The effects of trauma experienced during combat on soldiers are far reaching and profound. Many veterans suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide attempts after returning home. One way to help them recover is through intimate support, which includes physical touch, emotional closeness, and communication. Intimate support can improve sleep quality, reduce symptoms of traumatic brain injury, and increase self-esteem. It also helps prevent relapse into unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or drug abuse. By providing comfort and understanding, intimate partners can facilitate healing for their loved ones suffering from combat-related stress.
Intimate support can be very beneficial for veterans who have trouble sleeping due to nightmares or insomnia caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies show that cuddling, holding hands, or hugging can increase levels of oxytocin in the body, which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. This leads to better sleep quality, allowing the individual to rest more deeply and wake up feeling refreshed instead of tired and irritable.
Being held tightly or rubbed gently while falling asleep can decrease heart rate and breathing, leading to a calmer mindset before bedtime. Moreover, it has been found that those who engage in sexual activities with their partner tend to have less difficulty falling asleep at night because they associate sex with relaxation rather than tension.
Intimacy can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with traumatic brain injuries sustained during battlefield encounters. Veterans may experience memory loss, headaches, mood swings, fatigue, and sensory changes due to these injuries. Physical contact between partners can help regulate neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are responsible for regulating mood. Thus, cuddling or caressing can reduce feelings of depression or hopelessness by elevating one's natural mood-regulators naturally occurring within the body. In addition, closeness helps improve attention spans, concentration abilities, and cognitive functioning over time through increased neural connections formed between the two individuals. These benefits extend beyond physical touch; verbal communication is also important in building trust and connection between couples.
Intimate support plays an essential role in helping veterans avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or self-harming behaviors like cutting oneself off from others. Research shows that feeling isolated and alone makes it easier for someone suffering from PTSD to turn to alcohol or drugs instead of seeking professional treatment. This behavioral pattern is often reinforced when veterans feel abandoned by society since there is a lack of understanding about their struggles outside their immediate family.
Having someone there who understands them emotionally creates a sense of safety which allows them to seek out therapy without fear of judgment or rejection.
Being held close provides comfort and acceptance during times when life seems too much to handle, preventing suicidal thoughts before they become actions taken out of desperation rather than rational decision making.
Intimacy between partners provides numerous health benefits for those dealing with combat-related stress after returning home from service abroad. It improves sleep quality, reduces symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), encourages positive neurotransmitter regulation, prevents unhealthy coping mechanisms, and promotes emotional healing overall. Veterans should take advantage of these opportunities whenever possible if seeking help with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How can intimate support facilitate recovery from combat-related stress?
The most important way to facilitate recovery from combat-related stress is through close contact with trusted people who provide reliable information about what is happening on the battlefield. This form of support may involve sharing experiences and personal stories about military service as well as offering guidance for coping with post-traumatic stress symptoms like nightmares, anxiety attacks, and flashbacks.