yard. This was great news until I realized a yard means grass which means we needed to mow the yard. We didn’t own a lawnmower. Foolishly we bought a brand-new lawnmower. Now we live in California. We don’t need the lawnmower and it sits, collecting dust in our already-stuffed garage. What’s the lesson? Be patient and buy seasonal items used online. I recommend SargesList and those Facebook Yard Sale groups. For every military installation, there is a military spouse monitoring a Facebook group.
Take Another Service Member’s Trash.
Through Facebook you can connect with military spouses at your new duty station. Guess what? If you are moving there, I bet someone else is leaving that duty station. Most likely they have cleaning supplies, spices and random other things that they can’t or don’t want to take with them. Offer to take it. Free stuff doesn’t cost you anything.

Plan ahead to save money during a PCS.

What are your tips for saving money during a PCS?

Ignore Your Oven, Fire up Your Grill

07/07/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

Grill your dinner tonight.

My monthly meal plan took a nosedive last week. For the majority of the year, my family eats home-cooked meals consisting of a meaty main dish, two colorful vegetable side dishes and a fruity dessert. Once I flipped the calendar to July, this mother decided to lighten up on dinner.

During the summer we take advantage of the long and lazy days by avoiding the hot stove and quickly preparing dinner on the grill. When it’s hot, I don’t feel like cooking. When it’s hot, my family doesn’t feel like eating. It’s a win-win.

Our favorite summer meal? Hot dogs.

I will proudly repeat that. We eat hot dogs. A lot of them. But not just any hot dogs. We are strictly a Hebrew National family. The no-filler, no-artificial flavors of Hebrew National All-Beef Dogs taste delicious with or without ketchup and mustard. They are also twice the size of your average hot dog. That’s why Hebrew National dogs are the Nats Dog at Nationals Park near the Navy Yard. I filled up on just 1 jumbo hot dog at a baseball game on Mother’s Day 2013.

Like the MilitaryShoppers Facebook page to be automatically entered into our MilitaryShoppers Facebook Fan Sweepstakes! One lucky Facebook fan will be selected every other week to win $100 cash!

July 23 is National Hot Dog Day. Celebrate with pigs in a blanket or a more traditional wiener. The choice is yours. But whatever you do, buy your Hebrew National Beef Franks at your military commissary. Regular, bun-length and jumbo are all on sale this month at your military commissary.

Do you know what else is on sale during the month of July? Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil! An essential component for grilling. I like to partner my hot dogs with Corn with Chili Lime Butter, Roasted Garlic Asparagus or Grilled Stuffed Zucchini. Once you start grilling, you can’t stop. Keep the Reynolds Wrap on hand … you never want to run out during the summer grilling season.

Combine corn on the cob with hot dogs for a complete summer meal.

Finally, if you ignore every food holiday during the year, you don’t want to miss July 20. It’s National Ice Cream Day. It’s the 1 day of the year when my 2-year-old gets her wish fulfilled: ice cream for breakfast. Since it is breakfast, I try to keep it healthy with Outshine Fruit Bars. Then I can also sneak in a bit of vegetables. We save the Lil’ Drumsticks for desserts. Both are on sale right now at your military commissary.

July 20 is National Ice Cream Day. Do you want a cone or a dish?

Want to know the weekly Manager’s Specials? Sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter!

The Right Way to Select Ripe Produce

07/02/2014 By Jessica Aycock

Use this guide to select ripe, not rotten, produce.

Choose fruits that are free of flaws and firm.

Choosing perfectly ripe produce can feel like a game of Russian Roulette. There’s nothing like picking up a beautiful looking watermelon to find it mealy inside when you cut into it.

One of the main things to remember when handling produce is to be gentle. If you bruise it, you buy it! I’m kidding. That would be a horrible practice.

A good rule of thumb when selecting produce is to check the surface of the fruit or vegetable for flaws, gently squeeze and use your nose to guide you.

Avocados should have a darker skin and should be soft– but not too soft– when you gently squeeze them. If they’re too hard, you can always speed up the ripening process by putting them in a paper bag for a day or two. On the other hand, you can keep them from ripening too fast by placing them in the refrigerator.

If you’re shopping at a farmers’ market, don’t be afraid to ask for a sample.

Berries can be tricky, especially during the summer months. Mold is the thing to watch for when choosing berries, especially raspberries or blackberries, which are more delicate. Use your nose to detect unseen mold and try to buy berries in paper containers during peak season.

Cantaloupes and other melons should have a scent to them. If you push along the end opposite where the stem or vine was, you should be able to tell what type of melon it is by its scent. Watermelons are a bit different though, as they don’t have a scent. Look for ones that are heavy and avoid flat sides.

Citrus fruits that are too hard will probably not be juicy. Look for ones that are heavy and have a bit of give to them when you squeeze them.

Guide to buying ripe, not rotten, produce at your military commissary.

Buying produce in paper containers keeps away mold.

Tomatoes should be brightly colored and firm. Storing them at room temperature keeps the flavors from going bland.

Peppers should have a smooth skin and be firm. They should not feel rubbery if you squeeze them gently.

