After months apart on reserve duty, married Israeli couples face a new challenge at home

Israeli couples struggle to reconnect after extended reserve duty periods since Oct. 7. A 2024 study found wartime stress reduces sexual well-being and emotional closeness. A 2026 study found reunited couples function in two different emotional systems, with the at-home partner often showing higher PTSD levels. The article offers therapist-backed strategies for rebuilding intimacy.

Israeli couples are struggling to reconnect after months of extended reserve duty since Oct. 7. The article profiles Maya and Eitan, a couple whose reunion felt distant rather than warm. A 2024 study in Archives of Sexual Behavior found wartime stress sharply reduces sexual well-being and emotional closeness. A more recent 2026 Israeli study in Psychological Trauma found that reunited couples function in two different emotional systems: one partner shaped by danger and hypervigilance, the other carrying the full weight of home life alone. The at-home partner often shows even higher levels of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The article identifies common challenges: the comparison trap, emotional guarding, and resentful independence. It offers five therapist-backed strategies: 10-minute check-ins, nonsexual touch, acknowledging two realities, scheduling micro dates, and teaching self-compassion. The writer is a psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience.