When it comes to survival in dangerous situations, like combat, individuals must be able to suppress their emotions so that they can focus on completing tasks necessary for self-preservation.
This suppression has long-term effects on how soldiers view emotional connections with others. When they return home from war, some veterans may have difficulty connecting with loved ones because they have suppressed feelings of love and closeness during combat. This can create feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can lead to further distortions in perception of emotional needs.
A soldier who feels isolated may seek out new relationships or become involved in risky behaviors such as gambling or drug abuse. The problem is compounded when soldiers do not receive support or treatment for these issues, leading to depression and other mental health problems. To understand the impact of suppressing emotions during combat, it's important to consider how humans perceive affection and intimacy in general. Affectionate behavior typically involves expressing emotions openly and being vulnerable with another person. In contrast, combat requires individuals to repress emotions and appear strong and stoic.
This discrepancy between civilian life and military service can result in soldiers feeling that affection and intimacy are inherently dangerous or unnatural. They may also feel ashamed or guilty about their desires and avoid seeking help for fear of being stigmatized. These patterns can contribute to a cycle of isolation, making it difficult for veterans to form meaningful connections outside of the military environment. As a result, many veterans experience difficulties with intimacy and struggle to build stable relationships with civilians due to their experiences in combat. In order to address these issues, veteran services should prioritize emotional support and provide resources to assist with reintegrating into civilian society. By recognizing the long-term effects of suppression on social interaction, we can better meet the needs of our returning servicemen and women.
In what ways does suppressing emotional impulses during combat create long-term distortions in how soldiers perceive closeness, affection, and the legitimacy of their own emotional needs?
Many military personnel who have undergone combat may experience difficulties with intimate relationships due to suppressed emotions, such as fear and anxiety, during the conflict (Rosen et al. , 2019). This suppression can lead to increased levels of stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which are associated with negative effects on the perception of intimacy and affection (Falcone et al. , 2020).