While there are many of us I still think that effects of combat PTSD play a bigger role on the Sufferer but the Supporters role is still variable dependent on the person. What I'm trying to say is I have a husband who is Ex Military yet I was not with him while in the military, he has Combat PTSD, is getting better at managing himself and I don't see my struggles being any different than those who have Sufferers with PTSD from other reasons. I also don't understand 'military' life nor do I want to.
The major difference, I found for me, is in something I read that Anthony actually wrote the other day - he mentioned that after war things which 'normal' people consider as an issue are not as important/hurtful/meaningful to them as they have seen far worse. This IMO then leads to them treating 'us' with a more dismissive attitude when we deal with them and day to day issues but for us they are big issues as we have not seen worse or been through worse so our perception starts at a different level. Does that make sense?