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Relationship Help Please...

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Loyal to him

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I honestly don't know what to do anymore, I have done the research and read all I can about PTSD and the military, I have tried talking to my veteran, I've called the numbers, talked to family, and I just don't know what else to do.

He got back in 2008 from OEF Afghanistan. We were together through all of it, the deployment and all his time in the military, we were going to get married in september 2012, he was diagnosed with PTSD symptoms but stopped going to the VA for treatment, he was doing pretty good, moving on with our lives together and school. He just got diagnosed with survivors guilt this year too.

Everything was going pretty good, we were planning out wedding and life was great, never better, then in January 2012 he got out of the military, got offered a government job, realized he was graduating college, and by the end of February 2012 he had called off the wedding, the engagement, and our relationship, saying that he loved me, cared about me, that I was his only one, ect, but had to do this job alone.

We had still lived together for two months after and he became more and more distant, more and more shut off, started drinking more, sleeping on his gun, nightmares becoming worse, becoming paranoid that people were out to get him, among other things, but kept telling me that he loved me, but needed to do this alone and couldn't be in a relationhip right now.

I moved out at the end of April because I no longer could stay, his family and my family both agreed that it wasn't healthy for either of us and maybe me moving out is what he needed to open his eyes (for lack of a better term) and want to get help. His family, my family, and I had all suggested getting couples counseling and he refused and said there's nothing wrong with our relationship.

He has Been hiding everything from his friends and family. Only reason why his family knows what had happened is because I came to them because I was worried about him and his safety.

He lived alone in an empty town home for a month after I left, he pretty much camped out in the living room and drank a lot. He did graduate, how I don't know.

In that month I watched him deteriorate so much it was heart breaking, he moved in with his dad two weeks ago, he's told me he shut his emotions completely off about everything, doesn't care about himself, he was always so neat and particular hes not anymore, when he moved the town house was trashed, he's still drinking, started smoking, hanging with not a good crowd, his anger is getting worse just exploding out of no where, he's even more paranoid people where we work are now watching him, only the people I talk to, people are following him, he's said his heart and head isn't here, that he has nothing here, I've asked him well where is it at, he can't say.

He's forgetting momeries and/or how or what had happened, he blames me for how this has turned out, that I must be spreading rumors, I told him I definately am not, I don't know what he's talking about, I don't know of people we work with are talking crap to him or this is part of him being paranoid that people are watching him. He's completely shut off from me, our pets, his family, my family, his best friends, everyone.

He has told me that he hasn't told anyone anything about whats going on and I don't know why. He has told me I just can't say the words that you want to hear right now, I am another capable to work this out right now, I have to do this alone. I don't know what triggered it, and I'm very worried that if he doesn't get this job he will hurt himself, someone else, or both.

I don't want to give up, I'm ready to help, I'm trying to keep myself together to help him when he is ready. When he blames me for trying to take care of myself or better myself and that it's my fault its getting worse I feel not good enough, less than human.

This is/was the man I fell in love with saying this to me, it hurts so badly and breaks my heart and what's worse I can't do anything to help him, because he's not ready, he's in denial that there's something wrong. I hope this job he's going for will force him to get help or he sees that he needs it soon.

I feel like everyday I die more inside, I love him and care about him so much, I would take this struggle on for him if I could, I feel so helpless, I don't want to lose hope and it's just like everyday I am reminded of our dreams that are gone (I hope for now but will come back). I feel like I'm at the end of my rope, I don't know what else to do.

He has also forgotten his religion which was so important to him for his whole life, now that's gone too. It hurts so bady to watch someone you love so much just keep going down farther and farther and I can't do anything to help until he ready, he blames me, says he doesn't like people I talk to now (before he was friends with them too) and he doesn't like me talking to them.

I know I'm not alone and other people have it worse, I got that I really do, I just don't know what else to do, I don't want to give up, or move on from him, I truely feel like this is supposed to work itself out I just don't want to feel like its my fault anymore when I'm trying to do what's right.

If there are any questions please just ask, I might have left some stuff out.
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

You may want to ask these question in the supporter section. They have a great bunch of people there, many of whom are going through/ went through the same things you are.

I am a sufferer, and even though I have even gone so far as to leave my husband for a time I do not feel comfortable giving advice as I have never been on that side of the fence ( as a supporter). But I can tell you that there are some very helpful threads in the supporter section, that have even helped me with rebuilding the relationship with my husband.

