Soldiers spend months away from their families and friends while they are deployed to different locations around the world. These deployments can be extremely stressful and physically demanding for them and their loved ones back home. In addition to this, soldiers have to deal with constant threat of danger and risk of losing their lives. This situation often causes distance between partners which makes it difficult for couples to maintain their emotional intimacy. It is important for soldiers to find ways to preserve emotional intimacy despite these challenges.
Emotional Intimacy:
Emotional intimacy is an essential part of any relationship. It refers to the level of closeness that exists between two people who share feelings, thoughts, and experiences with each other. Emotional intimacy involves trust, vulnerability, empathy, affection, understanding, respect, and communication. Soldiers and their partners need to work hard to maintain this type of connection even when they are apart for long periods.
Strategies for Preserving Emotional Intimacy:
1. Stay Connected Through Technology:
Soldiers can stay connected through technology by sending messages, emails, and video calls to their partner regularly. They can also share pictures and videos of themselves in different locations. This helps partners feel close to each other despite the physical separation.
2. Schedule Regular Calls or Video Chats:
It is crucial for soldiers to schedule regular calls or video chats with their partner. This provides a sense of continuity and helps to keep the lines of communication open. Partners can discuss their day-to-day activities and share their thoughts, concerns, hopes, and dreams.
3. Share Their Experiences:
When soldiers share their experiences with their partner, it allows them to feel closer together. They can talk about their daily routine, challenges, successes, and failures. Sharing experiences helps build trust, understanding, and mutual respect.
4. Show Support:
Partners should support each other during deployments. Soldiers can send care packages or letters to their partners while deployed. This shows that they are thinking of them and care about them. Partners can also offer words of encouragement and support during difficult times.
5. Keep Up With Each Other's Lives:
Keeping up with each other's lives is essential for maintaining emotional intimacy. Soldiers can ask questions about their partner's life and share updates on their own lives. This helps partners feel like they are part of each other's world even when they are apart.
6. Maintain Physical Connection:
Physical connection is important for emotional intimacy. Soldiers can find ways to show affection through long distance relationships by sending gifts or tokens of love such as pictures or jewelry. They can also hold hands virtually during video calls or exchange romantic messages.
Tips for Preserving Emotional Intimacy During Deployment:
1. Be Honest About Feelings:
Soldiers should be honest about how they feel about being away from home and missing their loved ones. This will help partners understand the situation and provide support.
2. Focus on the Relationship:
Soldiers should focus on strengthening their relationship despite the challenges. This means prioritizing communication, quality time together, and shared experiences.
3. Stay Positive:
Staying positive is important for maintaining a healthy relationship. Soldiers can do this by focusing on the good things in their lives and not dwelling on negative thoughts. Partners can also offer words of encouragement and support.
4. Find Ways to De-Stress:
Deployments can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. Soldiers can find ways to de-stress such as exercise, meditation, yoga, journaling, or talking with a friend. Partners can offer reassurance and comfort during difficult times.
5. Share Love and Affection:
Soldiers can express their love and affection for each other through regular contact. This helps build emotional intimacy and connection even when they are apart.
6. Take Time Off From Communication:
Taking breaks from communication is okay. It allows soldiers and their partners to recharge and spend time on themselves. They can plan a date night or special activity to look forward to when they reunite.
Emotional intimacy is essential for any relationship, especially when couples are separated due to deployment. By following these strategies and tips, soldiers can preserve their emotional intimacy and strengthen their relationships.
How do soldiers preserve emotional intimacy under high operational tempo?
One way that soldiers can maintain emotional intimacy under high operational tempos is by establishing strong communication habits with their loved ones before deployments, which helps them feel connected even when they are separated for extended periods of time. Soldiers may also rely on social media, video calls, or letters to stay in touch, which can help provide some sense of connection and support.