The concept of relational endurance is often associated with military personnel who have to navigate through difficult times while maintaining healthy relationships.
It can also be applied to individuals who experience tough situations in their personal lives. Relational endurance means being able to sustain strong bonds despite challenges that may arise due to work stress, illness, separation, or distance. It entails understanding one's partner's feelings, needs, and desires, communicating effectively, setting boundaries, and being flexible when necessary. Emotional suppression, on the other hand, involves suppressing negative emotions and feelings rather than expressing them openly. While service members may interpret these concepts differently, they are closely related because emotional suppression can lead to disconnection from others if left unchecked.
Service members must learn how to cope with stressors such as deployment separations and trauma exposure during their time in the military. This requires developing resilience skills like problem-solving, self-regulation, and social support.
Some individuals may develop coping strategies that involve avoidance or repression instead of expression, which can harm their relationships.
A soldier who returns home after deployment may experience difficulty reconnecting emotionally with loved ones due to depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may bottle up their feelings out of fear of judgment or shame, leading to isolation and loneliness. To address this issue, veterans should seek professional help and communicate openly about their experiences with family members and friends.
Emotional suppression is not necessarily bad in all cases - it can be a way for individuals to protect themselves from pain or embarrassment. But when used excessively, it can cause distress and interfere with intimacy. Service members need to find a balance between expressing emotions and setting healthy boundaries to maintain strong bonds with partners. They can do this by practicing mindfulness techniques, seeking therapy, and building trust through honesty and transparency. By recognizing the difference between relational endurance and emotional suppression, service members can strengthen their relationships and improve mental health outcomes.
How do service members interpret relational endurance as adaptability or emotional suppression?
The way that military members may perceive relational endurance is not only dependent on their individual experiences but also how they were raised and trained in the armed forces. The concept of emotional suppression can be seen as an important part of a soldier's training as it helps them cope with difficult situations while serving their country. Adaptability refers to the ability to adjust to new circumstances and environments, which is often necessary for soldiers who are constantly moving from one place to another.