Trust is an essential component of any relationship between partners who are trying to build a life together, but it can be especially challenging for military couples whose partners may experience frequent traumatic events that cause them to withdraw from their partner or become emotionally distant. This is because these experiences often trigger strong emotions, including fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, and shame, which can make it difficult to maintain emotional engagement. In this context, trust becomes even more crucial, as it allows both partners to feel secure and supported despite the challenges they face.
Maintaining trust when soldiers' emotional engagement is inconsistent due to trauma triggers or moral stressors requires significant effort and communication from both partners. Here are some strategies that can help maintain trust in such situations:
1. Understanding and validation: Partners should try to understand why their soldier's emotional engagement has been affected and validate their feelings without judgment.
Saying "I know you must have felt scared during that mission" or "It makes sense that you would feel angry about what happened there" can go a long way toward building trust and empathy.
2. Active listening: Partners should actively listen to their soldier's needs and concerns without interrupting or imposing their own opinions. This shows that they care about their soldier's well-being and want to support them through tough times.
3. Communication: Both partners should communicate openly and honestly about how they feel, what they need, and what they expect from each other. It is important to avoid using blame or criticism, as this will only further damage the relationship.
4. Consistency: Soldiers who are experiencing traumatic events may need time alone to process their emotions and reconnect with their partner later. Partners should respect these boundaries while still showing their commitment and support.
5. Self-care: Both partners should take care of themselves physically and emotionally to reduce stress and anxiety. This can involve exercise, meditation, therapy, or spending time with friends or family members outside the relationship.
6. Patience: Trust takes time to build, so both partners should be patient with each other and allow time for healing after traumatic experiences. They should also remember that setbacks are normal and part of the process.
Maintaining trust when soldiers' emotional engagement is inconsistent due to trauma triggers or moral stressors requires effort and communication from both partners. By understanding, validating, communicating, being consistent, practicing self-care, and being patient, military couples can work together to create a strong and resilient relationship despite challenges.
How do partners maintain trust when soldiers' emotional engagement is inconsistent due to trauma triggers or moral stressors?
Partners may find it difficult to maintain trust with their significant others who experience military service due to the emotional engagement that fluctuates frequently. Traumatic experiences such as battlefield encounters or witnessing the death of friends can cause emotional instability and anxiety in veterans, leading them to withdraw from intimate relationships (Hayes et al. , 2019).