Soldiers are individuals who serve their country by defending it from foreign threats. They often have to deploy for extended periods abroad, which may cause them to miss out on significant events happening back home such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and even the death of loved ones. This can make maintaining relationships difficult while they are away and result in strained connections when they return home.
The military has several policies that help soldiers stay connected with family members while deployed but these measures do not always work effectively. Soldiers undergo intense training sessions that prepare them psychologically and physically for combat situations.
This training does little to prepare them for emotional challenges associated with deployment.
Soldiers experience mental health issues related to prolonged operational stress such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. These conditions affect all aspects of life including personal relationships. Consequently, soldiers must find ways to manage their intimate connections despite experiencing emotional difficulties due to deployment. Some soldiers avoid forming new relationships altogether because they feel like they won't be able to commit emotionally or maintain long-term bonds. Others seek solace in casual sex encounters while still others try to strengthen existing relationships through phone calls, letters, emails, video chats, and occasional visits home.
While these strategies help soldiers cope with prolonged operational stress, they don't address the underlying causes of the problem. In other words, soldiers need to learn how to process their feelings about deployment before they can reconnect with loved ones successfully.
Some soldiers may have difficulty trusting others after seeing so much death and destruction during warfare. They may also struggle with feelings of guilt and shame due to having taken part in violent acts or witnessed atrocities against civilians. It is essential for soldiers to work on these issues before returning home if they want to establish a meaningful connection with family members.
Soldiers who are struggling should consider seeking professional help from a counselor or therapist specializing in treating military personnel. This type of care offers a safe space for soldiers to explore their emotions without judgement or criticism from others. Counselors can also provide tools for managing stress and coping with difficult situations that arise during deployment such as homesickness, loneliness, and loss of faith.
Soldiers must remember that they aren't alone in this struggle; there are many resources available to support them throughout their journey towards healing.
How do soldiers reconcile relational intimacy with the psychological effects of prolonged operational stress?
In general, soldiers may struggle with maintaining close relationships while dealing with prolonged operational stress due to psychological factors such as trauma, anxiety, depression, and isolation from family and friends. This can lead to challenges in reconnecting and rebuilding trust, communication, and intimacy with loved ones upon return from deployment.