Strategies for Couples during Deployments
Couples often experience difficulties when one partner is deployed for an extended period, such as military service. Trust, intimacy, and emotional resilience are crucial factors that contribute to successful deployment experiences for both partners. This article provides insights into how couples can maintain these critical aspects of their relationship while apart through various strategies.
Building Trust
Building trust between partners during deployments requires open communication, honesty, and transparency. Partners should keep each other informed about personal matters, such as health, activities, feelings, and thoughts. They should establish clear boundaries regarding what they share and avoid keeping secrets or hiding anything from each other. Partners should also show support and encouragement through messages, phone calls, video chats, and letters. When there is a misunderstanding or conflict, partners should address it promptly without blaming each other or being defensive.
Maintaining Intimacy
Intimacy involves physical, mental, and emotional closeness between partners. During deployments, partners can maintain intimacy by engaging in regular virtual intimate activities, including kisses, hugs, cuddles, massages, and sexual acts. It would be best if they set aside specific time for these activities regularly.
Partners should practice empathy and understanding toward each other's needs and preferences.
The deployed partner may want more affection than usual during this challenging time, so the home-based partner must be willing to accommodate them.
Emotional Resilience
Emotional resilience refers to one's ability to cope with difficult emotions and stressors. Couples can enhance their emotional resilience during deployments by expressing gratitude and appreciation for each other daily. This could include thanking each other for the sacrifices they make and acknowledging their efforts. They can also seek help from friends, family, or professional counselors when needed.
They should prioritize self-care practices like exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, or journaling.
They should celebrate small victories and milestones together.
Couples who deploy strategies such as building trust, maintaining intimacy, and developing emotional resilience are likely to have a successful deployment experience. These approaches require commitment, effort, and patience but will ultimately lead to stronger relationships between partners. By following these guidelines, couples can sustain the critical components of their relationship while apart, making it easier to reconnect once reunited.
What strategies allow couples to sustain trust, intimacy, and emotional resilience during deployments?
Deployments can be challenging for both military members and their families, as they require long periods of separation, unpredictable schedules, and potential physical danger. To maintain trust, intimacy, and emotional resilience during deployments, couples must communicate openly, stay connected through technology, and rely on support networks. Regular communication is crucial, as it allows partners to share experiences, express feelings, and address any concerns or issues that may arise.