When a military couple is apart for an extended deployment, it can be challenging to maintain relational satisfaction and psychosexual harmony.
There are strategies that can help them stay connected and fulfill their physical and emotional needs during these periods of separation.
One strategy is to communicate regularly and openly about expectations and desires. This means discussing what each partner wants and needs from the relationship while they're apart, including sexual interests and desires. It also involves setting boundaries and agreeing on rules for contact, such as how often they will speak and when they will exchange texts or emails.
Partners should set aside time for virtual dates, phone calls, and video chats to keep the romance alive.
Another important factor is to make time for self-care and personal growth during deployments. This includes spending time alone to pursue hobbies, exercise, meditate, read, or take classes. Partners should also maintain healthy habits like eating well, getting enough sleep, and managing stress levels. They may find support through friends, family, religious or spiritual communities, therapy, or online groups.
Couples should prepare emotionally for reunion. This means anticipating possible changes in communication styles, intimacy, and roles within the relationship. Military service members may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can impact their behavior and mental state. Partners should be patient, understanding, and willing to adapt to new circumstances. Reunions can be overwhelming, so it's crucial to take things slowly and give each other space and time to adjust.
Maintaining relational satisfaction and psychosexual harmony during military separations requires effort and commitment from both partners. By communicating clearly, prioritizing self-care, preparing for reunions, and seeking help if needed, military couples can weather separation periods with confidence and resilience.
How do military couples maintain relational satisfaction and psychosexual harmony when deployments create cycles of separation and reunion?
Military couples experience various challenges that make it difficult for them to maintain relational satisfaction and psychosexual harmony during times of deployment. Deployment can disrupt their daily routine, communication patterns, and intimacy levels. Moreover, there are often long periods of time between reunions where they may have to go weeks without seeing each other, which can cause resentment, distrust, and jealousy to build up.