Choosing perfectly ripe produce can feel like a game of Russian Roulette.

Wrinkles and sprouts are signs of a bad potato. If you can, buy potatoes individually instead of prepackaged, so you know what you’re getting. Store in a cool, dark place.

Zucchini should be firm and smooth. You can tell how fresh or not, a zucchini or summer squash is by examining the tip. Don’t buy them if they’re squishy or dry.

If you’re shopping at a farmers’ market, don’t be afraid to ask for a sample. Many farmers are willing to let you taste before you buy. If you’re at the grocery store, seek out an employee or the produce manager if you have questions or print off this handy guide from Martha Stewart.

Get more tips from the University of Maryland Extension:

What are your favorite tips for choosing perfect produce?

Click2Go Services Available at Commissary

06/30/2014 By Julie Provost

Information about the Click2Go service at military commissaries.

Click2Go services allow commissary shoppers to buy groceries online and pick them up curbside.

Recently I heard about a new service at certain military commissaries that is going to make life a lot easier for commissary shoppers.

Click2Go services!

With this type of service you can order your groceries online, choose a time you want to go get them, pickup your food and head home. You will be able to pickup your food curbside. What a great convenience.

This type of service is ideal for the military community where most families have to bring all the children to the store with them. It also will be handy for those with special needs. I would have loved to have something like this when my kids were younger. It would have saved time and a lot of stress.

Unfortunately, it is currently only offered at 3 commissaries: Fort Lee, Offutt Air Force Base and Travis Air Force Base.

How does Click2Go work?

You create an account, log-in and then virtually browse through all the foods. Add the foods you want to your online cart. When you are ready to check out, you can do so by reserving your pickup time. You can also tell the system if you are OK with replacement orders if they are out of stock of one of the foods you have put in your cart. Once you submit your order, you should be able to pick it up at your selected time.You must place your order at least 6 hours before you want to pickup your food.

How do I pay with Click2Go?

Most grocery items will be offered with this system. There will be a limited amount of meat, bakery, deli and seafood items. You will not pay for the groceries online. You pay when you pickup the items. You will be given an estimated total but the actual total will be based on the prices at the time of pickup.

What you need to know about the Click2Go services at your military commissary.

New Click2Go services are ideal for military families.

Should I tip with Click2Go?

It is also important to know that you are not allowed to tip the person that brings out the food.

You can visit the Click2Go website for more information.

I think this service could be a good one. I think time will tell if it works out the way it should. I am sure if it is going to come to other commissaries, but that will not happen for a few more years.

Here is one military spouse’s review of the Click2Go service.

Have you or would you use the Click2Go service at the commissary? Have you used a curbside grocery service similar to this one?

Deployed Spouse Causes Distraction, Worry

06/27/2014 By Julie Provost

Dear MilitaryShoppers,

My husband is currently deployed. I feel lucky to have a job that keeps me busy, but honestly I‘m distracted at work. I am constantly checking my phone to see if my husband called and I’m not sleeping well at night. I feel like I might quit my job. What should I do?

Signed,

Distracted Milso in Virginia Beach

Dear Distracted Milso,

I can totally understand always wanting to check your phone to see if you missed a call. I also know how hard it can be to not be able to sleep at night.

One thing that might help is writing your husband letters as well as writing in a journal every night. By writing him letters you will feel like he is more connected to you and you can write them at anytime. You don’t have to wait for him to be online or call you. By writing in a journal each night you will be able to fall asleep a little easier. If you can get all your worry out on paper, it will make you feel a little better and more likely to sleep.

How to Keep Busy When Your Husband is Deployed

Try to keep your phone in a drawer while you are at work.

As for if you should quit your job or not, I think it depends. What would you do to fill the time that you would normally be at work? You want to stay as busy as possible so if you know you would be bored without a job, it is not a good idea to quit. You might want to make a list of pros and cons about your job to see what would be the best decisions for you.

If you feel comfortable enough you could talk to your boss about what is going on and see if he or she has any suggestions to help make work a little easier for you. You could also try to keep your phone in a drawer or out of sight while you are at work.

Good luck to you. Remember that as hard as deployments are, they don’t last forever. It is just about figuring out the best way to make it through them.

Do you have a military community question? We want to hear from you. Submit your question today.

Accepting PTSD as Normal, Not the Exception

06/25/2014 By Jessica Aycock

The 4 letters that could destroy your career: PTSD.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the military right now is that seeking help for PTSD will ruin your career.

Only, it won’t.

I can understand why this misconception is believed. Our service members are trained to be tough and strong to go to war and while not expressly stated, it’s insinuated that seeking help for any kind of distress (mental or physical) is seen as “weak” and “broken.”

That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Seeking help takes an incredible amount of strength and courage.

Here is the saddest part. Studies have shown that our service members WANT help. Researchers asked 2,500 soldiers in Georgia to fill out the standard Post-Deployment Health Assessment twice– once on record and a second time anonymously. Over 68% took part in both surveys and the results nearly doubled for any questions about PTSD and treatment. How insane is that?

Soldiers are tailoring their answers to the questions about their health based on what they think their supervisors want to see.

