When discussing military couples' sexual care needs, it is essential to consider the unique challenges they face due to their demanding lifestyles and responsibilities. Military life often involves frequent moves, deployments, training sessions, and time away from home, which can impact intimate relationships. Sexual care refers to the emotional, physical, and psychological support that couples need to maintain a healthy sexual relationship, including communication, trust, mutual respect, and pleasure. To operationalize this concept for military couples, we must understand how stressors such as deployment, separation anxiety, and trauma may affect sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction. This article will explore various strategies that service members and their partners can use to enhance their sexual well-being despite these obstacles.
One strategy is to prioritize communication. Couples should establish clear expectations regarding sexual activity and discuss what satisfies them individually and collectively.
They could agree to schedule regular date nights or use sensory games to spark erotic excitement. They can also exchange explicit messages while apart, focusing on positive affirmation rather than pressure. Another tactic is to practice mindfulness techniques during sex, such as meditation or breathwork, which can help couples stay present in the moment and enjoy every touch.
Couples can try new positions or toys to spice up their routine and avoid boredom.
Military couples must build trust by being open about their needs and desires and listening actively to each other's concerns. They can express gratitude for each other's efforts towards sexual closeness and show appreciation through nonverbal cues like eye contact, kisses, or hugs.
It is crucial to seek professional help if needed to overcome challenges such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, or past trauma. A therapist or sex coach can provide valuable insights into intimacy issues and suggest exercises to improve physical and emotional connection.
Sexual care is an essential component of healthy relationships, especially for military couples facing unique stressors. By communicating effectively, practicing mindfulness, experimenting with new approaches, and seeking professional support when necessary, service members and their partners can maintain a fulfilling and satisfying sexual relationship despite deployment, separation anxiety, and trauma.
How can sexual care be operationalized as relational support for military couples?
The term "sexual care" has been used by researchers to describe the ways in which partners provide one another with physical and emotional intimacy through shared sexual experiences (Lerner et al. , 2018). In relationships where one partner is deployed, this type of support may become even more important as a way to maintain connection and intimacy despite distance.