In the military, soldiers experience various forms of stressors that may negatively impact their relationships with family members and loved ones. These stressors include exposure to combat, death, injury, redeployment, deployment separation, and frequent moves. According to research, these stressors can lead to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and relationship difficulties. In addition, fatigue and trauma can cause strain in soldier-partner relations due to sleep deprivation, hypervigilance, and increased irritability.
Partner absence can exacerbate relational issues caused by stress and fatigue. To cope with relational strain, soldiers must adopt effective coping strategies, seek social support, maintain open communication with partners, engage in healthy activities, and prioritize their wellbeing.
Fatigue, Trauma, and Relationship Strain
The combination of physical and psychological exhaustion experienced by soldiers in the military is referred to as fatigue. Fatigue can manifest in many ways, including decreased energy levels, feelings of tiredness or lethargy, difficulty concentrating, reduced motivation, and changes in appetite. This condition can negatively affect a soldier's ability to connect with others emotionally and physically. Soldiers who are tired tend to be less attentive to their partners and less responsive to their needs. Consequently, this can result in misunderstandings, arguments, and distance in the relationship.
Trauma from combat experiences can cause emotional distress that may spill over into personal relationships. The effects of trauma include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, intrusive thoughts, and emotional numbing. These symptoms can create tension between a soldier and his/her partner as they attempt to manage their reactions to traumatic memories. As such, soldiers may withdraw from their loved ones or become distant and unavailable due to their PTSD-related symptoms.
These symptoms can erode intimacy and trust within a relationship.
Partner Absence
In addition to fatigue and trauma, frequent moves and deployment separations can strain soldier-partner relations. Partner absence creates emotional distance and loneliness, which may lead to jealousy, frustration, and resentment. When a soldier is away for an extended period, it can be difficult to maintain physical and emotional connections.
Some studies have shown that long-distance couples can benefit from regular communication and virtual contact through video chats, text messages, and phone calls.
Coping Strategies
To cope with relational stress caused by fatigue, trauma, or partner absence, soldiers must adopt effective coping strategies. One strategy is to engage in healthy activities that help them relax and de-stress. This includes exercise, yoga, meditation, hobbies, and leisure activities. Engaging in these activities can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and promote overall wellbeing.
Soldiers should seek social support from friends, family members, and mental health professionals. Sharing experiences and concerns with others can help soldiers process their emotions and gain new perspectives on their relationships.
Communication is key in any relationship. Soldiers should strive to keep the lines of communication open with their partners and discuss their needs, fears, and expectations. By being honest and transparent, soldiers can build stronger bonds and avoid misunderstandings.
Relational difficulties are common among military personnel due to exposure to combat, injury, redeployment, deployment separation, and frequent moves. These factors can cause symptoms such as PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and sleep deprivation. As a result, soldiers may struggle to connect emotionally and physically with their loved ones. To cope with relational strain, they must adopt effective coping strategies, seek social support, maintain open communication, and prioritize self-care. By doing so, soldiers can strengthen their relationships and support each other through challenging times.
How do soldiers cope with relational strain caused by trauma, fatigue, or partner absence?
Soldiers often experience significant relational strains due to their jobs, which can be both emotionally taxing and physically dangerous. These pressures may lead to feelings of isolation, fear, anger, anxiety, depression, guilt, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is especially true for those who have recently returned from deployment and are adjusting back into civilian life after experiencing combat situations.