Soldiers are trained to maintain an unemotional demeanor under all circumstances. Their training emphasizes efficiency and obedience over intuition and personal feelings. But despite their discipline and bravery, they have personal desires that can conflict with their professional duties.
A soldier might be deployed to a distant country where they meet someone who becomes special to them but must leave them behind when their tour ends. Or they may become close to another soldier while away from home but feel guilty about expressing these feelings due to military regulations. This emotional dissonance can cause guilt, anxiety, and stress for soldiers. Here's how they navigate it:
1. Embrace their dual roles: Soldiers recognize that their role as a professional requires them to put aside personal desires and focus on duty. They accept this tension between their private lives and military responsibilities. Some learn to compartmentalize their feelings into separate boxes, others practice mindfulness or meditation to cope with conflicting thoughts. The key is to acknowledge both parts of themselves without giving too much attention to either.
2. Focus on what they can control: While soldiers cannot change their deployment orders or policies, they can control their reactions. They can set boundaries in relationships and prioritize work tasks above personal ones. They can also seek support from friends or family to help manage their emotions.
3. Make time for self-care: Even when a soldier's life seems full of action, they need to take care of themselves physically and emotionally. Regular exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and socializing all contribute to mental well-being. Awareness of one's own needs helps avoid burnout and depression, which can impair performance.
4. Communicate openly: When necessary, soldiers should communicate honestly with superiors and peers about the conflict between their roles. They can ask for accommodations such as less travel or more time off if needed. But they must be tactful and respectful of rules and protocols. Transparency builds trust and understanding among team members.
5. Seek counseling: Military personnel have access to mental health services, including therapy, stress management classes, and peer support groups. These resources can provide an outlet for difficult emotions and strategies for coping. Counselors are trained professionals who understand military culture and can offer confidential guidance.
6. Maintain perspective:
Soldiers recognize that military service is temporary but their lives are not. They will return home eventually, where they can pursue personal goals while still honoring their commitment to duty. By balancing both parts of themselves, they can live fulfilling lives both on and off base.
How do soldiers navigate emotional dissonance between professional roles and personal desires?
During wartime, soldiers often struggle with the discrepancy between their private wishes and professional obligations, which can lead to significant mental anguish. The individual's emotional state is directly impacted by this dilemma of self-identity, causing feelings of guilt, distress, or even identity crisis. One way to address these issues is by seeking social support from family members and peers who understand the unique challenges faced during military service.