As a military spouse, you have a lot on your plate – and if you’re also a parent, you have to balance those challenges with the needs of your children. It’s a tall order, and you often have to juggle all those plates alone if your spouse has regular deployments.

The stressors are many: financial concerns, worries about a deployed spouse’s safety, frequent moves, social isolation. If you have kids, you also have the added work of being a “single parent” when your spouse is deployed. When your spouse returns home, you’re grateful, but you might also find that getting your family back to normal is harder than you expected.

The only good thing is, you can anticipate some of these stressors and make sure you’re ready for them. So how can you as a military spouse and/or parent keep mentally fit? Here are a few tips:

Know what to expect. Studies show that military spouses and kids experience higher levels of depression and anxiety than in the general population – so you need to keep a closer eye on how you are feeling. Consider downloading the T2 Mood Tracker app; it can help you manage your moods and identify patterns.

Identify your triggers and areas where you need support. When you think about your daily life, what are the pain points? Are you getting enough sleep, eating right, getting the social support you need? The free assessments on our website can help you figure out the areas of your life that need attention.

Take care of yourself. Some military spouses believe that they should suffer alone since there are other spouses encountering the same stressors, and you’re not the one on the “front line.” But every family and situation is different. If you are depressed, anxious or overwhelmed, help is there for you. Treating those symptoms so you can get back to your “old self” will make you a better spouse and parent.

Help kids cope with changes. Military kids are tough, but they are still kids! They need your support and guidance, especially when a parent is deployed for a long period or they are moving to a new place. Military OneSource’s parenting page has a number of articles about helping your kids adapt to these changes and building your family’s resilience.

Help kids connect. If you know your child is going to be on your computer or phone anyway, take advantage of technologies that will bolster their resilience and keep them connected. If your spouse is deployed, encourage your child to stay in touch via phone, email, or video chat, if possible. You might also encourage your child to connect with military kids all over the world – and try out the games, videos and other resources – on the Military Kids Connect website. For younger children, the Sesame Street for Military Families website can help them work through issues specific to military kids, like coping with deployments and changing schools. While you’re online, take a look at the Parenting2Go app for yourself; it provides support when you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or need help reconnecting to or being “present” for your kids.

Disclaimer: Re-published content may have been edited for length and clarity. Read original post.