The ability to communicate about sex is an important aspect of healthy sexual functioning.
People who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience challenges when it comes to talking about their sex lives with partners due to the symptoms that this condition causes.
Some individuals suffering from PTSD might feel numbness or lack of emotions, which makes them less likely to express themselves during intercourse. This can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction for both partners involved in the relationship.
PTSD sufferers often engage in avoidance behaviors such as isolation, which also hampers communication with loved ones about sexual preferences and needs.
Veterans diagnosed with chronic PTSD may be particularly susceptible to these difficulties because they are more likely to experience trauma than those without a history of warfare exposure. In particular, veterans with PTSD are twice as likely to report problems communicating about their sexual desires compared to civilians who do not have the disorder (Khanna et al., 2018). Therefore, understanding what psychological mechanisms contribute to difficulties in sexual communication among veterans with chronic PTSD is crucial for developing effective interventions for couples therapy and treatment planning.
In order to understand how psychological mechanisms affect sexual communication among veterans with chronic PTSD, researchers examined the role of different factors, including negative self-image, avoidance behavior, hypervigilance, and dissociation. Negative self-image refers to feelings of shame, guilt, and anxiety associated with sexual activity due to past experiences or cultural beliefs. Avoidance behavior involves actively avoiding situations where one feels uncomfortable or embarrassed, while hypervigilance means being overly attentive to environmental cues that might trigger distressful memories.
Dissociation describes detachment from one's body and emotional states during intimate encounters.
The study found that veterans with chronic PTSD often struggle with all four mechanisms when it comes to sexual communication.
They reported feeling ashamed and guilty about engaging in sex due to negative self-image issues, which led them to avoid conversations about their preferences and needs altogether. They also experienced heightened arousal levels during sexual activities, leading to distorted perceptions of reality and difficulty expressing themselves verbally.
Some participants reported feeling numb or disconnected from their bodies during intercourse, making it challenging to communicate effectively with partners.
Traumatic events were associated with increased levels of dissociation during sex, which further hindered communication between veterans and their partners. In fact, dissociation has been shown to be a major contributor to poor sexual functioning among individuals diagnosed with PTSD (Chang et al., 2017). As such, addressing this mechanism through cognitive-behavioral therapy may help improve sexual satisfaction among those affected by the condition.
This research highlights how psychological mechanisms can contribute to difficulties in sexual communication among veterans with chronic PTSD. By understanding these factors, clinicians can develop more effective interventions for couples therapy and treatment planning for this population.
What psychological mechanisms contribute to difficulties in sexual communication among veterans with chronic PTSD?
Although there are various reasons for difficulties in sexual communication between veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), research has found that one of the primary contributing factors is hypervigilance. This mechanism may affect both the cognitive and behavioral aspects of sexual communication, making it difficult for these individuals to focus on their partners' needs and respond appropriately.