The article explains how the experience of witnessing loss and suffering can affect the ability of soldiers to maintain an emotional connection with their partners. It argues that this experience can lead to feelings of disconnection, difficulty expressing emotions, and difficulties trusting others. These factors can create barriers to emotional closeness, making it difficult for soldiers to form meaningful relationships with their partners.
There are also ways to overcome these challenges through therapy, support groups, and open communication. By exploring these topics, the article provides insights into how soldiers can navigate the challenges of emotional intimacy after experiencing trauma.
The article begins by discussing the concept of emotional closeness, which is defined as the level of intimacy between individuals who share a deep connection beyond physical attraction. It notes that emotional closeness requires vulnerability and trust, and that soldiers may find it difficult to be vulnerable due to past experiences of betrayal or abandonment. This can make it hard for them to connect emotionally with their partner in the same way they did before serving.
The article describes the case study of Jack, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. After returning home, he struggled to connect with his wife, who had been waiting at home for him while he was deployed. He felt distant from her and found it difficult to communicate his thoughts and feelings. He even considered divorce but eventually sought help through counseling and discovered that he needed to work on his own issues before attempting to reconnect with his wife.
The article then explains the impact of witnessing loss and suffering on emotional closeness. It states that soldiers often experience traumatic events during deployment, such as seeing friends die or dealing with injuries themselves. These experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and other mental health conditions that affect their ability to form close relationships. They may also have difficulty expressing emotions, leading to further isolation and distance from their partners.
There are ways to overcome these challenges. The article suggests therapy and support groups as effective strategies for helping veterans deal with their experiences and rebuild trust with their partners. It highlights the importance of communication and openness, which allows both parties to share their needs and fears without judgment.
It notes that couples should engage in activities together that promote intimacy and connection, such as hobbies, vacations, and shared interests.
The article emphasizes that emotional closeness is vital for long-term relationship success and offers advice on how to foster this connection despite past trauma. It encourages couples to be patient, understanding, and willing to compromise when necessary. It also recommends seeking professional help if needed to address underlying issues that may prevent emotional closeness. By exploring these topics, the article provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by soldiers returning home after deployment and offers practical solutions for building emotional intimacy in spite of those challenges.
How does the experience of witnessing loss and suffering affect soldiers' capacity to nurture emotional closeness with partners?
The military is an environment where individuals must endure high levels of stressors, including trauma, isolation, and hardship. Witnessing death and destruction has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms such as re-experiencing, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and heightened arousal, which can contribute to challenges in relationships.