During deployment, military personnel often experience significant emotional separations from their loved ones, which can disrupt communication patterns between them. This phenomenon is known as "deployment separation anxiety" and it affects both the soldier's ability to communicate effectively with their family and friends back home and their own psychological well-being. Fortunately, there are strategies that soldiers can employ to reestablish these communication patterns and ease the effects of deployment separation anxiety.
One strategy for restoring communication patterns disrupted by deployment is to maintain consistent and regular contact with loved ones through phone calls, video chats, emails, and letters. Soldiers should also make an effort to stay connected with their social networks back home, attending reunions and keeping up with their friends' lives. Another effective approach is to plan ahead and schedule specific times when they will be available for communication with their loved ones, such as weekly check-ins or regular video chats.
In addition to maintaining communication with loved ones, soldiers may find it helpful to participate in activities that promote connection and intimacy, such as writing letters, sharing stories and experiences, reading books together, and engaging in shared hobbies. These activities help to reinforce a sense of closeness and familiarity despite physical distance, making it easier to restore communication patterns once the soldier returns home.
Another important aspect of restoring communication patterns after deployment is recognizing and addressing any changes in behavior or communication style.
Some soldiers may become more quiet or distant upon returning home, while others may struggle to express themselves clearly due to emotional trauma. It is essential for families and loved ones to be patient and understanding during this period, acknowledging the difficulties that deployment has created without placing blame on either party. By working together to understand each other's needs and expectations, couples and families can rebuild trust and openness within their relationship, which can help to reestablish healthy communication patterns.
Some military personnel may benefit from seeking professional help to address the emotional effects of deployment separation anxiety. This could involve therapy sessions or support groups where individuals can share their experiences and receive guidance from trained professionals. In particular, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques have been shown to be effective in treating post-deployment stress disorder, which is often associated with deployment separation anxiety.
The process of restoring communication patterns disrupted by deployment requires effort, patience, and understanding from all parties involved.
With consistent effort and attention, these strategies can help military personnel and their loved ones reconnect and maintain strong relationships despite the challenges posed by deployment separation anxiety.
How do soldiers work to restore communication patterns disrupted by the emotional separation created by deployment?
Soldiers typically utilize multiple strategies to reestablish their connection with loved ones who are deployed, which often includes communicating more frequently through digital means such as video calls, texts, emails, social media posts, and phone calls.