Soldiers are trained in many skills related to combat, such as marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, navigation, tactics, leadership, etc.
They are rarely taught how to recognize and understand their partner's emotions, especially when those emotions are influenced by traumatic experiences. This article will discuss why this is an issue and what soldiers can do about it.
Let's examine how trauma affects cognitive processing in soldiers. When someone has experienced trauma, their brain may be less able to process information accurately. They might have difficulty recognizing facial expressions, body language, or vocal inflections that would normally indicate a partner's mood.
They may become more sensitive to certain stimuli, which could cause them to react irrationally to things like loud noises or bright lights.
They may experience flashbacks or nightmares, which can disrupt sleep and make it harder for them to concentrate during waking hours.
When these factors combine, it becomes difficult for soldiers to interpret their partners' emotional signals correctly.
If a soldier misinterprets a look of concern as anger, they may respond with aggression instead of understanding. If they hear their partner say something positive but can't focus due to PTSD symptoms, they might not fully comprehend the message. If a soldier is struggling with intrusive thoughts from a previous battle, they may lash out at their partner without realizing that they are just trying to help them cope.
So how can soldiers navigate this situation? Firstly, they should practice active listening skills. Listening actively means paying close attention to your partner's words and tone of voice while also considering their nonverbal cues. This requires concentration and effort but is crucial when dealing with potentially life-threatening situations. Secondly, soldiers should ask clarifying questions. Instead of assuming what their partner means, they should ask questions to confirm their understanding. Thirdly, they should express themselves clearly and concisely so that there is less room for confusion. Lastly, soldiers must take responsibility for their own emotions. It's important to recognize when you need time alone to process traumatic experiences before engaging in intimate relationships.
Cognitive processing difficulties caused by trauma exposure can interfere with interpreting and responding appropriately to one's partner's emotional signals. Soldiers who want to maintain healthy relationships must be aware of this issue and work on improving communication skills through active listening, asking clarifying questions, expressing themselves clearly, and taking care of their own emotional needs.
How do soldiers interpret and respond to partners' emotional signals when cognitive processing is affected by trauma exposure?
Soldiers may experience difficulty interpreting their partner's emotions due to traumatic experiences as they struggle with cognitive processing. They are likely to perceive their partner's emotions differently than before due to changes in memory, perception, and decision making. Trauma survivors have been shown to be less responsive to social cues, including facial expressions and body language, leading them to misinterpret nonverbal cues that would typically signal negative emotions (e.