Sexual Desire After Deployment
Deployments can have profound effects on soldiers' mental health and emotional wellbeing. They are often exposed to extreme stressors such as combat, injury, trauma, and separation from family members for extended periods of time. These experiences can lead to a range of psychological issues including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Deployment also has physical consequences, including sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, digestive problems, and muscle aches. In addition to these challenges, deployments can significantly impact the long-term sexual desire and relational satisfaction of soldiers.
Effects on Sexual Desire
Soldiers experience changes in their sexual desires after deployment due to various reasons. First, they may feel disconnected from their partners while away, which can lead to decreased interest in sex upon return. This is because relationships are based on intimacy, which includes physical and emotional closeness. When soldiers are deployed, they become distant from their partner, leading to less intimate communication and affection.
Soldiers may experience guilt about being away from home, which can affect their feelings towards their partner. Second, repeated deployments can cause chronic fatigue, making it difficult to find the energy or motivation for sex. Soldiers are constantly on edge, with little rest between missions. As a result, they may feel exhausted all the time and lack the drive necessary for sexual engagement.
Some soldiers develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following deployments, which can further reduce their desire for intimacy. PTSD often involves symptoms like avoidance behavior, hypervigilance, and re-experiencing trauma through intrusive memories. These symptoms can make it hard for soldiers to connect emotionally with their partners, leading to decreased libido.
Relational Satisfaction
The effects of deployments on relational satisfaction are also significant. Deployments can strain even the most solid relationships. Partners may feel neglected, lonely, and uncertain when their loved one is away. They worry about safety and survival and struggle to communicate effectively during long periods apart. This can create resentment and frustration, damaging the relationship over time. Repeated deployments can exacerbate these issues as soldiers become more distanced and withdrawn, leading to greater distance in the relationship. In addition, soldiers returning from deployment may experience a sense of loss of self or disconnect from civilian life, making it harder to relate to family members and friends who have not experienced warfare.
Deployments can significantly impact the health and stability of both individuals involved in the relationship.
In what ways do repeated deployments impact long-term sexual desire and relational satisfaction?
The number of military personnel who have been deployed multiple times has increased over the past few decades. Although there is limited research on this topic, available studies suggest that prolonged periods of separation from one's partner may negatively affect long-term relationships (e. g. , lower levels of intimacy and closeness). Furthermore, stress and trauma associated with deployment can impair physical health and well-being, which may further reduce sexual motivation and arousal.