Soldiers often experience intense emotions due to their job's demands and environment. They may have to deal with death, destruction, trauma, violence, stress, and separation from loved ones.
They must be able to maintain discipline and control themselves in order to protect their comrades and perform well in battle. Emotional disclosure can help soldiers process their feelings but could also cause harm if it happens too early or without proper consideration. How do they manage this dilemma?
To answer that question, we need to understand how emotional disclosure works and why trust is important. Disclosure involves revealing personal thoughts, experiences, and feelings to others. It helps build intimacy, trust, and connection between people. Trust means relying on someone's honesty and reliability. In the military context, trust is vital for teamwork and safety. Soldiers depend on each other during combat and need to know they can count on each other.
When trust is fragile or uncertain, emotional disclosure becomes more challenging. Soldiers may fear reprisals, judgement, rejection, or betrayal. They may worry about their privacy, reputation, or career prospects. To avoid these risks, they might suppress their emotions, ignore them, or lie about them. This can lead to isolation, loneliness, anger, resentment, and depression.
Some soldiers choose to disclose anyway, carefully considering the timing, content, and audience. They may share only with close friends who have proven themselves trustworthy over time. They may use code words or metaphors to hint at sensitive topics without directly mentioning them. They may wait until the mission or deployment ends, when they no longer risk being punished for expressing their feelings. Or they may seek professional help from a therapist or counselor outside the unit.
Managing emotional disclosure in the military requires balance and judgement. While it's essential for mental health, it also carries risks that must be managed carefully. By understanding the situation and taking calculated actions, soldiers can maintain their well-being while preserving trust within their units.
How do soldiers manage emotional disclosure when trust is fragile or uncertain?
Soldiers may have different ways of managing emotions depending on their individual experiences and personalities. Some may be more comfortable expressing their feelings openly while others may prefer to keep them to themselves. In situations where trust is fragile or uncertain, it can be difficult for soldiers to know how much they should disclose emotionally. They may feel that being too open could lead to misunderstandings or negative consequences, but not sharing enough could create distance between them and their colleagues.