Hi!
I stumbled upon this website a few months ago in a desperate attempt to learn more about my fiance's Combat PTSD, specifially what it does to him, because I know very well what it does to me. I wanted to get some insight on what might go through his mind when he is suffering the worst. I have never really formally introduced myself however.
I am a single mom with two school age daughters. We live in the mid-west of the US. I was divorced almost 8 years ago. I have many characteristics that clash very badly with PTSD. I'm whiney, needy, self-centered, and can be very annoying. I've got enough good things to make up for it though! (great self-esteem for one! haha!). I am also blessed with a very forgiving spirit, but I have to watch that so I don't enable people to mistreat me. I love my fiance with all my heart and am determined to give him my best.
M. is a Sgt with the National Guard, he's 36 now and he joined the Navy at 19. He served on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf War with the Navy and then switched gears and joined the National Guard and was deployed again to the middle east for OIF 1 and OIF 3. (This is where his combat PTSD became embedded in him I think, he survived some really horrible things I think). Unless he gets medically discharged due to the PTSD (he could now, but he needs to follow-up on some things and seems to have very little interest in doing so) he will retire with 20 yrs of service in 3-1/2 years. He will be done with the military but I'm afraid the military will never be done with him. He is divorced and has two children. He is a very loving caring man with a noble heart. He can also act like the cruelest a-hole and a hurtful selfish man with no regard to anyone's feelings whatsoever. But that is not him, I know this. He doesn't deserve to be so hurt, scared and angry that he retaliates when stressed until he feels nothing. No one wants to feel nothing "a bag of poo" in his words.
How can I best help him??
I stumbled upon this website a few months ago in a desperate attempt to learn more about my fiance's Combat PTSD, specifially what it does to him, because I know very well what it does to me. I wanted to get some insight on what might go through his mind when he is suffering the worst. I have never really formally introduced myself however.
I am a single mom with two school age daughters. We live in the mid-west of the US. I was divorced almost 8 years ago. I have many characteristics that clash very badly with PTSD. I'm whiney, needy, self-centered, and can be very annoying. I've got enough good things to make up for it though! (great self-esteem for one! haha!). I am also blessed with a very forgiving spirit, but I have to watch that so I don't enable people to mistreat me. I love my fiance with all my heart and am determined to give him my best.
M. is a Sgt with the National Guard, he's 36 now and he joined the Navy at 19. He served on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf War with the Navy and then switched gears and joined the National Guard and was deployed again to the middle east for OIF 1 and OIF 3. (This is where his combat PTSD became embedded in him I think, he survived some really horrible things I think). Unless he gets medically discharged due to the PTSD (he could now, but he needs to follow-up on some things and seems to have very little interest in doing so) he will retire with 20 yrs of service in 3-1/2 years. He will be done with the military but I'm afraid the military will never be done with him. He is divorced and has two children. He is a very loving caring man with a noble heart. He can also act like the cruelest a-hole and a hurtful selfish man with no regard to anyone's feelings whatsoever. But that is not him, I know this. He doesn't deserve to be so hurt, scared and angry that he retaliates when stressed until he feels nothing. No one wants to feel nothing "a bag of poo" in his words.
How can I best help him??