After being away from home for an extended period, many veterans find it difficult to adjust to their previous lives. They often have difficulty readjusting to society's norms, such as how to interact with friends and family members who may have changed since they left.
They must deal with physical injuries and emotional trauma that can impact their ability to form new relationships. These challenges make it harder for them to maintain healthy relationships with those around them and themselves.
One common problem is a disconnect between partners or spouses due to the absence of time spent together during deployment. This can create tension when one partner feels neglected or ignored while the other focuses on personal goals or interests unrelated to the relationship. Veterans returning from combat zones may also experience difficulties with intimacy due to changes in their sex drive or emotions after exposure to violence and stress. Their partner may feel rejected if they do not understand these issues or lack knowledge about PTSD symptoms associated with military service.
Veterans may struggle with communication because they are used to relying on commands instead of open dialogue within close relationships. This can cause misunderstandings between couples that result in arguments over minor things, leading to resentment and even divorce.
Some veterans become isolated by depression and anxiety following their return from war, which makes it hard for them to connect emotionally with anyone outside of their immediate family members.
Children born during military service may feel like outsiders when their father/mother comes home because he/she doesn't know how to relate to them as parents anymore due to being away so long; this could lead to distance between parent-child interactions and cause problems down the line if left unaddressed quickly enough.
Children who were raised without fathers present often have difficulty understanding why they suddenly appear at home after years apart, especially since there was no preparation beforehand regarding expectations for behavior or communication style differences between them now versus then.
How does the return to civilian life challenge previously established relational patterns?
Most individuals who have served in the military find it challenging to readjust into their previous civilian lifestyle after being away from home for an extended period of time. The transition back to civilian life may be overwhelming because they must reintegrate themselves with family members, friends, coworkers, and other people in society. Additionally, veterans may experience difficulty reestablishing prior relational patterns that were formed during their service.