Sexual abuse can be described as unwanted sexual activity forced upon someone without their consent. It is a prevalent problem in many societies and has several short-term and long-term effects. Soldiers are particularly vulnerable to it due to their exposure to violence, war, and trauma. Sexual assault survivors often experience difficulties in close relationships such as romantic ones. They may question whether they can trust anyone, feel anxious when expressing feelings, fear intimacy, and lack self-esteem.
Soldiers redefine what intimacy means for them after experiencing combat trauma and learn new ways of relating to others in their personal lives. This paper explores how soldiers' models of intimacy change after experiencing sexual assault, focusing on how this impacts closeness, connection, and emotional reciprocity between partners.
Intimacy involves sharing private thoughts, feelings, experiences, needs, and desires with another person. It requires mutual understanding, empathy, and respect. After being sexually assaulted, soldiers may become distrustful of others, which makes it difficult to build intimate connections. As a result, some veterans withdraw from social interactions or engage in risky behavior that further harms their mental health. Others try to control their environment and those around them to prevent more traumatic experiences. These behaviors make it hard to connect meaningfully with other people.
Closeness refers to physical and emotional proximity between individuals. Sexual abuse survivors may develop trust issues that cause them to avoid closeness. Survivors may also have difficulty communicating their needs and boundaries, making it challenging to create space for intimacy. Veterans may find themselves feeling isolated even when surrounded by loved ones. They may struggle to receive comfort and support during times of stress, leading to depression or anxiety.
Emotional reciprocity entails the exchange of emotions between two parties in a relationship. Soldiers who experience sexual assault may question whether they are worthy of love and belonging, affecting their self-esteem and ability to give and receive affection. In addition, these individuals may fear rejection or abandonment if their partner leaves them due to their trauma. This can lead to manipulation tactics such as gaslighting or stonewalling, making relationships unstable.
How do soldiers reimagine intimacy after trauma disrupts internal models of closeness, connection, and emotional reciprocity?
Soldiers often experience an array of mental health issues as a result of their time at war, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. These conditions can cause individuals to feel isolated from others around them and distant from those they care about most. When this happens, it can be difficult for them to imagine intimacy and closeness with anyone else because they have become so used to being alone with their thoughts and feelings.