Relational Touch refers to physical contact between individuals that goes beyond mere physical pleasure or sensual gratification. It involves an emotional connection, which can create a feeling of trust and safety in a relationship. For veterans who have experienced trauma-related dissociation, such connections are essential in reestablishing emotional safety and healing from their traumatic experiences. Dissociation is a mental process whereby people feel detached from their thoughts, feelings, memories, and surroundings. They may also experience distortion of time and space, leading to feelings of unreality and confusion. This state often occurs when someone has been exposed to intense stressors or trauma. Relational touch can help alleviate this sense of separation, bringing them back into the present moment and helping them connect with others again. Here are some ways relational touch can contribute to emotional safety for veterans who have experienced trauma-related dissociation:
1. Establishes Trust: Relational touch creates a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of being judged or rejected. By establishing trust through physical closeness and intimacy, they can begin to trust again, opening up emotionally and mentally. This allows them to share their experiences freely and work through them more effectively.
2. Promotes Emotional Connection: Physical contact releases oxytocin, the "love hormone," promoting feelings of warmth and attachment. The release of oxytocin during sexual encounters can lead to increased social bonding and intimacy between partners. As veterans open up emotionally and physically, they develop stronger bonds with their partners, which contributes to a greater sense of security and belongingness.
3. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Touch is known to reduce cortisol levels in the body, lowering stress and anxiety levels. For veterans struggling with PTSD symptoms like hypervigilance and insomnia, regular touch from their partner can help regulate these symptoms and improve sleep quality. It also reduces pain and inflammation associated with chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
4. Increases Self-Esteem: When someone feels valued by another person, their self-esteem increases significantly. Relational touch reinforces this feeling, making veterans feel loved and appreciated for who they are rather than just what they do. This helps them see themselves positively and makes it easier for them to form healthy relationships outside of the military environment.
5. Helps Heal Trauma Symptoms: Studies have shown that touch therapy can be beneficial for individuals experiencing trauma symptoms. By stimulating positive memories through physical contact, relational touch can help alleviate flashbacks and nightmares caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This can help them heal from past experiences and move forward towards emotional safety.
Relational touch plays an essential role in reestablishing emotional safety for veterans who have experienced trauma-related dissociation. Through physical closeness and intimacy, they can establish trust, promote emotional connection, decrease stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem, and heal from trauma symptoms. These benefits make relational touch an integral part of the recovery process for many veterans struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues.
What role does relational touch play in reestablishing emotional safety for veterans who have experienced trauma-related dissociation?
Touch can be an important factor in establishing a feeling of emotional safety for some veterans who have experienced trauma-related dissociation. Touch has been shown to increase levels of oxytocin, which is known as the "love hormone" and promotes feelings of trust and security between individuals. In addition, tactile stimulation releases serotonin, another neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood and reducing anxiety.