Relationships are an essential part of human life, and they can provide a sense of belonging, love, companionship, and support.
Maintaining relationships requires effort, understanding, and communication. In the military, where individuals often face high levels of stress and uncertainty, it is crucial to develop healthy relationship habits that promote relational resilience. This article explores how service members can maintain relational resilience while managing both personal stress and the stress of supporting others.
Service members must prioritize communication within their relationships. Effective communication involves active listening, openness, honesty, and respect for each person's needs and perspectives. Active listening means paying attention to what the other person says without interrupting or giving advice until they have finished speaking. Openness means being vulnerable enough to share thoughts, feelings, and experiences and asking for help when needed. Honesty means being truthful about one's own emotions and experiences, even if they are difficult to discuss. Respect means acknowledging each person's unique perspective and valuing their contributions to the relationship. When service members communicate effectively, they build trust, intimacy, and mutual support.
Service members should practice self-care to manage their own stress levels. Self-care includes physical activities like exercise, meditation, or relaxation techniques, mental practices like mindfulness or positive thinking, and social activities like spending time with friends or family. Taking care of oneself allows individuals to recharge and avoid burnout, which can negatively impact relationships. Service members can also seek professional help from mental health providers who specialize in trauma and PTSD.
Service members need to be patient and understanding when supporting others. Supporting someone through a challenging situation requires empathy, compassion, and patience. Empathy means putting oneself in another person's shoes and trying to understand their experience. Compassion means showing kindness and caring towards that person, even if it is not easy. Patience means allowing the other person space and time to process their emotions and express themselves. It may take time to develop these skills, but it is essential to maintain relational resilience over the long term.
Maintaining relational resilience while managing personal and external stresses requires effort, communication, self-care, and patience. By prioritizing these habits, service members can build strong, supportive relationships that provide comfort and security during difficult times.
How do service members maintain relational resilience while managing both personal stress and the stress of supporting others?
Service members are trained to respond to high-stress situations with a focus on resiliency skills that help them cope with their own challenges as well as those of others. Maintaining relational resilience involves recognizing when they need support from others, seeking it out, and working together to address problems collaboratively. In addition, service members can develop coping mechanisms such as mindfulness exercises and breathing techniques to manage their own mental health and remain present for others.