After returning home from deployment, many soldiers find themselves struggling to adjust back into civilian life and face challenges in their personal and professional lives. This can put a strain on their relationship with their partner, who may feel isolated and unsupported during this time.
There are strategies that partners can use to help support each other's mental health and build resiliency within their relationship. In this article, we will discuss ways that partners can maintain relational resilience when soldiers' post-deployment emotional development is nonlinear.
One way partners can support their soldier's emotional development is by being present and attentive. This means actively listening to them and engaging in meaningful conversation, even if they don't want to talk about their experiences right away. Partners should also avoid making assumptions about what their soldier is going through and be patient with them as they process their feelings. By creating a safe space for their soldier to open up, partners can show them that they care and are willing to listen without judgment.
Another strategy for building relational resilience is to prioritize self-care. Partners can take breaks to focus on their own well-being, whether it's through exercising, practicing meditation or mindfulness, spending time with friends or family, or pursuing hobbies. Taking time for oneself can help reduce stress and prevent burnout, allowing partners to be more present and engaged with their soldier when they need them most.
Partners can also practice empathy and understanding towards their soldier's experiences. They should try to understand the unique challenges that come with military life, including the physical and psychological toll of deployment, the impact of trauma, and the pressures of reintegration into civilian life. By acknowledging these difficulties and showing compassion, partners can create a supportive environment where their soldier feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Partners can seek outside support from organizations like Military OneSource or local VA resources to better understand their partner's needs and get help managing stress. These services provide free counseling, financial planning assistance, and other resources to support veterans and their families during this transition period.
Maintaining relational resilience requires patience, communication, self-care, and an awareness of one another's emotional needs. By actively listening, being patient, taking time for themselves, practicing empathy, and seeking outside support when needed, partners can build a strong foundation for their relationship that will weather any storm.
How do partners maintain relational resilience when soldiers' post-deployment emotional development is nonlinear?
Relationship resilience can be maintained through various means such as communication, trust building, mutual understanding, support, shared values, and prioritizing each other's needs. When a soldier returns from deployment, their emotional state may change suddenly due to various factors like trauma exposure, social isolation, or family separation. This nonlinear emotional development might affect the couple's relationship dynamics, causing distress or friction.