Relational Stress and Suppression Among Deployed Soldiers
Soldiers who have been sent to war zones often experience intense stress due to their roles and responsibilities. They may face traumatic events that leave them feeling isolated from loved ones back home, leading to a build-up of emotions like sadness, anxiety, anger, guilt, fear, and shame. This can lead to long-term psychological consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse, and suicide.
These soldiers' psychological issues are usually exacerbated when they suppress their feelings about their relationships during deployment, which causes further damage to their mental health.
When deployed soldiers do not express their emotions regarding their relationships, they become more susceptible to negative thoughts and behaviors that can harm themselves and those around them.
Some soldiers may turn to drugs or alcohol as an escape from reality, while others may lash out physically or verbally towards family members, friends, or co-workers. The suppression of relational stressors can also cause cognitive impairment in decision-making processes and increase the risk for suicidal tendencies.
Soldiers who bottle up their emotions tend to develop relationship problems even after returning home because they cannot connect with their partners emotionally. This results in communication breakdowns, misunderstandings, and increased conflicts between spouses or partners. It is essential for military personnel to understand how relational stress and suppression affect them mentally so that they can seek help before it becomes too late.
The long-term psychological consequences of relational stress and suppression on deployed soldiers should never be ignored or underestimated. These factors can create a vicious cycle wherein one's mental health deteriorates due to the inability to process emotions related to relationships during deployment, causing greater distress upon return home and difficulty connecting with loved ones. With proper counseling support, soldiers can learn healthy coping mechanisms to manage these issues and improve their overall wellbeing.
What are the long-term psychological consequences of relational stress and suppression on deployed soldiers?
Relational stress is an inevitable part of military life due to the constant threat of separation from loved ones and the high-stress environment that comes with deployment. The experience of being away from one's family for extended periods can cause feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety, which may result in increased levels of stress and other mental health issues over time.