First Post

[jackrabbit]

Welcome, brother, and congrats on the kid! Good stuff!

And glad you're using it as a base for getting your head on straight. You're making the right call.

 

[preston falls]

101--

It's great that you and your wife are having a kid. It's wonderful. Believe me, by the time he or she is old enough to ask you questions about the sand, most of what you feel now can be behind you. It happened that way for me. My first son was born in 1980 and I realized my life was changed--no, it was like it had suddenly started. I had a new purpose and an overwhelming love for someone that I'd never felt before. I quit drugs. I quit cigarettes. I cut down on my drinking--all for him. Three years later, I had the same rebirth with my second son. They gave me reasons to live and enjoy life. Life itself was enough to keep me going. It may not seem so now, but it will come for you, too.

Having kids didn't solve all my problems. It created some, usually small ones. And parts of my PTSD didn't just disappear. But I had important things happening to me besides my problems. I coached little league teams for seven years. I played basketball again, began to swim competitively again, enjoyed baseball again--all because my kids did. When they left home for college, I suffered, as I'm sure most parents do. That's when I was diagnosed. But I still had their love and respect, and that helped me through the next stage of depression. I got through it.

Hearing your reply was really good news. You can start working on it now.

Falls

 

[Jimmy1]

[quote="OIFVet101, post: 33276, member: 1856"
Anyway, I look forward to meeting you guys.[/quote]

Hey mate, a big welcome from Australia. This site is probably the best site on the net and I am not being biased either. There are lots around, but the majority are full of trolls, wannabe's, and fellow vets that think if you were in a plane, on a boat or inside the wire you don't belong. They are the ones that don't understand PTSD.

The best thing you can do is to keep doing what your doing, if that makes sense. A lot of people have mixed feelings about medication, but in the early days of dealing with your trauma's through therapy, it is the best thing, it helps calm the mind so you can get this done.
Ultimately, with the right therapy, and learning what to do when your 'Cup' is filling up rapidly, you will be able to talk freely about your experiences without going into the gory details of your worst nightmares and not go to pieces.

This takes time though mate and you have a little bit on your side before your little one is old enough to ask.

The most important thing though mate is to work on yourself and keep your misses in the loop. There are some great articles on here to help her too.

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And this video, even though it was made for Vietnam Veterans, it explains it all.

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Welcome again mate.

Jimmy

 

[Lee C]

Welcome on-board mate

 

[preston falls]

As you can see, there are guys here who know what you feel and are here to help. I hope the trip to the VA was worthwhile. One way or another, be patient and hang in there.

 

[steve1]

Welcome. I've found lots of good info & advice on here. Good luck with your VA "battles".