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Miss Lissa

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Hi everyone!

Been trolling around here for a few years and thought I should take advantage of the support.

I am 32 and live in Canada with my boyfriend (common law partner) (40) who suffers from PTSD.

He was diagnosed after the London Bombings of 2007 where he was a first responder and saw some terrible things in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. He doesn't talk about it much but I've read his transcript from the inquest so I have an idea of what sights and sounds he suffered.

Added to this, he is also a widower. His first wife suffered from cystic fibrosis and died fairly suddenly at the age of 32 only 6 years ago (and only 2 years after the bombings).

We met online while he was getting ready to immigrate to Canada. We quickly hit it off and have now been together for two and a half years.

His job in Canada didn't work out so he is now retired and a "Gentleman of Leisure", as we joke. We have decided that's probably for the best with his PTSD. Thankfully money isn't an issue since his wife left him an inheritance. Now we're just waiting for our application for Permanent Residency to come through.

Some days are better than others. Most are good. When he's down he feels and says that I deserve better and talks about being cheated from a normal life because of his PTSD and the death of his wife. He can be very cynical, which I struggle with. Sometimes he talks about getting married and having children, other times he says he doesn't want to do either since I (and our potential children) deserve better.

That's probably the hardest of all since it feels like no matter what I say he doesn't listen.

I love him very much and have decided to work things through with him, and for him. I try to read and understand as much as I can in hopes that we can achieve as much of a normal life as possible.

As I tell him, "I've tied my little boat to yours - where you go I go. If the seas get rough, we'll go through it together. I'll just put on our life jackets."

Thanks. Hope to help and get help from the forum.
 
Hi and welcome and so glad that you posted to get support. I have been here for three years and the awesome people here get it and I do not have to explain myself as I am the one with PTSD. My husband and I were like that until he died two years ago. He had been very sick for three years previous and I have had to move on with my life.

Good for you for the love you both share. I hope you find a lot of help and answers here soon.
 
I am a sufferer as well and I welcome you to the forum. I constantly have the cloud of 'you can do better' for my spouse. He is very cheerful and bright whenever I put it across to him. Always assuring me that that is MY feeling, not his. Perhaps this might be something you can put across to your friend to ease him. It takes a ton of repetition for me to believe it (as I do seem to have a thick skull at times) and in my weaker moments I don't. But for him, I am trying, and am mostly successful these days.
 
Welcome to the site, hope you and your partner find the support you need.

It just goes the show, that there is life after being made a widower, good luck.
 
@Miss Lissa ,
That's probably the hardest of all since it feels like no matter what I say he doesn't listen.
I am a PTSD sufferer. I think he hears EXACTLY what you say; the problem is (if he's like me) his brain doesn't let him believe it.:facepalm: I've been married 26 plus years and just was diagnosed in June of this year. It turned my world upside down and now I'm dealing with my past in therapy. My husband didn't know about any of my past until March of this year. :( My biggest fear was he'll be disappointed in me, that I now AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH. (I'm damaged goods ):grumpy: Maybe your man feels that way too. With therapy, I'm working through my insecurities. Your support is huge, he's lucky to have you in his life. Hang in there and welcome to the forum. :hug:
 
Wow. Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I actually feel so much better and less crazy, if that makes sense. Especially re: his mixed messages. I worry he doesn't want to get married or have a family, but I think he just feels unworthy like some of you said.
I just need to remind myself that when he says negative things it's just the PTSD talking and not get upset since my tears "prove" to him that I could do better.
Vicious circle. Go figure.

Methinks I'll give my man extra cuddles and nice words tonight - he deserves it and has had a few rough days.

Thanks again everyone for helping me become a better PTSD supporter.

Miss Lissa
 
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