If you can, try and stay in contact with them, I went really insular and lost that outlet and spent several years being kicked from navy psych to psych and hearing various forms of “shape up or get out.” When I met my now wife I had someone to talk to that was unconditionally supportive and they pointed out to me how being in the Navy was exactly like being in an abusive relationship, which help me reframe my issues as not really about myself, but about how I don’t fit into the system. The Navy wants you to internalize why you don’t fit in so that you’ll homogenize, and so that they don’t have to make structural changes. It’s really hard to feel like the odd one out in those places without an unconditional support system, the Navy certainly doesn’t provide that.
I was heartbroken as they didn't even tell me until they were leaving. I want to think I'm being supportive. But they obviously didn't think I would support their decision to join the Navy. Which is very true. I very much took a step back and got pissed but after processing that I realized I had to swallow my hurt and just support them. Otherwise I would just keep pushing them away.
My kid is still in great lakes. Just went thru boot. I'm scared shitless for them, thank you for the ray of hope. :)
If you can, try and stay in contact with them, I went really insular and lost that outlet and spent several years being kicked from navy psych to psych and hearing various forms of “shape up or get out.” When I met my now wife I had someone to talk to that was unconditionally supportive and they pointed out to me how being in the Navy was exactly like being in an abusive relationship, which help me reframe my issues as not really about myself, but about how I don’t fit into the system. The Navy wants you to internalize why you don’t fit in so that you’ll homogenize, and so that they don’t have to make structural changes. It’s really hard to feel like the odd one out in those places without an unconditional support system, the Navy certainly doesn’t provide that.
I was heartbroken as they didn't even tell me until they were leaving. I want to think I'm being supportive. But they obviously didn't think I would support their decision to join the Navy. Which is very true. I very much took a step back and got pissed but after processing that I realized I had to swallow my hurt and just support them. Otherwise I would just keep pushing them away.