Veterans are people who have served their country in armed forces such as military or police services. They face many challenges while serving which may include physical injuries, mental health issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, moral injury, and trauma. Moral injury refers to the psychological harm caused when someone violates personal values in a traumatic situation such as war or combat. Mortality is the awareness of one's own death or that of others around them. Trauma can be defined as an emotional response to a deeply distressing experience.
Sexual identity
Sexual identity is how individuals describe themselves in terms of gender, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior. It is shaped by biology, culture, society, and individual experiences. Veterans often struggle with sexual identity after returning from service due to changes in relationships, intimacy, attraction, desires, and behaviors.
Some veterans may find it difficult to express love or romance after witnessing death or suffering severe trauma during service. Others may feel guilty about their actions and avoid sex altogether. Some may engage in risky behaviors like promiscuity or infidelity to cope with feelings of guilt, shame, or rejection.
PTSD symptoms like hypervigilance, irritability, flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety can impact sexual function and satisfaction.
Relational identity
Relational identity is how individuals define themselves based on interpersonal connections, social roles, family ties, cultural affiliations, friendships, and community membership. Veterans often face challenges in maintaining healthy relationships due to isolation, depression, anger, withdrawal, mistrust, and substance abuse. They may have difficulty communicating effectively, setting boundaries, expressing emotions, and connecting emotionally. This leads to relationship difficulties, divorce, loneliness, and self-blame. Traumatic experiences can also cause emotional numbness, dissociation, and detachment which affects intimacy and connection.
Integration of experiences
Veterans need support to integrate moral injury, mortality, and trauma into sexual and relational identities. It requires acknowledging and processing these experiences through therapy, counseling, mindfulness meditation, art therapy, physical activity, spiritual practices, support groups, and peer-to-peer programs. These activities help veterans develop healthier coping mechanisms, improve communication skills, reduce stress, regulate emotions, and build resilience. Through integration, they can gain a sense of meaning, purpose, and empowerment while developing stronger relationships and sex lives.
How do veterans integrate experiences of moral injury, mortality, and trauma into sexual and relational identity?
Research shows that veterans who experience moral injury often struggle with their sense of self and identity after returning from combat due to conflicting values, actions, and behaviors during military service. In particular, many veterans report feeling disconnected from others around them, struggling with intimacy and closeness in relationships, and experiencing difficulty finding meaning in life. These struggles can have significant impacts on how they view themselves sexually and emotionally.