The concept of emotional suppression is deeply rooted in military culture and has been shown to have detrimental effects on veterans' mental health. Veterans who suppress their emotions often suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and substance abuse issues. To relearn how to experience pleasure and emotional safety after years of repressing feelings, veterans can implement various strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapies like psychoanalysis.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps veterans identify negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional suppression and replace them with positive ones. This therapy focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors related to emotion regulation, such as self-talk and avoidance behaviors. Veterans learn techniques for calming themselves down when they feel overwhelmed or upset and practice mindfulness exercises that promote awareness of present-moment experiences.
CBT emphasizes recognizing and processing triggers that may cause trauma symptoms.
Psychodynamic therapy, which includes psychoanalysis, explores how unresolved conflicts and past trauma affect current relationships and behavior patterns. Through this process, veterans gain insight into their own emotions and develop new ways of coping with difficult situations. They also work on building trusting relationships with a therapist and establishing boundaries around intimacy. With the help of a trained professional, veterans can explore childhood trauma, family dynamics, and other factors that have contributed to emotional suppression.
Other strategies include exposure therapy, group therapy, and support groups. Exposure therapy involves gradually confronting feared situations in a safe environment to reduce anxiety and fear responses associated with those scenarios. Group therapy allows veterans to share experiences and receive feedback from peers who understand the unique challenges of military life. Support groups provide an opportunity for mutual support and social connection.
Relearning pleasure and emotional safety requires time, effort, and patience. Veterans may need multiple approaches tailored to their individual needs and preferences to overcome years of emotional suppression.
The results are worth it: greater self-awareness, improved mental health, and increased quality of life.
What strategies help veterans re-learn the experience of pleasure and emotional safety after long-term emotional suppression?
Most likely, the strategies that could potentially help veterans learn again how to feel pleasure and emotionally safe are those that involve exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, as well as mindfulness practices, such as meditation. The main goal is for them to recognize their thoughts and feelings when they arise so that they can process them better and understand what they mean, without being afraid of experiencing negative emotions such as fear or sadness.