Sexual relations between military spouses can be challenging due to the unpredictability of deployment schedules, communication barriers, distance, time constraints, and emotional strain caused by extended separations.
Research has shown that there are several strategies military couples can employ to maintain healthy and satisfying relationships despite these stressors.
Prioritizing open communication is essential for building trust and connection during deployments. Military couples must communicate their needs, expectations, and desires before, during, and after deployments to establish clear boundaries and set realistic goals. This may involve discussing frequency and types of sexual activities that will occur while one partner is away, sharing fantasies and preferences, or creating rules around technology usage.
Scheduling frequent video chats and phone calls allows partners to stay emotionally connected despite physical separation. These virtual intimacy sessions should be planned and protected, just like face-to-face encounters, and used to express love, gratitude, affection, and appreciation.
Creating a shared calendar with important dates, such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and special events, ensures both partners remain informed and involved in each other's lives. It also provides a sense of continuity and predictability amidst unpredictable operational demands.
Fourth, engaging in mutually agreed upon sexual activities, such as masturbation or watching pornography together, can bridge gaps in physical intimacy and build emotional closeness. Sexual expression does not need to be limited to intercourse or even touch; it can include verbal exploration of sexual desires and fantasies.
Seeking professional help from therapists or counselors trained in military couples' issues can provide valuable guidance, support, and resources. Therapy can address specific concerns related to deployment-related stressors, communication problems, relationship conflicts, and sexual challenges.
What strategies allow military couples to maintain relationship satisfaction amidst unpredictable operational demands?
According to research, there are several strategies that can help military couples maintain relationship satisfaction amidst unpredictable operational demands. Firstly, communication is key; frequent and open communication helps both partners stay connected even when they are apart. Secondly, setting boundaries and expectations can help avoid misunderstandings and conflicts caused by differing opinions on how much contact should be maintained during deployment.