Intimacy is an essential part of every human being's life. It helps individuals experience love, care, trust, warmth, affection, connection, and security.
This sense of safety can become the primary space for a person to feel emotionally open when they are a service member, especially if they have been deployed. When a service member returns home after deployment, they may struggle with feelings of dissociation, guilt, shame, anger, fear, grief, loneliness, anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation. These emotions are normal responses that need to be addressed through therapy and support from family members. When intimacy becomes the primary space where a service member feels safe enough to be emotionally open, psychological transformations occur. They may include increased self-awareness, improved communication skills, greater emotional regulation abilities, enhanced relationship satisfaction, heightened emotional intelligence, and better social functioning. Intimacy provides a secure base for people to explore their needs, desires, and experiences without judgment or criticism from others. This can lead to deeper understanding and acceptance of oneself and others, resulting in stronger bonds between partners. The intimate relationship offers a safe haven for couples to express vulnerability and share secrets without risking rejection or abandonment. By sharing experiences, thoughts, and feelings within intimacy, service members develop trust and closeness with their partner, leading to increased intimacy, attachment, commitment, loyalty, respect, and admiration.
Intimacy plays an essential role in mental health and wellbeing as it helps service members process traumatic events and recover from psychological distress. It promotes resilience by providing comfort, stability, hope, healing, meaningfulness, purpose, belongingness, and community. Therefore, intimacy is crucial for individuals who have experienced trauma while serving in the military because it allows them to feel heard, seen, valued, accepted, supported, loved, and understood during challenging times.
What psychological transformations occur when intimacy becomes the primary space where a service member feels safe enough to be emotionally open?
Intimacy provides individuals with a sense of safety that allows them to feel comfortable being vulnerable and expressing their feelings. This can create a support system where they are able to rely on another person for emotional connection and validation. When someone is able to share personal experiences with another individual who is also open and willing to listen, it can promote a deep level of trust and understanding. In some cases, this may lead to the development of strong bonds between two people.