Article by: Jennifer Coswert
Have you ever thought that you couldn’t find your place in the world? Or felt that you just didn’t belong anywhere? I think we have all felt like this at some point in our lives. But once we become wives and mothers those feelings cease, right? Well, not for all of us.
I am a Marine Wife, and have been for 20 years. I also have three wonderful children and one adorable grandbaby. However, there are times when I feel like I don’t matter. That I am worth nothing, no one would notice if I was gone.
It’s the lie my brain tells me.
Have you ever thought that you couldn’t find your place in the world? Or felt that you just didn’t belong anywhere? I think we have all felt like this at some point in our lives. But once we become wives and mothers those feelings cease, right? Well, not for all of us.
I am a Marine Wife, and have been for 20 years. I also have three wonderful children and one adorable grandbaby. However, there are times when I feel like I don’t matter. That I am worth nothing, no one would notice if I was gone.
It’s the lie my brain tells me.
Of course it would matter if I was gone. My children would mourn. My daughters would feel the loss of me at their weddings and at the birth of their babies. I’d miss my son finding his wife. They’d miss me at every holiday, every birthday. My husband would also feel the loss.
Although my mind tries to play these tricks on me, through therapy and medication, I’ve learned that I DO MATTER!
I am Jennifer. I have a family that needs and loves me. I have a job that counts on me. I am a writer. I love to do crafts and read. I like to hang out with friends. I am also bipolar. All of these little pieces make me whole.
There is nothing about me that I should ever feel ashamed of. When deployments come around, and I am again left alone to raise the kids, pay the bills, do the yard work and be supportive. I can forget that I actually matter. I find myself feeling depressed and lost. It’s not a foreign feeling to military spouses. We get overwhelmed at not only fulfilling all these roles alone, but also dealing with the constant worry for our spouses who are deployed. All of this while away from our families.
That is why Military Spouses of Strength has launched our #YOUMATTER campaign for September, which is Suicide Prevention month. We want everyone to participate to show our military members and their spouses that they matter.
We hope that you can help us by supporting the campaign in one of the following ways:
For more information on these ideas and how you can get involved in your community, please visit our website Military Spouses of Strength.
Jennifer Cowsert has been a Marine Wife for over 20 years. She is a self-published author of four books and is currently working on two new stories, one being an e-book for Military Spouses of Strength. She is the Public Relations Manager for Military Spouses of Strength, which is an organization that brings awareness and helps reduce the stigma around mental health within the military community. She has recently helped launch their #YOUMATTER campaign and is currently working on their first newsletter.
Although my mind tries to play these tricks on me, through therapy and medication, I’ve learned that I DO MATTER!
I am Jennifer. I have a family that needs and loves me. I have a job that counts on me. I am a writer. I love to do crafts and read. I like to hang out with friends. I am also bipolar. All of these little pieces make me whole.
There is nothing about me that I should ever feel ashamed of. When deployments come around, and I am again left alone to raise the kids, pay the bills, do the yard work and be supportive. I can forget that I actually matter. I find myself feeling depressed and lost. It’s not a foreign feeling to military spouses. We get overwhelmed at not only fulfilling all these roles alone, but also dealing with the constant worry for our spouses who are deployed. All of this while away from our families.
That is why Military Spouses of Strength has launched our #YOUMATTER campaign for September, which is Suicide Prevention month. We want everyone to participate to show our military members and their spouses that they matter.
We hope that you can help us by supporting the campaign in one of the following ways:
- Tweet using the hashtag #YouMatter
- Take a picture of yourself with a sign that says #YouMatter
- Take a video with your phone and/or Ipad saying #YouMatter and why
- Tag and like Military Spouses of Strength on Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of Social Media
- Volunteer with MSoS
- Follow Military Spouses of Strengths blog
- Write an Op-Ed
- Partner in MSoS PSA
- Request a Proclamation be made in honor of the “YouMatter” campaign in your city
- Make #YouMatter signs on campus
- Wear Purple - when people ask why you are wearing purple all week/month tell them you support #YouMatter
- Host a #YouMatter event
- Raise money in honor of Suicide Prevention and #YouMatter
- Tell your story about Mental Illness and how it has affected you and your military family via the MSoS Blog
For more information on these ideas and how you can get involved in your community, please visit our website Military Spouses of Strength.
Jennifer Cowsert has been a Marine Wife for over 20 years. She is a self-published author of four books and is currently working on two new stories, one being an e-book for Military Spouses of Strength. She is the Public Relations Manager for Military Spouses of Strength, which is an organization that brings awareness and helps reduce the stigma around mental health within the military community. She has recently helped launch their #YOUMATTER campaign and is currently working on their first newsletter.
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