General Emotionally Burned Out???

[Trice]

I woke up this morning not quite myself. For the past few weeks I haven't been myself. I have been sticking by the side of someone who refuses to get help with PTSD. I have become a little withdrawn, irritable, and emotionally numb. Has anyone experienced anything like this. I am usually a really outgoing person and happy for the most part but today I realized that I am not in a good place.

 

[Never Give Up]

You are not alone in this area. You may see others with similar symptoms and emotional fatigue as a supporter. I had a wife who refused to get help or a diagnosis. It was 5 months of unpredictable hell for me. I found out this past weekend that she was just grieving and hurting those around her.

My advice to you (if you would consider it) take care of yourself first. You will not and cannot take care of yourself or anyone else if you are in your own depression. Find someone you can talk to and no matter what....do not take personal any harsh words that may come out. You are not alone and this forum has many great individuals who can lead you through the PTSD maze.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Hi Trice,
I think that you should put yourself first. I know that you care deeply about your sufferer, but how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice in order to keep this person in your life? Sufferers deserve love, but what we don't deserve to do is drag down everyone around us by refusing to get help. I hope that your sufferer gets help soon, but if this person doesn't, will you be able to stand by their side if it means that you go downhill?

I am a sufferer myself.

 

[Trice]

Thank you guys.. I have an appointment with a life coach/therapist next week and I started putting some distance between me and my partner. I just want a break and for her to wake up.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Compassion fatigue and compassion burnout... it's a real thing, and you are not alone. You start out enthusiastic and sympathetic, then the more you have to bear the brunt of lashing out behavior, you start to lose your sympathy and understanding. It can easily turn into resentment if you can't get some help for yourself.

 

[Bim]

I have been with my sufferer for about 8 weeks now... Before I decided to start a relationship with him I already braced myself - that this is going to be an uphill climb. I agree with the others that we (supporters) should take care of ourselves first in order for us to be effective for our sufferers. I try not to associate his negative behavior to his feelings for me. It doesn't mean that because he decides not to pick me up from work he doesn't care for me anymore. We have to be strong where they are weak - to assure them that we are here to battle PTSD with them. And we have to be weak where they are strong - to show them that there many things in the relationship and in life that they can take charge of like the responsible and reliable people that they used to be, still are and will always be.

 

[Ladyghosthunter]

You know, I had to do a lot of thinking after reading many of your posts. Being in my walk, this has been very difficult because I am losing friends that I am seeing were NOT worth a **** in the first place and my senses are more acute when it comes to people around me. People are looking at me as though I wear angel wings in the back of me and right now, all I can do is just breathe and continue on my way. Relationships; I've given up on them. Although I apologized to one, I feel that this guy was a douchebag from the beginning however I did the Christian thing and he claims he's a Christian. Actually I talked to someone and they stated his ways are demonic.
Lovely. I think a nap is in order.

 

[Never Give Up]

If anyone calls themselves a Christian but you see just the opposite and actually have to question their profession of Faith, Run!
I am not here to judge others....but Christianity should be a transformation on many levels and their actions show without making an announcement to others.