Emotional investment is a term that describes the amount of feelings and thoughts someone has for their partner while they are away from them on deployment. It can be positive or negative, but it typically involves an increased level of attachment and connection. When partners feel emotionally invested in each other, it can create a sense of security and comfort when one person is away from home.
This emotional investment can also lead to higher levels of stress and anxiety if things go wrong during deployment. This article will explore how emotional investment affects partners' stress levels and coping mechanisms when their loved ones are deployed.
Let's examine why emotional investment might cause increased stress and anxiety. Deployment can be incredibly challenging for both the individual who is being deployed and their loved ones back home. The uncertainty of whether or not everything will go smoothly during the time apart creates a lot of pressure and worry. When people are feeling more emotionally invested in their relationships, these worries may become even stronger because they have more riding on the outcome.
If a couple is newly married, the stakes may feel higher than if they were already long-time partners.
If someone is in a military relationship where there is already some risk involved due to the nature of the job, emotional investment could make those risks seem even greater.
The second way emotional investment can increase stress levels is by making people feel like they need to be more attentive to the needs of their partner during deployment. If someone becomes too focused on trying to manage their own anxieties about what could happen, they may forget to check in with their partner regularly to see how they are doing. This can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness for the person who is being deployed. It is important for partners to remember that it takes two people to maintain a healthy relationship, and neither one should shoulder all of the responsibility for keeping things together while separated.
Emotional investment can also lead to unrealistic expectations about what will happen after deployment ends. Partners may imagine perfect reunions that never materialize or assume that everything will go back to normal immediately without giving themselves time to adjust to having their partner home again. These high expectations can cause disappointment when reality sets in, leading to further stress and frustration. In short, emotional investment can create significant tension between couples before, during, and after deployment.
To cope with this increased level of stress, many partners try different strategies such as talking with friends or family members, practicing mindfulness techniques, or engaging in activities outside of work or schoolwork. Some couples may seek counseling or therapy to help them process any issues they encounter during deployment. Others may find support groups where they can connect with other military spouses going through similar experiences.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for dealing with increased stress levels caused by emotional investment during deployment. What works for one couple might not work for another, so it's essential to experiment until you find what helps you feel calmer and more supported.
How does emotional investment during deployment affect partners' stress levels and coping mechanisms?
Emotional investment is an important factor that can influence partners' stress levels and coping mechanisms when their significant other is deployed overseas for military service. Research has shown that partners who are emotionally invested in the wellbeing of their partner during deployment may experience more anxiety and depression than those who do not (Smith et al. , 2017).