WatermelonKiwi
New Here
My hubby my was diagnosed with PTSD about 5 years ago, it was really bad for a while then got better and has recently taken a turn for the worse again. He is currently off work on a leave and has been for a couple months now. He's a paramedic for context. Obviously I could go into a lot of detail but for now I'll just stick to the highlights. He has a lot of anxiety, and I think some depression based on behavior, as well as physical pain (bad knees and a shoulder) that bother him a lot. He told me today that as much as he loves me he often wishes he would fall asleep and never wake up, he's just so tired of being uncomfortable. It breaks my heart to see him struggle this much, but I don't know how to support him.
I had to go out of town for a week for work and he was dreading it and said that I don't understand how much he relies on me for support (he supported me going because he knew it was important to me) but as much as he relies on me for support, he keeps me in the dark and rarely shares anything about how he's feeling.
I have encouraged counseling (whether through work or finding someone on our own) and he refuses - he doesn't want to talk at all (did briefly when first diagnosed but it didn't help). I have suggested being more active to get fresh air, he will occasionally do this but not enough to make a difference. I've suggested trying medication as a tool to work towards getting better (I don't expect it to cure him), again he refuses. I've suggested seeing a doctor to address the knee and shoulder pain and he wont. I'm just at a loss... It doesn't matter how I present an idea he shuts it down. I know it's hard, and he's in a bad place but how do you help someone through it who just refuses to even try?
Side note: I will be starting counseling for myself soon, because I'm struggling with him. I love him more than anything and would do anything to help him, but I'm exhausted and frustrated. This is taking a toll on our relationship.
This was a bit of a ramble (sorry), I just needed to get it off my chest. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I'm open to hearing them.
I had to go out of town for a week for work and he was dreading it and said that I don't understand how much he relies on me for support (he supported me going because he knew it was important to me) but as much as he relies on me for support, he keeps me in the dark and rarely shares anything about how he's feeling.
I have encouraged counseling (whether through work or finding someone on our own) and he refuses - he doesn't want to talk at all (did briefly when first diagnosed but it didn't help). I have suggested being more active to get fresh air, he will occasionally do this but not enough to make a difference. I've suggested trying medication as a tool to work towards getting better (I don't expect it to cure him), again he refuses. I've suggested seeing a doctor to address the knee and shoulder pain and he wont. I'm just at a loss... It doesn't matter how I present an idea he shuts it down. I know it's hard, and he's in a bad place but how do you help someone through it who just refuses to even try?
Side note: I will be starting counseling for myself soon, because I'm struggling with him. I love him more than anything and would do anything to help him, but I'm exhausted and frustrated. This is taking a toll on our relationship.
This was a bit of a ramble (sorry), I just needed to get it off my chest. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I'm open to hearing them.