I recommend these:

[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/waiting.16667/[/DLMURL]

[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/it-takes-more-than-love.9032/[/DLMURL]

[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-a-reality-check.4997/[/DLMURL]

[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/the-price-of-ptsd-on-relationships.4292/[/DLMURL]
 
Hi Loyal to him

Welcome to the forum.

I have moved your thread to the supporter relationship section. You will find lots of support and advice here.
 
Well, in all honesty, the first step to stop feeling like it's all your fault is by realizing how much of the situation you own and how much he owns...sometimes when you love someone, we have a tendancy to take on their problems and mis-communicate boundaries as a means of "safegaurding" them from themselves when they seem unable to protect or care for themselves, but this can get taken to extremes, and especially when a spouse, bf, gf, etc. is involved...basically our personal feelings sometimes that helped the person in the past don't have any real experience with dealing with something as strange as PTSD...it's a WHOLE different experience all together. This is his ailment, and all you can do is support him, and be a pillar of support for him, but primarily, like it's his job to make sure he eats, it's his job to become responsible for managing his condition by seeking help for it as well....you cannot make the descision to live his life for him by suffering with him...you can help him, but proper lines/boundaries need to be drawn to keep you together, and to keep him from draining you emotionally through this...PTSD can be one of those things that can swallow you and all those you love around you whole.

I think that you're doing all you can do, and for not being a certified trauma therapist, you're doing well because dealing with someone who suffers from this will DEEPLY test you, and some relationships don't survive it...you obviously love him, otherwise, why would you be reaching out for answers regarding this situation? I can only imagine how bad it hurts to love someone who hurts so badly, because I happen to have PTSD, but to deal with someone's erratic, moody, anxiety-ridden, emotions has got to be murder to your health as well...in all this, are you taking care of yourself? Are you making sure you have some support/outlet for yourself, and encouraging him to seek a therapist that specializes in truama therapy/recovery?

At any rate, I wish you two the best, and I hope you remain together, and revitalize your relationship...it maybe on the rocks, but as long as it's worth saving to you, than it can most certainly be done.
 
Thank you so much for responding, to be 100% honest, I am not taking that good of care of myself, I am also in college actually taking summer classes right now and I'm struggling in those much less not eating really, not sleeping a whole lot and when I do sleep it isn't restful. I try to make sure I workout and go running to relieve stress but that is even hard because I barely have the energy to do it. I jut started volunteering at the local dog pound walking the dogs to help them and hopefully help me get out more. I have been seeking counseling for myself and I am currently looking for a family counselor that is experienced with both military and PTSD counseling for friends, family, and partners.

Anytime I have encouraged him to try to seek help or consider seeking help it doesn't go well, it almost turns into an argument and he just says I don't need counseling. His family has tried and so has my family, we are all very concerned about his health and safety. I feel like when I try to suggest anything to him he will do the opposite and I push him away more so I stopped suggesting and just try to be there if he wants to talk and I started doing a lOt of research and reading to try to understand PTSD to the best of my abilities. Also I have tried to make as many connections for him to talk to someone or get treatment for this and I made sure I haves detailed printout of what the treatments actually are, I've read over them to understand and I have it ready for him when he gets to that point so he can have a better understanding what the treatments are along with both families.

I do love him more than I can describe and I can honestly say I do see what you mean about trying to do this for him or protect him from this, I just don't quite know how to let that go but still show I'm I care and love him. Even though he has shut off his emotions and feelings I love him, maybe even a little more because he can't love himself right now. You are right I do want to protect him, he's always watched out for me and I would die for him no questions asked. It's just so hard standing back and watching him fall..how do inlet that go but still be there and show I care and love him?

I do feel that our relationship is worth it, we went through so much together and came out the other side stronger than ever. Like I said I don't want to give up and I don't want to let go of him, but I guess it's a separation of what was and what is right now and what can be again when/if he gets treatment, that's really hard. He's an amazing person and I truely feel that if the roles were switched he wouldn't give up on me.
 
Hello,

Im currently going through the same thing. I know this post was originally posted over a year ago.
Any updates?
 
When suggesting counseling, try suggesting that you go with him as a means of bringing you both closer together. It can be confrontational to say, "you need counseling" or "please go to counseling". Combat vets already know that they are struggling with deep seated and not so deep seated memories that are causing them to lash out and withdraw. They sometimes struggle daily with the most basic of things, and with Veterans' Day coming, and all of the other memories and anniversaries, triggers can come from any area at any time. However, three mental barriers stand between them and counseling: the image of people in counseling being weak, a lack of trust for counseling, and a strong need to keep those memories hidden away as much as possible. They've worked hard to push those memories into a manageable box. Dragging them back up again is something to avoid at all costs.
 
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