Soldiers have to go through intense training programs that teach them how to suppress emotions such as fear, sadness, guilt, anger, and disgust so they can perform their duties effectively.
This often leads to difficulties in regulating emotions when they are back home and can cause problems in intimate relationships. In order to rebuild trust in their ability to feel and express emotions safely, soldiers need to learn new ways of coping with stressful situations, communicate openly and honestly with loved ones about their feelings, seek support from family members and mental health professionals, and practice self-care activities like meditation and exercise.
One way for soldiers to cope is to develop new strategies to manage their emotions. This involves identifying triggers that cause negative emotions and finding alternative responses that do not involve aggression or withdrawal.
Instead of ignoring someone who upsets you, try acknowledging your emotions and talking calmly about what's bothering you. Another strategy is mindfulness exercises like deep breathing and grounding techniques that help focus attention on the present moment rather than ruminating on past experiences. It also helps to engage in physical activity to release tension and regulate mood.
Communication is key to building trust in expressing emotions. Soldiers should be open with their partners about what makes them feel happy, sad, angry, or scared without fear of judgment or criticism. They must listen actively and respond empathetically by validating the other person's feelings. This requires active listening skills like reflective statements, paraphrasing, and asking questions to understand each other better. Soldiers should also practice self-compassion by being gentle with themselves when experiencing difficult emotions and allowing themselves time to process them before reacting impulsively.
Seeking professional help can provide a safe space to explore emotional issues and receive guidance on how to improve communication and coping mechanisms. Mental health providers offer evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused counseling to address specific concerns like PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and relationship problems.
Family members play an important role in supporting soldiers through these challenges by providing unconditional love and support while recognizing their unique struggles related to deployment and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How do soldiers rebuild trust in their ability to feel and express emotions safely?
Soldiers can take several steps to rebuild their ability to feel and express emotions safely after trauma. Firstly, they should identify and acknowledge the emotions they are experiencing. Secondly, they should practice mindfulness techniques that help them regulate their feelings. Thirdly, they should seek professional support from mental health professionals who can provide them with effective therapies and treatments.