Compartmentalizing in combat is an important skill for soldiers that helps them separate their emotions from the battlefield environment so they can focus on completing their mission successfully. This process involves setting aside personal feelings, memories, and beliefs about what is happening around them and viewing it objectively. Learning this skill may have lasting effects on how soldiers process emotions in relationships outside of combat. In this article, we will discuss how compartmentalization affects emotional processing in relationships and the potential impact on intimacy and connection.
How Compartmentalization Works
When soldiers are exposed to traumatic events such as killing or witnessing death during combat, their brains often experience a heightened state of arousal that could make it difficult to regulate emotions. To cope with this, they learn to compartmentalize their experiences and detach themselves emotionally from the situation. This involves reframing their thoughts and feelings about the event so they do not dwell on it and instead focus on completing their mission. The brain then stores these memories away and does not associate them with other areas of life.
Emotional Processing in Relationships
In relationships, compartmentalization can prevent people from fully engaging with their partners because they have difficulty connecting with others on an emotional level. They may feel like they are shut off or numb to certain aspects of intimacy, making it challenging to build trust and develop closeness. As a result, they may have trouble expressing vulnerability or experiencing deep emotional connections with their partner.
People who rely heavily on compartmentalization may be prone to bouts of depression or anxiety when faced with stressful situations outside of combat, which can strain relationships further.
Impact on Intimacy
Compartmentalization can also lead to difficulties in maintaining intimacy in relationships. People who struggle to connect emotionally may find it hard to communicate effectively with their partner, leading to misunderstandings and miscommunication. They may become disconnected physically, emotionally, and spiritually from their partner, creating distance between them.
This lack of connection can lead to relationship problems such as infidelity, divorce, or abuse. It is essential for soldiers who have experienced combat trauma to learn how to process emotions healthily and work towards greater intimacy in their relationships.
How does learning to compartmentalize in combat influence emotional processing in relationships?
Learning to compartmentalize in combat has been shown to have significant effects on how veterans process their emotions in interpersonal relationships. Veterans often experience difficulty connecting with others emotionally due to their experiences during deployment, which can lead them to distance themselves from close friends and family members.