• We are a multilingual website again. Read the notice about this.
  • Understand AI use at MyPTSD: all AI use is explained in our AI help page. AI use is by choice here. It exists if you want it, but does nothing unless you choose to use it.

I Wish I Came Upon This Site Years Ago...now I'm Praying It's Not To Late.

Status
Not open for further replies.
I suppose that part of what I'm thinking is that if it i

I think for me, growing up with a father that...

If you consider yourself a 'workaholic' maybe going to Al-anon meetings would help you or AA. I started going because my ex was a workaholic that had an Alcoholic father. He really was an Alcoholic that didn't drink. Plus my vet is a recovering Alcoholic

I have been dealing with so much anger and frustration that I had done a few things to my guy and wasn't able to trust him. Plus I have had a hard time just moving on with my life to find happiness again. With Al-Anon you work on yourself and learning to find that inner peace and serenity.

You might feel better at Al-Anon since you don't have a drinking problem.
 
If you consider yourself a 'workaholic' maybe going to Al-anon meetings would help you or AA. I start...
I have attended al anon a few times because of my father's alcoholism. It wasn't the best fit for me...it may not hurt to try again, though.

'buttocks'??? Are we not allowed to say A$$ on here??? I can slip and say some cuss words I guess I n...
Don't get me wrong, I've worked in construction for 25 years now...I could put a trucker to shame with my mouth sometimes...but I thought I'd be nice since nothing ever comes off of the net!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I just go to the point I had to have some other support group. The depression of my Vet was getting me down too much. So I think the Al-Anon will help with that.
 
Well, I took some of your advice mixed with a little of my own and I think it went fairly well. I told him that even though he has the right to choose to leave me while he's going through this, that I also have the right to choose to stay right here and wait for him. I told him that he can have all the space in the world he needs right now, but our family is staying together. He didn't come out and "agree", but he was very receptive. His tone changed dramatically from the beginning of the conversation until the end. I told him that we don't have to get married right now because he's obviously not ready, and he's more important than the paper to me. Hopefully, this can take one piece of his stress away for now. He hasn't called me tonight, but that's okay...I wasn't expecting him to. I will let him take his distance and wait here for him for now.
I'm glad I found this site, because I feel as though I have a chance to keep my sanity while we're going through this. Thank you all!
 
I'm so happy for you! I hope things continue to improve for you and your partner. Good luck! (And keep visiting the forum for support!)
 
I'm so happy for you! I hope things continue to improve for you and your partner. Good luck! (And ke...
Thank you so much for that! He even sent me a good night text tonight. I'm ecstatic...it doesn't take much, huh? I have a lot of hope....and I'm glad for the work I have ahead of me now that I've found this site! I don't mind work when I know it will help me and my family be happier!
 
casamest: 872110 said:
I am very new to this site as I only found it a few months ago. My experiences are somewhat limited w...
Im in the same boat as you. My BF and i have been together for a year and a half and he has been isolating himself from me. How do you stay strong when he does this to you?
 
Im in the same boat as you. My BF and i have been together for a year and a half and he has been...
I really find the only way I survive is to take care of myself and my kids and my business first. I don't let it completely consume me. The first day of an "episode" is the hardest, because it's always a fresh wound, but each subsequent one is easier. I let myself feel my feelings.
I send him a text every day so he knows I'm here. I don't lie to him or "protect" him from my feelings. If I'm hurt, I tell him, but in a way that isn't adding to things. I'll say something like, "I'm really tired today" or "Today I don't feel very strong"....he will usually respond by the end of the day. If they "give" you a short one or two word answer, take it as the gift it is. It may seem like nothing to us, but for them, it was literally all or more than they had to give.
I also see my therapist while this is happening, because I don't want to wear out my friends. Most of them don't understand anyway. I always use the times he isolates to do the extra hard work I need to do on myself. I figure if the worst case scenario happens (ie he leaves for real), I want to be in a place that I'm a catch....not broken. I know it isn't about me. He doesn't just isolate from me, he isolates from everyone except his young son, (thank God!) I know it takes a lot for him to do that, and I know his son "needs" him more than I do.
I keep myself as independent as possible, so when he has enough strength to start reconnecting (and he always does) I'm not a mess sending him into a tailspin before he's even back. The first episode was the worst one, because I didn't have the tools or techniques yet. Heck, we didn't even know about the PTSD yet! It also took the longest amount of time for him to "come back". I didn't give him as much space as I did last time or this time. When I truly give him his space, I think he appreciates it and doesn't push me away as long or as hard because I'm removing the stressor.
 
So yesterday was a "hard" one. I was feeling a bit down. I sent him a text in the morning, "I need strength today" followed by "...do you love me?" After about an hour he replied, "Yes. I do." I answered, "okay". Well, it was still sort of a down day, so in the afternoon I sent him another text (yes I broke my own rule about only texting once a day....) that said "I hate that I don't know what to say or do". I didn't get a reply right away, nor did I expect one. Last night he texted me, "do you want me to call for a little bit tonight? Will that help you?" I felt so bad! I felt guilty and happy all at the same time. I answered "that is completely up to you". I certainly didn't want him to feel pushed. He answered, "I will later tonight"

He did call, but I was still in a somber place. I was kind, but distant. I was feeling unsure, so I didn't want to make things worse. I explained how I'm feeling to him and we had a decent conversation. I told him what I needed from him and what I was willing to do. He told me that he appreciates what I am doing, but isn't ready to say anything else and wanted to go, so I told him goodnight. It sucks to be so vulnerable. I know logically that everything is going to be okay, because the signs are definitely there, but it still hurts in the meantime. It's hard not to take it personal, when it involves the most personal part of your life.

I'm frustrated that such a sweet man doesn't see any of the good in life right now...especially between us. I hate that he doesn't see the love and the effort it takes. I hate that he's unhappy and because I'm closest to him, it's "all my fault". He knows it isn't, I know it isn't, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel like it is. Grrrrr.....Damn you PTSD!!!! (shaking my fist wildly)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Donation drives

2026 Donation Goal

Goal
$1,800.00
Earned
$910.00
This donation drive ends in
0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
  50.6%

Trending content

Featured content

Back
Top Bottom