LGBT couples are increasingly facing difficulties due to increased deployment and assignment periods. With military personnel being sent away for months at a time, it becomes challenging to maintain healthy and satisfying relationships. This is why they must be equipped with the right strategies to keep their love alive despite the distance. One such strategy is to stay connected through various means.
Communication
Communicating effectively can help LGBT partners maintain relational satisfaction during deployments or assignments. Using email, text messages, video calls, and phone calls, couples should communicate daily. This way, they know how each other is doing, share thoughts and feelings, discuss issues, and plan future events. They also remain close psychologically and emotionally.
Expressions of Affection
In addition to communication, expressing affection helps maintain intimacy and connection. Long-distance lovers should send gifts, cards, letters, and flowers regularly. They could also write sweet notes and poems to keep the romance alive. Couples could even exchange sexual favors via video chat or mail. It keeps them feeling desired and loved, making it easier to cope with separation anxiety.
Planning for Reunions
Planning for reunions helps reduce the stress of separation. Partners should make concrete plans on when and where to meet after the deployment or assignment ends. They could arrange exciting things to do together, like going on vacations or visits to new places. These activities promote emotional bonding, enabling partners to reconnect quickly.
Time Management
Managing time wisely is essential in keeping relationships thriving. During deployments or assignments, LGBT couples need to find ways to fill the gap created by absence. They can set aside time for themselves daily and engage in hobbies that distract from missing their partner. Moreover, they should avoid being glued to technology all day as this may cause depression. Instead, they should have a routine and spend more time on real-life interactions.
Having trust and honesty is crucial in long-distance relationships. Partners must be honest about their feelings and share any issues they face. This way, they know each other's needs and desires, leading to better understanding and support. Trust enables LGBT couples to forgive each other's mistakes and overcome challenges together.
LGBT couples should use communication, affectionate gestures, planning for reunions, time management, and trust to maintain relational satisfaction and emotional support during extended deployments or assignments.
How do LGBT couples maintain relational satisfaction and emotional support during extended deployments or assignments?
The research on LGBT military families suggests that a sense of security in their relationship and commitment to each other can help lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members maintain relational satisfaction and emotional support despite extended deployments or assignments. The deployment can be challenging for all types of relationships but may pose additional difficulties for those who are part of minority groups due to unique experiences such as isolation and discrimination.