How can military couples maintain intimacy while apart?
Being deployed for an extended time away from one's partner is difficult. For military couples, this situation poses unique challenges related to their relationship and family life. It takes effort and creativity to keep the spark alive between partners when they are separated by thousands of miles. Military spouses need to find ways to stay connected and maintain emotional resilience during deployment. Here are some strategies that can help couples sustain trust, intimacy, and emotional resilience during deployments.
Communication
Communicating regularly with your partner is essential to building and maintaining trust, even if it means using email, text messages, phone calls, or video chats instead of face-to-face interactions. The Department of Defense has a free service called MilConnect which allows families to send unlimited emails, texts, and instant messages to each other. It also offers a Family Readiness Group feature where loved ones can share photos and updates. Military families should set aside regular times for communication and plan activities around them. This will give both partners something to look forward to and anticipate.
Showing appreciation
It's important for military spouses to show gratitude and respect for their partners' sacrifices. Send letters or care packages, make videos or recordings, or write love notes to let your partner know how much you appreciate him/her. You can also express your feelings in writing to be read later or leave messages on social media platforms like Snapchat or Instagram. Remember that even small gestures go a long way towards strengthening relationships.
Staying busy
Military spouses who have more time on their hands may find themselves feeling lonely and bored. To combat this, try finding new hobbies or interests that fill the void left by their partner's absence. Join an online forum or support group for military families, volunteer at a local charity, take up yoga or meditation, learn a new language, or reconnect with old friends. Staying active and engaged can help reduce stress and keep one's mind off missing your partner.
Setting boundaries
Deployment can take a toll on a relationship, leading to tension and disagreements. Couples need to establish clear boundaries for their interactions so that they don't get too personal or push each other's buttons. Set limits on topics of conversation, especially if discussing sensitive subjects like finances, parenting styles, or family dynamics. Avoid arguing over petty issues and focus on maintaining a positive outlook. It's also essential to give yourself permission to say 'no' when needed to avoid burnout.
Prioritizing self-care
Couples should prioritize self-care during deployment. Military spouses need to make sure they are taking care of themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Make time for exercise, nutritious meals, restful sleep, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization, and spiritual practices like prayer or meditation. This will help reduce anxiety and improve mood.
Maintaining intimacy, trust, and emotional resilience in a military relationship requires effort and creativity. By using communication tools, showing appreciation, staying busy, setting boundaries, and focusing on self-care, couples can weather the storm together. With patience and commitment, any couple can navigate the challenges of military life and come out stronger than ever before.
What strategies allow couples to sustain emotional resilience, trust, and intimacy during deployments?
The deployment of military personnel has become an increasingly common occurrence in modern society. For many couples, such separations can pose significant challenges to their emotional resilience, trust, and intimacy. Fortunately, there are several strategies that can help couples maintain these crucial components of their relationship despite the distance between them. One strategy is to develop a comprehensive communication plan before the deployment begins. This includes deciding on how often they will communicate (e. g.