Soldiers are trained to suppress their fear during combat, but this can create tension in their personal lives when they return home. The emotional dissonance between their survival instinct and the relational need to express their feelings can be difficult to manage. This article will explore the psychological impact of these conflicting needs and provide strategies for soldiers to cope with them.
Defining Emotional Dissonance
Emotional dissonance is a feeling of unease caused by inconsistency between one's thoughts, beliefs, values, and behaviors. Soldiers may experience this discomfort when they feel compelled to hide their fear on the battlefield while yearning to share it with loved ones back home. In military culture, being perceived as weak or unfit for service can lead to repercussions such as reduced promotions or loss of trust from peers. As a result, many soldiers develop an internal conflict between their natural response to danger and their desire to preserve relationships.
Causes of Emotional Dissonance
The main cause of emotional dissonance is the soldier's training to suppress their emotions while under fire. This is necessary for survival, but it can have lasting effects on their mental health. When soldiers return home after deployment, they may struggle to express their true feelings about war due to guilt, shame, or self-doubt. They may also feel isolated because civilians cannot understand what they experienced on the battlefield. These factors can contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.
Managing Emotional Dissonance
There are several strategies that soldiers can use to manage emotional dissonance:
1. Acknowledge and accept their emotions: Recognizing and accepting their own feelings is essential for soldiers to move forward. They should not judge themselves harshly for having fear or other negative emotions during combat. By acknowledging their experiences, they can begin to process them in a healthy way.
2. Seek support from family and friends: Talking to loved ones about their experiences can help soldiers release some of the pent-up tension caused by emotional dissonance. It can also improve communication skills and strengthen relationships.
3. Engage in therapeutic activities: Participating in creative outlets such as writing, painting, or music therapy can provide an outlet for emotion expression without judgement. Exercise, meditation, and mindfulness practices can also reduce stress and promote emotional regulation.
4. Consult with a mental health professional: If emotional dissonance persists, it may be time to seek professional help. A therapist can provide individualized treatment plans tailored to each soldier's needs, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy.
5. Join a veterans group: Veteran organizations offer peer support and community building opportunities for soldiers dealing with PTSD and other issues. This can help alleviate feelings of isolation and connect soldiers with others who understand their experience.
Emotional dissonance is a common problem among military personnel that can have serious consequences on their mental health.
There are strategies available to manage this conflict between survival instinct and relational need. With proper care and support, soldiers can overcome this challenge and lead fulfilling lives after service.
How do soldiers handle the emotional dissonance between the battlefield instinct to suppress fear and the relational need to articulate it?
Soldiers face an emotionally charged conundrum on the battlefield, as they must simultaneously suppress their own fear while also recognizing and responding to that same emotion in others. This dissonance can be particularly challenging due to the social norms of masculinity and bravery, which may lead soldiers to feel shame and embarrassment for expressing their fear openly.