Chicken 1, warrior 0.

[scout86]

Forgive me for laughing? When I read that, my first reaction was "Nooooo!" But then, I have problems with that sort of thing. My T says vulnerability is good. So does Bene Brown. Personally? I think they're both nuts and that vulnerability gets you killed.

Trying to be encouraging and put a positive spin on this.... If your SO is the kind of person you should be with, they will handle this and the two of you will be a better team as a result. If not? May as well find out now, huh? (BTW, I don't HAVE a SO, so I'm not exactly qualified to give relationship advice, being consistently bad at it myself.)

In situations like yours, I try to remind myself that I probably won't LITERALLY die for sharing my thoughts and feelings. (Especially "feelings". That's the worst!) It's one of those things that probably only seems that way.

Good for you for deciding to take such a brave step! It IS brave. Really. Good luck!

 

[LuckiLee]

My guy and I were high school sweethearts then he joined the Army. 1985. 8 conflicts, three wars and was wounded a few different times. Two divorces, substance abuse, homelessness, and untreated PTSD.

Fast forward 27 years. We meet through Facebook. He's back in Michigan. We meet for a date. My stomach did the biggest flip flop ever when We met again. We connected immediately. Things were great for nine months. (Untreated ptsd the whole time)

One night we were out with friends. We had a fun time. It was late so I went to bed. He said he was going to lock up and join me. I woke up later and he wasn't in bed. I went to look for him. I found him on the side of my garage. Crying. With a noose. I hugged him. Got him in the house. And he called the crisis line at the VA.

I took him to their ER early next morning. They gave him a shot to calm him down and stabilize his thinking a bit. The next morning he had an appointment with a pdoc. And so the journey began.

We've been together 6.5 years now. He was 45 yo when he made that call. And he had his high school sweetheart at his side. ? It was now or never.

It's been hard as hell for both of us. Whole lotta ups and downs. And we've recently had a setback because working is just too stressful so he's dealing with the whole "unemployable" thing and back at the VA 3 days a week (he had been going to the vet center and getting less care). New and better docs. Meds are working. New group of OP's guys to talk with. Working out in the gym (Justin Verlander donated ❤).

Sometimes when I tell him that " I love him" he'll say "you must because you're still here". And sometimes when he says he loves me I cant help but think the same. He could easily run away again. Instead he stays and works really hard at having a good life. He can see a future now.

Sorry for rambling on (and on and on LMAO) but if you find someone who wants to learn with you and you feel safe? They're a keeper. Share what you can about how PTSD makes you feel. (Ugh I know) You DON'T have to share the trauma with your SO if you can't. J shares all the blood, guts, and gore with me and I listen. Sometimes I think it's more "therapeutic" for him to tell me about it for whatever reason....

Ok. I'm gonna stop now!!!! ✌&❤

?... one more thing that actually relates to your op about walking into a room full of strangers and sharing your personal experiences.

J was right there with you and now they cant get him to shut up! Lol.

Best of everything to you!

 

[Freida]

So how did it go????

If you’ve walked this path to create a stronger bond with your partner or spouse, I’d like to hear your thoughts.....

Hubby and I walk it together but in the present - not the past. He still doesn't know a big chunk of my story - by both our choice. But having him with me thru the recovery part? Yep.

Personally? I think they're both nuts and that vulnerability gets you killed.

EXACTLY! :laugh:

Share what you can about how PTSD makes you feel. (Ugh I know) You DON'T have to share the trauma with your SO if you can't. J

yes! This is the perfect way to explain it. Could hubby handle hearing all the gory details? Probably. Am I afraid it will change how he looks at me, or that it may make him angry for me? Yep.