What is "intimacy"?
Intimacy refers to a deep and meaningful connection between two people, usually romantic partners. This can be emotional, physical, or both. Intimacy involves sharing private thoughts and feelings with another person, being vulnerable, and feeling safe and supported. It requires trust, openness, honesty, and communication.
How do military couples maintain intimacy?
Military couples face unique challenges that strain their relationships, including long separations, frequent moves, stressful deployments, and dangerous situations. Despite these challenges, many military couples find ways to preserve intimacy through various strategies. One strategy is regular communication, even when apart. Couples can stay connected through phone calls, texts, emails, video chats, letters, social media, and other means. They may also schedule dates for future reunions, talk about shared interests and goals, plan activities together, and make time for quality time when possible. Another strategy is practicing self-care and making time for each other. Military spouses may exercise, relax, meditate, spend time alone, or pursue hobbies while waiting for deployment. Military couples who stay physically fit, eat well, sleep enough, and manage stress have better mental health, which improves relationship satisfaction.
What are some sexual tips for military couples?
Sexual compatibility is essential in any relationship, but it's especially important in military marriages where separation is common. Military couples may feel more distant due to the stresses of war, work, and travel. To keep the spark alive, they may try novelty, role-playing, sexting, and other activities. Military couples should discuss their sexual needs and preferences openly and experiment with new techniques, positions, and locations. They can seek professional help if needed.
Sharing affectionate touch and attention can be powerful, as can sending care packages, gifts, and cards.
Military couples should prioritize emotional connection over physical connection by expressing love, appreciation, support, and respect regularly.
What strategies enable military couples to preserve intimacy despite cumulative stress and repeated separations?
One strategy that has been shown to help maintain intimacy between military couples is to communicate regularly through various channels, such as phone calls, video chats, emails, letters, and social media messaging. This allows them to stay connected emotionally even when they are physically apart, which can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.