How Common Is Anger As A Symptom?

[Egads]

Especially in combat vets. And how do you prefer your supporter react to it to help calm you down?

 

[Ituz]

How common amongst vets? Very.

How do I personally prefer my supporter to react?

f*ck me senseless. Fight it out on the mats. Take me to go blow something the hell up. Or leave me the hell alone to sulk and be a big damn baby.

Not speaking for all combat vets, here. Just myself.

 

[Egads]

@Ituz What about yoga and deep breathing techniques? HAHA

 

[Anek]

Anger was an enormous issue for me, too, before I got into therapy. And my PTSD is not from military service, but from being abused and attacked numerous times in my life. Lots of room for anger there.

I don't think any of us should rely on our partners to have to deal with our anger long-term, assuming they had nothing to do with our PTSD. It is up to us to get into therapy and work it out there. I don't think our marriage would have survived if I hadn't done so. Hell, I don't know that I would have survived if I hadn't done so.

 

[Egads]

@Anek Aww that's sweet. I wish my man would do the same.

 

[Ofi]

And how do you prefer your supporter react to it to help calm you down?

Im not a combat vet nor do i really have what most would call supporters but i do have my dad & step mom living with me so they are the best i get to a supporter.

I have anger explosions and i dont expect them to do anything but what they could do to help the situatuion in enormous magnatude is to:

• Not purposely hit triggers or at least try to hit known triggers once I make them know.
• Let me vent before i explode and stop trying to silence or "ok" it and just let me vent it out (or else it comes out anyway)
• There is something you can say, same exact thing, in two ways. First way is like pouring gas on the fire and the other way can devuse the explosion/situation completely. Learn the devusing way and stop the gas way.
• Give me space. Dont follow me, walk away, shut up.

Just to name a few.

 

[Tari]

It's very common as its even in the new criteria. Vets on here have also explained to me in the past that anger is trained in and flight and freeze trained out with combat. Anger isn't an issue for everyone though. I have had a problem but with its lack. Unable to feel it or recognise it.

 

[Notod]

I am not a combat vet, but I do suffer from PTSD and anger is definitely one of my symptoms. Not so much anger at the original abuser, but anger at CPS willfully protecting and lying for the abuser to cover up his abuse, thus endangering my child. Sometimes my anger gets misdirected at people who didn't deserve that. It's my problem, so I don't know if I can ask this from people, but what helps the best is if they avoid triggering actions, stay calm, listen to what I'm trying to say, not respond in an equally angry and emotional way, walk away if they can't handle my anger. My dad mostly responds in a really good way - calm, balanced, unemotional, rational. My mum mostly responds in a really bad way - angry, emotional, with hostility and mean remarks. That really triggers me. I feel really guilty about my angry feelings... I think I shouldn't have them, and still I do.

 

[Uvuk]

I have noticed that a high level of expressed emotion - emotionality, criticism, hostility - works really bad for me. Responses without much expressed emotion work best.

 

[Elaz]

@Ituz What about yoga and deep breathing techniques? HAHA

LOL... Those are things I can do myself ;) As opposed to the Q of what someone else can do for me / what I prefer someone do for me.