Maintaining Strong Relationships: Virtual Resources Available to Military Couples

The stress brought on by the coronavirus pandemic presents challenges for everyone and may affect relationships. This can be especially true of intimate partner relationships.

Stress may come from couples spending more time together due to stay-at-home orders. Being separated due to travel restrictions can also cause stress.

It’s normal to go through ups and downs in your relationship. But if you are feeling frustrated or tense, it’s important to know you are not alone. Military OneSource offers a variety of virtual relationship resources that can help.

Take time to see if they are right for you, and share them with others who may benefit from them.

Strengthen your bond with your partner from home

There are a variety of counseling options and tools available to help military couples work through the stress brought on by the pandemic. Take advantage of these resources through Military OneSource and Military Community and Family Policy:

• Receive coaching sessions, practical tools, resources and problem-solving techniques through the Building Healthy Relationships specialty consultation. This resource from Military OneSource helps you deepen relationships with family, friends and others through an education-based consultation. Meetings are designed to be flexible and personable. They are available to you by phone or video.
• Talk through your situation or concerns by accessing confidential, non-medical counseling services through Military OneSource via telephone and video sessions.
• Access counseling via telephone and video sessions and webinars through the Military and Family Life Counseling Program.
• Develop and practice good communication through Love Every Day, an interactive digital tool. Love Every Day is a fun and text message-based way that helps you improve relationship communication in only a few minutes each day.
• Check out these webinars that address relationships. One even zeros in on dual military couples.
• Meet with a FOCUS provider along with your partner or spouse through video teleconference as part of FOCUS and TeleFocus Services.

Tips for couples to manage relationship stress

Military OneSource offers tips for couples to help them cope with the stress and pressure brought on by the pandemic. These include:

• Come up with a plan to deal with the new normal.
• Give each other space, which could mean going to a different room, or maybe just wearing earbuds or headphones.
• Practice good communication, starting by setting aside a time to talk when you aren’t too stressed.
• Check in with each other by video or phone if you are separated.
• Find time to be active by building physical activity into your day. Try a personal health and wellness coach or even a mobile coach.
• Take time to breathe, and remember why you and your partner love each other.

Another factor regarding the stress you may feel in your relationship could be related to the stress the entire family is facing.

Above all else, when stress is high take care of yourself so you’ll be there for your spouse or partner.

If your spouse or partner has made you feel unsafe or afraid, help is available through the Family Advocacy Program. Speak to a victim advocate to explore next steps, or call or chat with the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7, at 800-799-7233 or thehotline.org.

Stay up to date on all the latest information on COVID-19. For updates for the military community regarding the virus that causes COVID-19, view the following sites:

• Visit Coronavirus.gov, CDC.gov, USA.gov and Defense.gov.
• Follow Military OneSource’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms.
• Continue to visit the Coronavirus Information for Our Military Community page for updates.
• Check Move.mil for PCS-related updates.