Soldiers are trained to suppress their emotions when they go into battle because it can be detrimental to mission success.
This suppression can also affect their personal lives and relationships outside of combat. How do soldiers balance these conflicting demands?
In order to understand how soldiers cope with this challenge, let's take a look at the different aspects of emotional expression and its effects on relationships. Emotional expression refers to expressing one's feelings openly and honestly with others. When people suppress their emotions, they may become more guarded and less able to connect with others on an emotional level. This can lead to problems in relationships, such as difficulty communicating needs, trust issues, and decreased intimacy. Soldiers who suppress their emotions during deployment may find themselves struggling to connect with loved ones when they return home, leading to strained relationships and even divorce.
There is evidence that some degree of emotional suppression is necessary for effective military service.
Soldiers must be able to maintain focus and composure under pressure, even if they feel fear or sadness. If they allow their emotions to interfere with their ability to complete their duties, they could put themselves or their teammates in danger. They may also struggle to perform basic tasks like following orders or making decisions quickly. Therefore, many soldiers learn to compartmentalize their emotions, separating them from their daily lives while on duty. This allows them to serve effectively without letting emotions get in the way.
So how do soldiers reconcile this conflict between emotional suppression and relational openness? One approach is to prioritize relationships over emotional expression. By focusing on building strong connections with family members, friends, and partners before deployments, soldiers can establish a foundation of support that will help them cope with the challenges of being away.
Many soldiers participate in therapy or counseling sessions after deployments in order to process their experiences and work through any lingering emotional trauma. This can help them reconnect with loved ones and build healthier relationships.
Another strategy is to practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises. These practices help soldiers become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and better manage them during stressful situations. This can make it easier to express emotions when appropriate and suppress them when necessary. It can also improve mental health overall, reducing the likelihood of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological issues related to deployment.
Some soldiers find ways to express their emotions in nonverbal ways, such as writing letters or journaling about their experiences. While these activities don't necessarily involve direct communication with others, they can be helpful for processing emotions and releasing tension. Soldiers may also use physical exercise, artistic pursuits, or other creative outlets to release built-up emotions in a safe and productive way.
Balancing emotional suppression required for duty with the need for relational openness requires careful consideration and effort from both military personnel and their loved ones. With proper support systems in place, however, it is possible for soldiers to maintain strong relationships while serving their country effectively.
How do soldiers reconcile emotional suppression required for duty with the need for relational openness?
Soldiers often face challenges in balancing their duties on the battlefield with maintaining healthy relationships back home due to the emotional suppression required for duty. Many individuals experience anxiety and depression as they attempt to suppress their emotions during intense combat situations while simultaneously trying to build meaningful connections with loved ones. This can lead to feelings of guilt, fear, and isolation that may negatively impact their mental health over time if not addressed properly.