Sexual intimacy is an essential part of life for most individuals. It is often seen as a way to express love, build trust, and strengthen bonds between partners.
When military personnel are deployed away from their loved ones for extended periods, it can be challenging to maintain these intimate connections. Despite this, research has shown that sexual intimacy can still provide benefits during deployment.
Intimacy allows couples to stay connected emotionally and physically despite being apart. This connection helps prevent feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression that may arise due to separation. Studies have found that regular communication, sharing personal thoughts, and discussing relationship issues through phone calls, emails, video chats, and letters increase emotional closeness.
Some studies have found that physical contact such as kissing, hugging, and touching help reduce stress levels associated with deployment. Sex also releases oxytocin which creates a sense of comfort and security while improving mood and reducing cortisol levels responsible for causing stress.
Couples who engage in sex regularly report greater resilience than those who do not. When deployed, people feel less overwhelmed by life's demands and more able to cope with difficulties. They experience fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders than those who don't engage in intimacy. Physical intimacy provides relief from the stressors of deployment and reduces the impact on mental health.
Sexual activity releases endorphins that promote well-being and happiness. It lowers blood pressure and heart rate, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease caused by high-stress situations like deployments. It also promotes relaxation, relieves tension, and increases energy levels.
Sexual intimacy can be challenging during deployment since it requires privacy, time, and resources not always available.
Creative solutions exist. Some couples send erotic texts or messages to each other. Others use Skype or Zoom to share sexual experiences live. Military spouses and partners may even arrange dates at home alone to stay connected with their partner during deployment.
Sexual intimacy is an essential part of maintaining psychological stability during deployment. Regular communication, physical contact, and emotional connection provide benefits to both individuals.
What role does sexual intimacy play in maintaining resilience and psychological stability during deployment?
The importance of physical connection with another person is widely recognized as beneficial for human beings' overall mental health. Sexual intimacy can serve as one such form of connecting with others and can provide comfort and support during periods of intense stress or anxiety.