Soldiers are often placed under immense mental stress due to their line of duty, especially when deployed for war or peacekeeping operations. These situations force them to change the way they think about themselves and others, affecting their ability to maintain healthy relationships with loved ones back home. Deployment may also cause physical changes like weight gain, loss of muscle mass, hair growth, and insomnia.
Soldiers can re-establish emotional connection with partners after returning from service if both parties work towards it consistently.
Step 1: Establish an Emotional Connection
Before deployment, it is crucial to establish a strong emotional bond between partners. This involves open communication, expressing feelings, spending quality time together, sharing interests, and building trust. During deployment, it is essential to stay connected through regular video calls, phone conversations, emails, and texts. Partners should understand that deployment causes changes in behavior and appearance.
Step 2: Face Challenges Together
It is challenging for partners to cope with the psychological transformation of soldiers during deployment. They must be understanding, patient, and supportive. They should encourage their partner's hobbies, goals, ambitions, and self-care routines without trying to control them. If there is conflict, partners should not assume blame but seek counseling or therapy sessions together.
Step 3: Be Open About Feelings
Partners should be transparent about their thoughts and feelings, including fears, doubts, anxieties, insecurities, and hopes. They should listen actively without interrupting or giving unsolicited advice. They should celebrate successes and acknowledge struggles.
Step 4: Practice Intimacy
Intimacy includes physical touch, verbal affirmation, and shared experiences. Partners may need to adjust their approach to intimacy based on their partner's needs.
Some veterans may require more sensory stimulation while others might prefer gentle affection. Partners should avoid judgmental language and focus on creating a safe space for expression.
Step 5: Seek Professional Help
If problems persist, partners should consult mental health professionals who specialize in military relationships. This could involve individual or couples therapy, family counseling, or group support. Veteran organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project offer free resources for soldiers and families dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues.
Reconnecting with loved ones after deployment requires effort from both parties. By communicating openly, practicing intimacy, seeking help when needed, and acknowledging each other's emotional needs, partners can strengthen their bond and build a stronger relationship.
How do soldiers re-establish emotional connection with partners after undergoing intense psychological transformation during deployment?
The process of reintegrating into civilian life can be extremely challenging for veterans who have experienced trauma while deployed. The transition from military service to civilian life is often marked by a series of profound physical, social, and emotional changes that can disrupt personal relationships with family members, friends, colleagues, and partners. For many veterans, these changes are compounded by the psychological transformations they may experience as a result of their experiences on the battlefield.