During a deployment, service members may experience feelings of stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression, boredom, isolation, anger, sadness, and fear. These negative emotions can lead to interpersonal conflict between them and their partners. To avoid this, they need effective communication skills that foster intimacy and emotional support while away from home. Here are some strategies for maintaining healthy romantic relationships during deployments:
1. Communicate regularly: Maintaining open communication through email, phone calls, video chats, letters, texts, or social media can help couples stay connected despite physical distance. Share your thoughts and feelings, listen actively without judgment, and show genuine interest in each other's lives.
2. Express love and appreciation often: Let your partner know how much you appreciate them, miss them, value them, and look forward to reconnecting after deployment. Send them cards, gifts, photos, videos, or recordings. Share stories about your daily activities, including the good and bad moments.
3. Plan ahead: Set realistic expectations and plans before deployment, such as when you will communicate, what topics to discuss, and how long you want to be apart. Develop routines for when you will meet again after separation. Make agreements to take care of household responsibilities, finances, children, pets, and social engagements.
4. Practice self-care: Take time to relax, exercise, read, meditate, or pursue hobbies. Seek professional help if needed for mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or substance abuse. Stay involved with family, friends, community, and religious groups.
5. Manage stress effectively: Find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as talking to a trusted friend, seeking support from military resources, writing in a journal, practicing mindfulness, exercising, using positive affirmations, or engaging in creative outlets. Avoid risky behaviors that could harm yourself or others.
6. Be patient and flexible: Understand that deployments are unpredictable and unexpected events may arise. Adjust expectations and plans accordingly. Communicate openly about changes in schedules, locations, priorities, emotions, and needs. Allow each other to grieve losses together.
7. Remember why you're deployed: Remind yourself and your partner of the reasons why you serve and the importance of your role in protecting national security. Honor your commitment to duty and service by staying focused on the mission. Support each other emotionally during challenges. Celebrate achievements and milestones throughout deployment.
By implementing these strategies, couples can maintain intimacy and emotional support while apart, strengthening their relationship for years to come.
What strategies maintain intimacy and emotional support during rotational deployments?
In order to maintain intimacy and emotional support during rotational deployments, couples can engage in regular communication, prioritizing time together, and finding ways to cope with stress. This includes sharing experiences, reaffirming commitment, expressing gratitude, setting goals, creating routines, and finding support through friends or therapy.