Soldiers are trained to face death and risk it to fulfill their duty. But what happens when they experience mortality up close? How do soldiers' encounters with death affect their sexual desires, urges, and fears? This article explores how mortality can alter a soldier's intimate life and how these changes manifest themselves in their behavior.
Death is an unavoidable part of war, which means that soldiers must contend with its reality daily. Soldiers may have experienced trauma from losing comrades and seeing bodies after combat. They might be haunted by thoughts about dying or fearful of being killed. These emotions affect their physical and psychological wellbeing, making them more prone to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, they may struggle with self-image issues related to masculinity and femininity due to witnessing death so frequently.
Mortality also impacts sexual desire. Soldiers who regularly witness death may feel less interested in sex because they see it as meaningless compared to the greater threat of dying. The fear of being killed during intercourse makes soldiers hesitant to engage in risky behaviors like unprotected sex or multiple partners. Instead, some soldiers find comfort and solace in platonic relationships where they don't need to worry about getting hurt or leaving behind loved ones if something goes wrong. Others turn to pornography for relief but still struggle with arousal or performance issues. Some soldiers even become celibate altogether, believing that nothing matters beyond survival.
Death can heighten sexual urgency. When facing imminent danger, soldiers may seek release through sex to cope with stress and adrenaline. They might indulge in high-risk activities like BDSM or threesomes to feel alive again. This behavior can create conflicts within themselves regarding morals and ethics.
A soldier might enjoy rough sex but not want to harm others intentionally or act out on impulses that could cause damage.
Mortality shapes how soldiers view intimacy. It teaches them that life is fragile, fleeting, and precious - traits that should be appreciated rather than taken for granted. Many soldiers cherish their partner more deeply after experiencing loss or injury, expressing gratitude for every moment spent together. They also understand that love has no guarantees and cannot be controlled; therefore, they prioritize spending time with their partner without pressure. These lessons inform decisions about marriage, children, and long-term commitments.
Witnessing mortality can drastically change a soldier's sense of sexual desire, urgency, and fear. Understanding these changes helps us better support veterans who have experienced combat trauma and provide resources that meet their unique needs.
How does witnessing mortality change a soldier's sense of sexual desire, urgency, or fear, and how does this reshape their intimate life?
A 2016 study by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that soldiers who have experienced trauma on the battlefield may experience changes in their sexual desires, urgencies, and feelings of fear as a result of witnessing death. This can include heightened levels of anxiety around sex, decreased arousal, and difficulty achieving orgasm.