The devastating impact of combat can have a wide range of effects on those who serve, including the loss of their ability to form and maintain healthy attachments with others. This is known as "relational grief" - a type of longing for connection that may never be fulfilled because the soldier no longer has the same degree of emotional availability or responsiveness to close relationships. Although love remains, the relationship itself often suffers due to the trauma.
Soldiers face challenges related to their emotions even before they go into battle; however, it is during deployment when these difficulties are exacerbated. They must deal with intense stressors such as fear, guilt, sadness, and anger while also trying to cope with physical exhaustion, loneliness, and isolation from friends and family. All these factors make it difficult for them to express themselves emotionally and connect with others in meaningful ways.
Some veterans experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which involves flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance behaviors, and emotional numbing. These symptoms can cause significant disruptions in relationships since individuals suffering from PTSD may appear distant or unavailable emotionally, making intimacy harder to establish or maintain. The person may withdraw from social situations altogether or become overly anxious around people they once felt safe with.
Even though soldiers lose part of their emotional capacity, there are still ways to nurture existing connections by focusing on shared experiences and interests rather than emotions alone.
Engaging in activities together like hiking, cooking meals, watching movies, or playing games foster closeness without relying solely on feelings. Spending quality time away from home allows couples/families to deepen their bond despite any emotional limitations.
The loss of emotional capacity resulting from trauma poses many difficulties for soldiers returning from combat; however, creating healthy boundaries and focusing on non-emotional aspects of intimacy can help rebuild damaged relationships. With patience and understanding from loved ones who support the soldier's healing process - even when that means being present but not always available - both parties can work towards a more balanced relationship dynamic where love thrives while grief is respected.
How do soldiers cope with the relational grief of losing emotional capacity due to trauma, even when love remains?
It is difficult for soldiers to cope with the loss of their ability to form strong relationships after experiencing traumatic events. The emotional impact of war can cause them to become emotionally distant from others, making it challenging to maintain meaningful connections. Even if they still feel love and connection towards someone, they may struggle to express these feelings and connect on an intimate level.