General Experience With Moving?

[Deleted member 25222]

Hi All,

My husband has complex PTSD and we're talking about moving as we both grew up in this town and it's just full of triggers for him and I'm just ready to get out of this town as it doesn't have many job opportunities. Does anybody have any experience with a spouse with PTSD and moving and if it helped symptoms, worsened etc.

Neither of us have a strong support network where we live anyways. I have one friend, he sort of has his mom and then we both have each other.

 

[Justmehere]

I moved to get away from triggers and my hometown that I grew up in and experienced so much trauma in. It was a very good decision for me. The move itself was a trigger, and very stressful to do - but for me, it was very much worth it. My PTSD moved with me, but once I got settled in my new community, it was significantly easier to manage triggers and make progress in healing. I was able to deal with things more on my own terms. I was also able to build a much healthier support system.

If there isn't really anything substantial for you to stay for, and there would be more job opportunities in another town, then I would suggest exploring moving together. Worst case scenario, if you do move and things are worse, you could always move right on back.

 

[desiderata310]

I recently moved as far away from my hometown and all the triggers and places associated with past abuse. It's been hard but worth it.

 

[Meadowsweet]

I've moved to be somewhere that I feel I can't be found. It has made PTSD symptoms easier to manage.

Moving itself was very stressful and I would have preferred not to witness removal men treating mine and my childrens things with such disrespect. And I have thought that if I moved again I would try to find someone I knew to help, rather than strangers. With some fore-thought I might have prepared better. So perhaps it's worth looking at what triggers your husband has, and finding solutions to that if you can.

The other thing I would say, is it could be disappointing if there is an expectation that it will get rid of PTSD, because it doesn't. But if there is no expectation or miracles happening, then I think it can be very beneficial to move.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I moved out of the toxic small town I lived in for twenty five years and it was the best thing for me and for my husband. No more triggers or panic attacks or dread driving past houses of toxic people I once thought were my friends.

I wish you well. Just pick a place that you both truly love.

 

[Deleted member 25222]

Thank you all! We've decided we're going to move and based on experiences we've read we're going to try to plan as much as we can to minimize the stress for both of us (as much as we can) and set a timeline for next spring/early summer. Trying not to have unrealistic expectations as we both know PTSD is lifelong, but definitely feel it's in both our best interests.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences!

 

[Meadowsweet]

I'm pleased that you have been able to make a positive decision together, and hope that your move brings new hope and a fresh start x