Soldiers are required to face challenging situations that can be extremely distressing for them and their loved ones. When soldiers return home after deployment, they may suffer from mental health issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder. Their families also go through significant changes due to their absence during deployment. These changes can have negative consequences on family life, leading to increased conflict and decreased satisfaction. In addition, when partners experience secondary trauma or stress caused by their soldier's deployment, it can lead to further emotional strain and difficulty maintaining relational resilience. Relationships between soldiers and their partners require effort and commitment even under ideal circumstances; however, these factors complicate matters even more. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand how soldiers can strengthen the bond with their partners and maintain relational resilience. This article will discuss various strategies that soldiers can adopt to support their partners and ensure healthy relationships after deployment.
Strategies to Maintain Relational Resilience
Soldiers should prioritize communication with their partners. Regular communication allows couples to express their feelings, concerns, hopes, and fears, thereby promoting understanding and empathy. It also provides a sense of closeness and intimacy, which is essential for sustaining a relationship. Therefore, soldiers must make time to talk to their partners regularly, even if they are deployed abroad. They can do so by scheduling daily video calls or sharing pictures and videos of their experiences. Moreover, soldiers must show interest in their partner's lives and ask questions about their day-to-day activities. By doing so, they demonstrate that they care about them and value their opinions.
Another strategy is to practice active listening. Active listening involves giving undivided attention to your partner without interrupting or offering advice until they have finished speaking. It shows that you are interested in what they have to say and want to understand them better. Active listening also helps to resolve conflicts as both parties feel heard and understood. Soldiers must learn this skill through training and actively apply it when communicating with their partners.
Soldiers must avoid blaming their partner for any problems or difficulties in the relationship. Blame creates distance between partners, leading to resentment and bitterness. Instead, they should focus on solving issues collaboratively. When resolving disagreements, soldiers should seek compromises rather than forcing their views on their partner. This approach enables them to work together towards a mutually beneficial solution.
Soldiers can maintain relational resilience by showing appreciation for their partner's efforts in supporting them during deployment. Appreciation is vital for building trust and commitment in a relationship. Therefore, soldiers must thank their partners for being there for them, whether it is through words or actions.
They can surprise their partners with small gestures such as flowers, cards, or gifts. These gestures show that they care about their loved ones even though they cannot be present physically.
Soldiers should try to spend quality time with their partners when possible. Physical closeness is crucial for maintaining intimacy in a relationship; therefore, they must find ways to connect with their partner physically. They can do so by going out on dates, cuddling, watching movies, or engaging in other activities that promote emotional bonding.
If physical contact is not possible due to distance, soldiers can still stay connected virtually by sending flirty messages or sexting.
Soldiers must keep their promises and follow through with plans made with their partners. Following through shows reliability and commitment, which are essential qualities in any relationship. Soldiers who make promises but fail to deliver may cause distrust and disappointment in their partners, leading to further strain. It would help if they honored commitments, both big and small, to demonstrate their dedication to the relationship.
Soldiers must adopt various strategies to support their partners and maintain relational resilience after deployment. Communicating regularly, practicing active listening, avoiding blame, showing appreciation, spending quality time together, and following through with promises will help strengthen the bond between them and their partners. By doing so, they create a healthy and sustainable relationship that promotes mental well-being and happiness.
How do soldiers maintain relational resilience when partners experience secondary trauma or stress?
In the military context, both male and female soldiers may encounter various difficulties such as anxiety, depression, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), etc. , that may negatively impact their personal relationships with spouses, partners, family members, friends, etc.