How to Find an Army Wife Support Group

It's easy to feel alone when you're an Army wife. Finding someone to discuss your husband's deployments or your concerns about life on base is essential for your own sanity and survival. Luckily, there are more and more options for Army wives looking for a shoulder to lean on.

Instructions

1. Reach out to other wives in your husband's unit. Your Family Readiness Group (FRG) is a place where families in your unit can get together and share information about the unit and give moral support. To get in touch with your FRG, either have your husband get you the information at work or check online for Web sites.

2. Read your local newspaper's calendar of events. If you live near or on a military base, local support groups may list their events in the paper. If so, attend an event and see if the group is for you.

3. Check online for forums for Army wives. Some are specific to certain Army bases while other forums welcome spouses from all branches of the military. Do a little searching, try a few out and see which one fits for you.

4. Ask around. Talk with your friends, clergy member or employee at your local grocery store. They may know of an Army wives support group in the area and be able to point you in the right direction.

5. Get involved by volunteering in your area. A lot of volunteer organizations near Army bases focus their projects on soldiers and Army families. You could meet people who share your military lifestyle and who you connect with, while helping other Army families at the same time.

6. Create your own support group. If you can't find the support you need from existing support groups, make your own. It could include your current family and friends, or you could make up fliers and distribute them at your church or around your neighborhood. You might be surprised at the difference your group could make in others' lives.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave your shyness at the door. To really become a part of a support group, people need to know you and you need to know them. Speak up, join in and enjoy yourself.

• If you belong to a Special Operations unit, you may not be able to speak openly with others about what's happening in your husband's unit. If this is the case, try to utilize your FRG. You can talk openly with them and they, unlike anyone else, will understand what you're going through.

• If you've had a bad experience with your previous FRG, give your new one a chance.

• Support groups can literally be lifesavers for an Army wife, but if you or someone in your family needs real medical or emotional help, seek the help of a doctor.

• Don't compare yourself with other in your support group. Leave rank, age and any other stereotypes at the door. You are there to support, not judge or alienate one another.