Sustaining relational engagement can be challenging for military couples after deployment because it involves many factors that are beyond their control. Moral injury and trauma-induced emotional suppression are among these factors, which can significantly impact how well partners communicate, express themselves, and navigate through difficult times together. This article explores ways to mitigate those effects and maintain healthy relationships despite them.
The reintegration process begins before soldiers return home from deployment. Military families must learn to cope with separation anxiety, fear about what might happen to their loved ones, and concern for their safety. When they finally reunite, soldiers often struggle with readjustment into civilian life due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, guilt, shame, and other symptoms of moral injury. These problems may lead to emotional numbing, making it hard for individuals to share their feelings and connect emotionally.
One way partners can sustain engagement is by practicing active listening. Active listeners try to understand their partner's perspective instead of dismissing or judging them. They ask questions, show interest in the conversation, and validate the person's experiences. By doing this, they demonstrate that they care about each other and want to help resolve conflicts. Partners should also avoid blaming, criticizing, or trying to fix each other during arguments because such behaviors create a hostile environment and diminish intimacy.
Another crucial factor in maintaining engagement is self-care. Partners need to take breaks when necessary to manage their own mental health needs. Seeking professional help or participating in support groups allows them to feel heard and understood while learning coping strategies for dealing with trauma symptoms.
Couples should practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises or yoga to relieve tension and improve communication skills.
Partners can prioritize quality time together, even if it means taking breaks from work or social activities. Date nights or vacations provide an opportunity to reconnect physically and emotionally without distractions or responsibilities. It helps build trust, intimacy, and appreciation for one another, which strengthens relationships over time. Military families must remember that relational engagement requires effort but provides countless benefits – including increased satisfaction with life, improved physical health, and reduced risk of divorce or infidelity.
By understanding how moral injury and emotional suppression affect relational engagement after deployment, military couples can find creative ways to overcome these challenges and keep their love strong.
How do partners sustain relational engagement when soldiers' reintegration is complicated by moral injury or trauma-induced emotional suppression?
When partners of returning military veterans struggle with their loved ones' reengagement after deployment, they must be willing to listen, support, and empathize with them while respecting their need for privacy and autonomy. Partners can also facilitate meaningful dialogues about past experiences and build an emotional connection based on shared values and interests. This requires patience, nonjudgmental listening skills, and mutual understanding.