Sexual deprivation is a lack of fulfillment due to a decrease in one's ability to experience pleasure from intimate physical contact, such as kissing, touching, hugging, holding hands, and more. Deployment can affect a couple in many ways. It may cause them to feel lonely, anxious, depressed, frustrated, jealous, guilty, angry, resentful, fearful, unappreciated, isolated, misunderstood, helpless, hopeless, confused, or disconnected. Communication breakdown between deployed couples is common when it comes to intimacy issues. In this article, I will explore how the relational and psychological consequences of sexual deprivation impacted deployed couples.
Let's look at the relationship. When a man or woman is sexually denied, they are forced to find satisfaction elsewhere. This often means that they cheat, flirt, fantasize about others, engage in risky behavior like unsafe sex, or even become addicted to pornography or other forms of masturbation.
This creates a problem because their partner feels betrayed by their lover's infidelity and suffers from anxiety over whether their spouse might be hurt during deployment. They may become paranoid, suspicious, and doubt everything their partner says or does. In addition, they worry constantly that their significant other is not being faithful while away. This leads to distrust, anger, and resentment in the relationship.
The emotional consequences for deployed couples include depression, low self-esteem, confusion, shame, guilt, jealousy, loneliness, and frustration. These feelings create distance between partners who may begin to blame each other rather than themselves for the situation. It is essential to recognize that these problems stem from an external factor: the military life itself. While couples can try different strategies such as phone calls, video chats, letters, emails, social media, etc., there is no way around the fact that separation is stressful on both parties involved. Without physical contact with one another, it is difficult for intimacy to survive, leading to further isolation within the marriage.
I hope you have gained some insight into how sexual deprivation affects deployed couples emotionally and relationally. The best thing you can do is communicate openly and honestly with your partner about any fears or concerns you have regarding deployment-related issues such as intimacy or communication breakdowns.
Seek professional help if needed to work through any underlying issues related to your current state of mind. By doing so, you will make sure that when you return home after deployment ends, your relationship remains strong and healthy.
What are the relational and psychological consequences of sexual deprivation on deployed couples?
Deployed couples may experience negative effects on their relationships due to prolonged separation, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, jealousy, distrust, anger, and resentment. These emotions can have a significant impact on communication patterns, intimacy, and overall satisfaction within the relationship.