The Emotional Toll of Service: Healing the Hidden Wounds Together
“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them—danger, and yet go out to meet it anyway.” — Thucydides
When One Wears the Uniform, the Whole Family Serves
When it comes to military service, most people think about sacrifice, duty, and resilience. But what’s often left out of the conversation is how depression impacts military families—the invisible wounds that don’t show up on the battlefield but instead echo through homes, marriages, and childhoods.
In the U.S., approximately 1 in 4 active-duty service members show signs of a mental health condition, with major depression and PTSD being the most common. Yet it’s not just the service member who suffers—the effects ripple out, affecting spouses, children, and extended family in ways that are often overlooked.
In cities like Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, and Gilbert, Arizona, military families are reaching for answers. Thankfully, support systems beyond the VA—such as Tricare-approved clinics like Bella Vida TMS—offer innovative treatments like TMS and ketamine therapy to help service members and their families heal.
The Emotional and Physical Toll on Military Families
The Hidden Cost of Military Life
Deployment, frequent moves, and unpredictable schedules create stress, isolation, and emotional fatigue. Studies show military spouses are three times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than their civilian counterparts. Children often internalize this stress, leading to behavioral issues, academic challenges, and emotional withdrawal.
Spouses Shoulder the Emotional Load
Spouses are often the emotional anchors of the family. When their partner battles depression, they become caretakers, therapists, and co-parents—sometimes all at once. This emotional labor can result in burnout, resentment, or even depression of their own. Without access to support for military spouses and children, the entire household can begin to unravel.
The Real Risks: Suicide, Divorce, and Long-Term Trauma
Suicide in the Ranks and Beyond
In 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense reported 519 military suicides, including active-duty, reserve, and National Guard members. The trauma from these losses devastates families, leaving lifelong emotional scars. Even when suicide isn’t the outcome, chronic depression can destroy relationships, careers, and confidence.
Family Breakdown
The divorce rate among military couples is higher than the national average, especially after deployments. A key factor? Untreated mental health issues like PTSD and depression. The emotional withdrawal, mood swings, or irritability that come with these disorders can erode communication and trust.
Support for Military Spouses and Children
Start with Communication
Encourage open conversations about mental health. Normalize feelings of sadness or anxiety so that children and spouses know it’s okay to speak up.
Seek Professional Help
Treatments like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or ketamine therapy—offered in Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Gilbert—can significantly improve symptoms of depression and PTSD. TMS is non-invasive, FDA-cleared, and covered by Tricare for qualifying diagnoses.
Create a Care Network
You don’t have to do this alone. From chaplains to counselors to community mental health providers, a robust care team can lighten the burden. Bella Vida TMS offers care coordination to ensure patients and families get the support they need—even helping with FMLA paperwork so individuals can take time off to heal.
Additional Tips for Spouses and Children
Tips for Spouses:
- Protect your mental health: Find a therapist or support group. Spouses often neglect their own needs.
- Learn about the condition: Understanding depression helps reduce frustration and resentment.
- Practice self-care: Whether it’s exercise, rest, or hobbies—recharge your battery regularly.
Tips for Children:
- Routine is powerful: Keep daily routines stable to reduce anxiety.
- Child therapy: Licensed child therapists can help kids process what they’re feeling.
- Validate emotions: Let kids know their feelings are real and okay.
When the VA Isn’t Enough
The VA does great work, but waitlists and limited appointment availability often delay critical care. Clinics like Bella Vida TMS work with Tricare and other insurances to provide personalized treatment options quickly. Whether it’s a new patient evaluation, TMS, or ketamine-assisted therapy, there are choices beyond the VA that can restore hope and health.
Bella Vida TMS
Military families deserve more than just gratitude—they deserve healing. Depression may be invisible, but its impact is not. With innovative therapies, a caring support network, and access to holistic care in Arizona cities like Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Gilbert, recovery is possible. Bella Vida TMS is proud to walk alongside veterans and their families, providing hope where it’s needed most.
Need help now? Reach out to Bella Vida TMS to schedule a consultation. Our team is here for veterans, spouses, and children—because healing doesn’t happen alone.
FAQ
Q1: How does depression affect military families?
A: Depression can deeply affect military families by straining relationships, increasing emotional stress on spouses, and impacting children’s mental health. The challenges of deployments, long separations, and untreated trauma can lead to isolation, communication issues, and even family breakdown if support isn’t available.
Q2: What mental health support is available for military spouses?
A: Military spouses can access therapy, support groups, and mental health services through Tricare, the VA, and private clinics like Bella Vida TMS. Our personalized care includes talk therapy, care coordination, and access to cutting-edge treatments like TMS and ketamine for eligible family members.
Q3: What are the signs of depression in military children?
A: Signs of depression in military children may include mood swings, withdrawal from friends or activities, academic struggles, irritability, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms can emerge from stress related to frequent moves, parental absence, or tension in the home due to a parent’s mental health challenges.
Q4: Can ketamine therapy help veterans with depression and PTSD?
A: Yes. Ketamine therapy has been shown to offer rapid relief from treatment-resistant depression and PTSD, especially for veterans. At Bella Vida TMS, we offer ketamine and TMS therapies—both covered by Tricare for eligible patients—as part of a holistic mental health approach.
Q5: What should I do if the VA waitlist is too long?
A: If you’re facing delays through the VA, you can seek immediate help through Tricare-approved clinics like Bella Vida TMS in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, and Gilbert. We provide faster access to psychiatric evaluations, therapy, TMS, and ketamine—without long wait times.
References
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – PTSD and Families
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/family/how_common.asp - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Veterans and Active Duty
https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Veterans-Active-Duty - Military OneSource – Mental Health and Wellness
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/mental-health/ - Blue Star Families – 2023 Military Family Lifestyle Survey
https://bluestarfam.org/research/ - Child Mind Institute – How to Help Kids Cope With a Parent’s Depression
https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-cope-with-a-parents-depression/ - National Institute of Mental Health – Depression Basics
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression - TRICARE – Mental Health Services
https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Mental - American Academy of Pediatrics – Military Families and Mental Health
https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/military-health/ - Psychology Today – How Military Life Affects Children
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-moment-youth/202106/how-military-life-affects-children - Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) – Ketamine for Depression and PTSD
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2778743
