Confessions of a Military Wife

I was a Navy brat for the first 18 years of my life. Only a few months later, I married my husband and became an Air Force wife. I don't think I'm what most consider the "typical" military wife, but the picture our society has of "typical" is flawed. Let me show you the military through my eyes and tell you what other military wives will not admit. I don't sugarcoat anything. Here is the truth about the benefits, the hardships, and the feelings that go along with being a military wife. While I don't think it's the hardest job in the military, it is still very stressful and difficult.

While I love having complementary healthcare, I abhor the system. Making an appointment is sometimes quick and painless and sometimes can take hours. Doctors rarely listen to everything you have to say or take you seriously. Their automatic answer to everything is not to make a diagnosis, because that takes time, effort, tests, and money--but to prescribe an antibiotic or pain killer. Formerly, over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol or Benadryll, when recommended, were prescribed, so that you do not have to pay for them. Very rarely is this the case today. They are also, overall, very close-minded to natural treatments. Furthermore they have the tendency to be bossy, ordering you around and ignoring your wishes. Some are horribly misinformed. I admit that I have encountered a few doctors within the system that were wonderful, but the vast majority of my experiences with the military healthcare system have been negative.