The ability to establish and maintain intimate relationships is essential for human beings.
Intense life events such as war can severely damage this crucial aspect of an individual's psychology and social development.
PTSD symptoms such as hypervigilance, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, and mood changes may disrupt trust and closeness in close bonds with others. This study examines how soldiers who experienced trauma during combat reconstruct intimacy and relational identity while dealing with emotional challenges.
Many military veterans have reported feeling less connected to their partners after returning from deployment due to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse issues. Research shows that this disruption in relationships can result in sexual dysfunctions like erectile dysfunction and low arousal, difficulties communicating desires, loss of interest in sex, and reduced intimacy. These challenges are further compounded by cultural expectations of masculinity, which prioritize strength, stoicism, and self-reliance rather than vulnerability and emotional openness.
The Effects of Traumatic Experiences on Intimacy and Relational Identity
Traumatic experiences can also impact an individual's sense of self-identity, leading to feelings of shame, guilt, or fear of judgment. Soldiers may struggle with guilt over not protecting themselves or their comrades and fear being seen as weak, unworthy, or damaged. These feelings can make it difficult to establish a positive relationship with loved ones, leading to isolation, withdrawal, and difficulty expressing affection.
Reconstructing Intimacy and Relational Identity: A Case Study of Two Couples
To understand the process of reconstruction, researchers studied two couples who had been together for at least five years before one partner was deployed. After six months of combat exposure, the soldier returned home with PTSD symptoms such as nightmares, avoidance of reminders, and mood changes. During therapy sessions, both couples discussed how they could reconnect emotionally and physically.
Couple 1: Overcoming Emotional Distancing
Couple 1 reported feeling distant from each other after deployment due to communication issues about trauma memories and feelings of guilt. They worked on sharing their experiences without judgment or blame, creating space for emotions to be expressed freely. This approach helped them build trust and intimacy gradually.
Couple 2: Addressing Sexual Dysfunctions
Couple 2 experienced sexual dysfunction due to low arousal caused by PTSD symptoms like hypervigilance and flashbacks. Their solution involved non-judgmental exploration of their changing desires and openness to different forms of touch and pleasure. With time, they began to feel more connected physically and emotionally again.
The Importance of Professional Support
Both couples benefited from professional support during this process, including individual therapy for soldiers dealing with PTSD and couples counseling to address relationship challenges. The therapist's role is crucial in helping military families navigate these complex issues and create a safe space for healing. While some soldiers may experience difficulty connecting with others, professional help can provide the necessary tools to repair relationships and establish new relational identities.
How do soldiers reconstruct intimacy and relational identity when trauma significantly alters emotional capacity?
Soldiers who have experienced combat trauma may find it difficult to reconstruct their intimate relationships with family members and close friends. The reason for this is that trauma can lead to changes in emotional capacity, making it hard to connect emotionally with others. This can be especially true if the traumatic event was particularly intense or traumatic, such as a death of a comrade in battle.