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  Posted to group - Should I Stay or Should I Go    <<Previous    Next>>

New here, with a strange story

Hi everyone... I found this site while trying to do research on divorce options, because I am growing more desperate with each passing day. For a little background, my husband is a Petty Officer in the Navy, working in the nuclear field. He just completed his nuclear training in July of this year, and we did our first PCS move to Groton, CT in August. I have a lot of medical problems (which I won't bore you all with), and endure enormous amounts of pain from tasks that 'normal' people find rediculously easy. I'm sure this is the crux of the problem I've been having since I arrived here and my husband was deployed 2 weeks later. I have been trying to contact my husband's ship's Ombudsman (like a liason for the civilian spouses) about options, to no avail. I was directed to a social worker who never called me back after the initial talk, but told me straight up to essentially "suck it up" until my husband comes home in March. Since then, I've been run around in circles by a total of 10 people who are alternately rude, placating, or uninterested. I've tried communicating my problems with obtaining help or information on programs that can help me, because my husband wants to know what's going on, but my husband keeps emailing me back saying that my emails have been heavily edited. They're censoring what I say in order to prevent him from getting upset; on one hand I understand this, on the other... I'm not enlisted and I need medical help. These people have been actively fighting me for a month and my husband is the only one who can help me get the proper channels, but he's not here. Basically, I've determined that since they won't send me home since no one can help me the way I need help, divorce may be my only option. I love my husband, but military life is killing me. The pain from my medical problems and taking care of our daughter alone, combined with the normal deployment issues, is driving me into swings of rage and suicidal ideation. I know that divorcing would rob me of my medical benefits, but I can't use them anyway with my husband gone and no one here to watch over my daughter while I have procedures done or go on medications. I don't feel optimistic that there is any other solution, other than to let him free to find someone else who can deal with the military environment better than I can. That was long. :x Anyway, that's my story and I'm still not sure I can go through with it. My husband is my high school sweetheart and has been the love of my life for the past 11 years, but at some point I have to decide if that's worth suffering and possibly doing something stupid over. The suicidal thoughts are disturbing me but I feel like telling anyone will make them think I'm trying to manipulate the system to get my husband back. All I want is the support the Navy claims that they offer to the families left behind, but apparently that doesn't apply to those who are disabled.

by NavyWife   5 Posts 
Posted on 10/6/2008 12:57 AM
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Answers for "New here, with a strange story"  (5) (You must be logged in to answer)




I suffer from chronic pain due to RA. I understand pain and how draining it can be. Your problem isn't your husband. So, don't make it him. He will be back. Until then, know I am so sorry, I know there is a way to get through the channels and get yourself taken care of. You have to take care of your daughter for the both of you. It's a lot of responsibility, but you will make it. If on sheer will and determination, you will make it.
by Petty   36 Posts
Posted on 10/6/2008 11:43 AM
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Hello
I am a prior Navy Active Duty person. When I had trouble with my 1st marriage (we were both active duty). I went to the Chaplain. When I was active duty there were two Chaplains on the base. There is a Catholic and Protestant Chaplain. They are trained in counseling and trained with knowing what resources to refer you. Please go to them. It's worth a shot. If you are not comfortable with one Chaplain go to the other (no matter what your affiliation is). I was not Catholic at the time and went to the Catholic Chaplain because I wanted to privately discuss what was happening in my marriage. This was the best step I made during my 1st marriage and I really did get a lot of help. Some of the guys in the field used to tell me about how difficult the adjustment is for their wives. They love them but it was hard to get them to understand the long tours of duty and not being able to say where they are and what they are doing. I felt for both sides. Good luck. Let me know how it turns out.

Some Duty Stations are better than others. Sometimes the Ombudsman just doesn't have the experience or heart. I don't know if that is true in your case. It really does depend upon the people in charge of the programs. It's the same on the outside but you will find a lot more resources to help you with military benefits. They are more like a family and the security is better than being thrown out into the world to fend for yourself. Use them and their resources.

Please don't jump ship right away. Use them to further your education, get the counseling you need, and the medical. You just need the right person to direct you. I pray you will find the one who helps you. Please try the Chaplains office.
by lgoodgal   872 Posts
Posted on 10/6/2008 11:36 AM
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They edit the email? really? I'll show my naivete - i had no idea...

We have some other military spouses on here, perhaps they can shed light on your situation... 
by jackson   693 Posts
Posted on 10/6/2008 7:31 AM
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Thank you, mtnvly.  :)  I do love my husband very much, I miss him every day.   I just can't figure out any other way to get out of this situation, especially since it's been affecting my mental health with each brick wall I run into.                         There are wives' groups for the Navy, but their main focus is fundraising for 'homecoming' and the occasional outing for the kids.   I really need someone who can come into my house and help me do things like carry in groceries, take heavy items up my stairs for me, help me with my daughter when I'm having intolerable amounts of pain, etc.   These are things my husband did for me when he was at home, and things my family did for me before I was married.  I wish I didn't need special help, but I do if I want to function properly as a human being and a parent. 
  My husband hasn't been able to call yet, though he cryptically hinted that he may call within a span of days.  He's on a submarine and they can't reveal their location or schedule via telephone or email, so I'm always just waiting for communications that may not come. 
   I don't really have anyone to tell that I'm considering divorce as my act of desperation.  I may go to see the base chaplain today or visit the Ombudsman's 'boss' to discuss some of my problems and stress my level of aggrivation.  I'm sure I'm not the only person this happens or has happened to, and I do find it appalling.   It bothers me to think this may not be an isolated incident; I know other people aren't as bull-headed or confrontational as I am when cornered, though I admittedly have not been as assertive since hitting the 9th belligerent Navy contact I was offed onto.
  Thanks again for your response, I am going to try to use some of your suggestions as a bolster to get me going today. :)
by NavyWife   5 Posts
Posted on 10/6/2008 1:26 AM
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Hi there navy wife..I welcomed you on your wall but let me say it again..welcome!
It sounds like you are having a real hard time. It seems to me that ( I know you have not been there long) there should be somesort of support group for you...military wives? Maybe I have been watching too much army wives and that is in my brain. It is sad that the military is treating you as such.. so sad. They are even editing your emails. Does your hubby ever get time to even call?
It sounds like you love him. I can't imagine the turmoil you are going thru with considering divorce so that you can get help.Have you told the "higher ups" that is what you are considering? And if they want to "keep him from being upset" that they should consider that fact? What affect do they think your divorcing him would have?
I wish I could give you advise..I am not sure. Can you contact a lawyer outside of the military for counsel? Maybe that is an option.
Just know we are here for you. I am sure that if you search this site you wil find other military spouses that can help.
Take care of you...hang in there. If you really love your hubby and he loves you I don't think I could throw that away. That is too rare...and hard to come by.
by mtnvly   2542 Posts
Posted on 10/6/2008 1:09 AM
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