Watch Your Six: Building A Support Network You may think seeking support only applies to when you’re going through a difficult time or crisis. However, building a network of support is essential no matter what stage of life you’re in. As a Warfighter, it may seem like you need to ‘toughen up’ when things get difficult, but there are many avenues to prepare for and work through hardship. What Does Support Look Like? “Support” is more than one thing; it’s a collection of things that help you feel grounded and capable of moving through adversity. Just as you may go to your parents for different things than your friends and your therapist for different things than your partner, each support in your life is valuable to your wellbeing and success. If you have pets, they can also be great supports that benefit your mental health. Building Your Community Community is a key aspect of feeling supported and navigating life’s challenges. Strong relationships based on trust and respect are essential to feeling supported in times of need. When you have a hard day or you are going through a difficult period of life, leaning on loved ones can reduce stress, overwhelm and grief. Think about who you consider to be your support squad and how they support you through these times. Having a strong support system helps reduce the risk and severity of mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression and chronic stress. In fact, a supportive community fosters a stronger immunity too. Having a reliable and loving network protects you from chronic conditions (e.g., heart disease) and may improve your immunity against acute conditions (e.g., cold and flu). Reaching Out for Professional Help Though your loved ones care for you, they are not the only support available to you. Working with a mental health professional and/or your chaplain for support and guidance is another way to navigate adversity and gain skills. Seeking support from a professional is a way to ‘add tools to your emotional toolbox’ so you are more prepared to face life’s challenges. It can be helpful to think of therapy like a car. There are routine things you need to do to keep your car operational, like filling up the gas tank, rotating the tires and changing the oil. If you do preventive and maintenance work, your car will drive smoother, last longer and manage accidents better. For example, working brakes are essential to avoid crashes. Though accidents may still happen, working brakes can minimize damage. The same can be said with your mental health. Identifying, navigating and communicating your thoughts and feelings, as well as building a skillset around managing difficult times, makes adversity easier to navigate when it does arise. Mental Health Skill-Building You may view seeking support as ‘just talking about your feelings,’ but it’s much more than just talking to someone. When you share your feelings with a loved one or mental health professional, you can skill-build as well. A mental health professional is equipped to support you with both developing and implementing actionable tools. Loved ones are also great supports for accountability as you put the work into practice. Common Skills to Support Improved Mental Health Setting boundaries Stress management Mindfulness practices Creating routines Prioritizing physical activity Reframing exercises Improving communication Fostering social connections No matter what you’re going through, building community and continuing to grow emotionally improve your mental health. As a Warfighter, there are many situations in which you may need additional assistance with navigating life. Know that support is available – your mental health is crucial to showing up for yourself and your unit. Lean into your strengths and identify available support to stay mission ready. Additional ResourcesTRICARE - “Mental Health Care”ReferencesAbrams, Z. American Psychological Association - “The science of friendship”Mayo Clinic - “Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship”