But at what cost? A rise in suicide attempts, domestic violence and divorce.

No matter what your relationship is to the military– a spouse, active-duty service member, veteran, parent, family member or friend– each one of us has been touched in some way by the effects of PTSD and non-treatment.

And when something horrible happens, we wonder what we could have done, how we could have prevented it and how sad it is that they couldn’t get help.

It’s a vicious cycle that needs to end. There should be no reason why our service members continue to suffer in silence.

Because when you think about it, they aren’t suffering alone. Their families are suffering too. One study showed a tie between PTSD and a higher rate of domestic violence.

While that isn’t a very big surprise, imagine the family whose service member returns home and begins verbal or physical abuse that wasn’t there before. While the spouse may suspect PTSD, any urging to get treatment is met with more violence because who are they to question the person who just lived through hell?

PTSD and combat stress affect nearly all of our military members.

PTSD and combat stress affect all of our military members and families.

It’s a no-win for everyone.

What’s the solution?

Stop glorifying war and start treating war as the traumatic situation that it is. Because until we begin to expect PTSD to be the norm, instead of the exception, we will continue to miss a diagnosis.

That is unacceptable.

Your Turn: What barriers exist for PTSD treatment for today’s active duty?

No Crying at the Commissary

06/23/2014 By Julie Provost

3 Tips to Entertaining Your Child While Shopping at the Commissary

Never take your child to the commissary right before naptime.

Grocery shopping with your children can be a real challenge. As a military family, many times I have had to head to the commissary to buy groceries with my children in tow. When your spouse is away for a deployment or training, you really have no other choice.

Here are 3 ideas on how to entertain your kids at your military commissary.

Old Fashioned Entertainment: Toys

Bring small toys that your children can play with while sitting in the cart. Make it something that they enjoy and that will keep them entertained. Cars, Legos and dolls work well for this. It might be a good idea to keep a bag of toys in the car just for this purpose.

Helper Entertainment: Give Them a Shopping List

When my oldest was a lot younger and I took him to the store with me, I would give him a “list” and told him to help me get everything on it. This kept him busy and gave him something to do. It can be a great way for your kids to feel like they are really helping you, even when they are too young to do so.

Edible Entertainment: Pack Snacks

Bringing a snack can go a long way when shopping with a child. If they are in the commissary and see food all around them, they are probably going to want to eat too. Bring a little sack of something they enjoy and give it to them when you start shopping. You might want to bring extra in case the shopping trip goes a little long or you get stuck in a line that takes forever. Don’t forget to pack a snack for yourself to curb any impulsive purchases.

You can also make sure to time your shopping trips so that your kids are rested and are less likely to act cranky or upset. Going right before nap time is not the best idea. I know for myself that sometimes you just have to go when you have to go and you just have to work around it. Try to prepare as much as possible and do what you can to keep your kids occupied while you make your shopping trip.

3 Tips to Entertaining Your Child at the Commissary

Pack a snack when shopping at the commissary

Remember too that having to entertain your children at the grocery store is not going to be something you have to do forever. Your spouse will come home and you can run out and do the grocery shopping without the children. Your kids will get older and be able to really help you with your shopping which will be a wonderful thing.

What are your strategies for entertaining your children at the commissary?

Lonely? Find Friendships at Every Duty Station

06/20/2014 By Julie Provost

Tips for Military Spouses to Make Friends at a New Duty Station

Let your children take the lead when it comes to finding new friends.

With military life comes a lot of moving. That means saying goodbye to friends and making new ones. This is a hard part of the military lifestyle. Finding new friends when you are the new one in town can be quite difficult.

If you have just moved into your new neighborhood, you might get lucky and have new neighbors come to your house and say hello. New neighbors can make the best friends. It is great when you are able to meet and click with them right away. But what happens if …

No one comes to your house to say hello?

Every one in your circle of friends, except you, gets orders to new duty station?

You are feeling lonely in your new home?

I have met friends at all types of places. From swim lessons for my kids to Bible studies. Sometimes it is just a matter of being brave and reaching out. Other times it is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Here are the top 4 places to find friendships at your new duty station.

Local Playground

If you have kids, take them to the park. You will most likely run into other parents and children who live near there. Be brave and strike up a conversation. If your kids hit it off, make plans to get together again. If you don’t meet anyone new at the park, at least your kids had a good time.

Facebook Group

Another option is to join a local Facebook group and go to one of the events. It might feel weird to go some place new when you don’t know anyone but it will be worth it.

Simply Say Hi: Tips for MilSpouses to Find Friendships in New Neighborhoods

Feeling lonely? Be brave and leave your house to meet new friends.

Your Neighborhood

If you are feeling brave, you can always go up to your new neighbors and say hello. One idea is to ask them a question about your new city. Something like, “Can you tell me the best place to get Chinese food?” can be a way to break the ice and strike up a conversation.

Sometimes it is just a matter of being brave. Other times it is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Photography Class, Bunco or CrossFit

When you are new to a duty station, the best way to find friends is to do is find events or classes that look fun and go to them. You are bound to make friends if you do that.

Where do you find friends when you are the new one in town?

« Previous Page