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General Husband Has Ptsd. Need Advice On Being A Good Supporter.

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Lola Burns

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My husband recently returned from in-patient care for his PTSD and alcohol abuse. He wants to start making positive changes in his life and in our marriage. I want to share his experiences with him and help him grow. However, he does not view me as a safe person to share his pain with due to my lack of knowledge and experience with alcohol, deployments, and childhood trauma. Is there any tips or advice that can help him feel safer around me?
 
First off, you need to set some boundaries. As an example: I will not allow anyone to physically hurt me. You are not allowed to throw things at me. Then have him set some boundaries on what you can and cannot do. For example: you cannot ask me about what happened XYZ. Don't tell me you'll never leave me. (the reason for this is because that is making a promise you don't know you can keep, no matter how much you love a person). Don't touch me unless you tell me your going to.

If a boundary is crossed, there must be consequences. Each person is held accountable for what they do. For example: If you don't get help for XYZ, then I'm not staying in the house with you. I will not be able to sleep with you if you XYZ. Then, you follow through by either leaving for an hour or more, or whatever it is that you've set up as the punishment for whatever.

Second, try to understand that it's hard for someone with a trauma background to share horrible things with someone who has not been there. We fear you won't understand why we did what we had to do in order to survive.
Now you might feel that you could take it for him, but trust me, you might not be able to.

Does this make sense to you?
 
It does make sense. Thanks for your help. It is just hard sometimes because he really isn't angry or mean towards me. I mean we had some issues back when he was drinking heavily, but he has been sober now for three months. I know he is frustrated with me because he feels like he can't talk to me. I am trying really hard to be caring and understanding so that he can feel safe around me.

One of his requests was for me to become more knowledgeable on PTSD. He gave me this website so I could start communicating with people who have PTSD, or family members who are being effected by PTSD.
 
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