How To Survive Milspouse Drama
Pretty much every military installation has drama. When spouses get to know each other, it can sometimes turn into something similar to a high school club. Not always does this occur, but there are some military spouses out there that like drama. From families being broken apart, to others being lonely and left out, it comes in all shapes and forms. Here are a few tips to survive the milspouse drama:
1. Tell the truth.
Getting caught in a lie isn’t a good situation and makes it more stressful for you. Telling the truth can sometimes cause hurt feelings, but it will never get you caught in a lie. Trying to backtrack on a story that isn’t true can get a little fishy. Stick to the real story.
2. Don’t get involved.
The best situation is to not get involved in the drama. Usually, after living on or near a military installation for a while, you recognize faces and hear a bit more about the people who live there. Once you’ve discovered which military spouses are the drama queens, stay far away from them. Not only can they bring you into it, but they can cause issues with family, friends, coworkers, and others. It’s best to stay away from them if you’re looking to have a peaceful time living on the installation. Just remember, there are tons of spouses you can become friends with—pick those you want to be friends with.
3. Know yourself.
Sometimes in times of desperation, we grab onto whoever will let us. Don’t forget who you are and what you stand for. If you’re around others who don’t have similar ethics, don’t change yours for theirs. Make sure when joining a group of friends that they accept you for who you already are.
4. Keep your head up.
As military spouses know, the going can get rough. Not only do you have to be worrying about your service member overseas, but now you also have to worry about additional drama from the people you see often. Do the best you can to keep your head up and stay positive. Save your worrying for the important stress, and find peace with the unimportant.
No matter what issues you may encounter, steer clear of the drama and those who surround themselves with it. You’ll be more at peace with yourself, free of negative energy, and better for it.
How do you steer clear of milspouse drama? Let us know in the comments.
Great post. Also, limit what you share. Don’t dive right into sharing too much personal stuff and past experiences that could come back to haunt you, instead wait until you grow healthy friendships and gain trust for other mil spouses. The rumor mill is strong among certain groups, so recognizing who likes to twist things you’ve said and spread lies will also help you avoid those people all together.