To begin this article, it is important to understand what is meant by the term "trauma". Trauma refers to an experience that causes significant emotional distress and can include both physical and psychological symptoms such as anxiety, fear, depression, flashbacks, and nightmares. In relation to the military, traumatic experiences may include combat, injury, loss of comrades, and post-deployment adjustment difficulties. These experiences can have lasting effects on soldiers' ability to feel connection, arousal, and closeness with others.
Desire
Desire is defined as a strong feeling of wanting something or wishing for something to happen. It is often associated with sexual attraction and romantic love but can also refer to other needs or goals.
A soldier may desire to return home safely from deployment or to achieve success in their career.
Emotional meaning of desire
The emotional meaning of desire involves how individuals interpret their desires based on their own beliefs, values, and experiences. Soldiers who have experienced trauma may interpret their desires differently than those without trauma due to changes in their perception of self and worldview. This can affect their ability to connect with others emotionally and physically.
Interpreting connection
Connection is a basic human need that involves feeling connected to others through shared experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Traumatic experiences can make it difficult for soldiers to form connections with others because they may feel detached from society or unable to trust others. They may also be hypervigilant, always scanning their environment for potential threats, which can lead to misinterpretations of social cues and difficulty connecting with others.
Interpreting arousal
Arousal refers to physical and psychological excitement and readiness for action. Traumatic experiences can alter soldiers' ability to experience pleasure and intimacy, making it difficult to enjoy sex or form relationships. PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares can disrupt sleep patterns and cause irritability, making it hard to relax and become aroused.
Interpreting closeness
Closeness refers to the sense of belonging and attachment to another person or group. Soldiers may struggle to develop close relationships after experiencing trauma because they may feel disconnected from others and unworthy of love. They may also fear abandonment or rejection and avoid forming new bonds out of fear of being hurt again.
Impact on sexuality
The emotional meaning of desire has implications for soldiers' sexuality, including how they interpret their desires in sexual situations. Traumatic experiences may cause them to view themselves and others differently, leading to difficulties with intimacy and arousal. This can affect their sexual performance and satisfaction, as well as their ability to connect emotionally during sex.
Impact on relationships
The impact of trauma on soldiers' ability to experience connection, arousal, and closeness can also affect their relationships. Partners may not understand why their soldier is distant or withdrawn and may withdraw support. This can lead to conflict and distance in the relationship, further isolating the soldier.
Soldiers who have experienced trauma may need support to help them process their experiences and build healthy connections with others. Therapy, peer support groups, and medication can all be effective interventions for addressing trauma-related symptoms. It is important for partners to be patient, understanding, and provide validation without judgment. With time and effort, soldiers can learn to overcome trauma and regain a sense of connection, arousal, and closeness in their lives.
How do soldiers interpret the emotional meaning of desire when trauma alters their ability to feel connection, arousal, or closeness?
Soldiers' interpretation of the emotional significance of desire may vary depending on how they have been affected by trauma. Traumatic experiences can alter one's ability to experience physical sensations associated with sexual attraction, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, which may lead to feelings of disconnection from others and themselves. This can result in an individual feeling emotionally disconnected and unable to form intimate relationships.