Hi everyone. I'm so thankful I've found this forum.
Just to give you a little background about me, my boyfriend recently returned from his second deployment, this one to Afghanistan. Upon his return, he was diagnosed with PTSD. Thankfully, he is open to and welcoming treatment.
He's always shared how he's feeling with me, albeit not in depth. Until recently I had chalked up everything he had been feeling and how he was behaving to just how he needed to handle being at war - compartmentalizing. When I learned of his diagnosis, I did a LOT of internet research and spoke with some wonderful friends who've been in my shoes, including one who's a PTSD sufferer herself. What I've learned has made me feel like a major jerk.
Why? Because based on what I've read, he really started exhibiting symptoms of PTSD about 3 months into this deployment. I recall a conversation we had back then about a particularly bad event, and now recognize that his symptoms started shortly thereafter and progressed over time, particularly those related to feelings of helplessness, avoidance, mistrust, guilt, irritability, numbness/detachment, and pretty severe trouble sleeping due to nightmares and negative thoughts. He was also engaging in some impulsive, risky behavior. As the deployment continued, several more bad things happened, and when they happened, his symptoms would increase. It was very up and down. He'd have good days/weeks, followed by bad days/weeks. I thought he was just "dealing."
I internalize a lot, and over-analyze. So, until very recently, I took it all personally, particularly when he's irritable, which feels like all the time lately, or when he withdraws, which is whenever any sort of emotion is brought up. My reactions have probably made it harder for him to process the trauma and experiences he's been through.
Thankfully, if there's such thing as degrees of PTSD, it doesn't seem like his is as bad as I've read it could be.
Anyway, I've already learned so much just from reading this forum over the past week. Hopefully I can learn more, and maybe even help out where I can. :)
Just to give you a little background about me, my boyfriend recently returned from his second deployment, this one to Afghanistan. Upon his return, he was diagnosed with PTSD. Thankfully, he is open to and welcoming treatment.
He's always shared how he's feeling with me, albeit not in depth. Until recently I had chalked up everything he had been feeling and how he was behaving to just how he needed to handle being at war - compartmentalizing. When I learned of his diagnosis, I did a LOT of internet research and spoke with some wonderful friends who've been in my shoes, including one who's a PTSD sufferer herself. What I've learned has made me feel like a major jerk.
Why? Because based on what I've read, he really started exhibiting symptoms of PTSD about 3 months into this deployment. I recall a conversation we had back then about a particularly bad event, and now recognize that his symptoms started shortly thereafter and progressed over time, particularly those related to feelings of helplessness, avoidance, mistrust, guilt, irritability, numbness/detachment, and pretty severe trouble sleeping due to nightmares and negative thoughts. He was also engaging in some impulsive, risky behavior. As the deployment continued, several more bad things happened, and when they happened, his symptoms would increase. It was very up and down. He'd have good days/weeks, followed by bad days/weeks. I thought he was just "dealing."
I internalize a lot, and over-analyze. So, until very recently, I took it all personally, particularly when he's irritable, which feels like all the time lately, or when he withdraws, which is whenever any sort of emotion is brought up. My reactions have probably made it harder for him to process the trauma and experiences he's been through.
Thankfully, if there's such thing as degrees of PTSD, it doesn't seem like his is as bad as I've read it could be.
Anyway, I've already learned so much just from reading this forum over the past week. Hopefully I can learn more, and maybe even help out where I can. :)
