Hey everyone,
It's been a while since I've been here. I actually took a break from the boards in April because I thought I was reading a lot into my friend's behaviors than what was actually there. So, I had thought if I just let things be and accept them, he and I could have a better relationship. He had a lot of "quirks" that I had chalked up to what I thought was PTSD because they actually kind of fit what I had read here and elsewhere on the internet. We didn't talk on the phone at all...just texted. I didn't see him much...and it was always last minute and on his terms. He would drop communication for various periods of time...sometimes for days and the longest period was for 6 weeks. We never went out in public and we always got together at his house during the day. And there were other things that were going on which I thought could be PTSD related.
Well....found out I was actually his side chick. All of those behaviors....were him having a significant other who didn't live with him at the time (she does now.) I don't doubt he does have PTSD. But, my judgement was clouded and I was much, much empathetic to he had it. Nothing ever really added up with him...but I wrote it off to "well, the poor guy has combat PTSD." A lot of stuff makes wayyyyyyy more sense now.
So, I'm just going to say this and I want to kind of be a warning to others who find that behaviors may not be adding up. Trust your gut. Don't be like me and blindly accept behaviors that may be confusing.
The bright side of all of this is recently, I was able to find a guy who's a retired fireman and he does not have PTSD. And going through what I just did makes me so much more grateful that I found him.
This is my farewell thread to the board. I didn't post much but I felt for each and every one of you....both supporters and sufferers. Good luck to all of you and I hope everything is well for you all.
It's been a while since I've been here. I actually took a break from the boards in April because I thought I was reading a lot into my friend's behaviors than what was actually there. So, I had thought if I just let things be and accept them, he and I could have a better relationship. He had a lot of "quirks" that I had chalked up to what I thought was PTSD because they actually kind of fit what I had read here and elsewhere on the internet. We didn't talk on the phone at all...just texted. I didn't see him much...and it was always last minute and on his terms. He would drop communication for various periods of time...sometimes for days and the longest period was for 6 weeks. We never went out in public and we always got together at his house during the day. And there were other things that were going on which I thought could be PTSD related.
Well....found out I was actually his side chick. All of those behaviors....were him having a significant other who didn't live with him at the time (she does now.) I don't doubt he does have PTSD. But, my judgement was clouded and I was much, much empathetic to he had it. Nothing ever really added up with him...but I wrote it off to "well, the poor guy has combat PTSD." A lot of stuff makes wayyyyyyy more sense now.
So, I'm just going to say this and I want to kind of be a warning to others who find that behaviors may not be adding up. Trust your gut. Don't be like me and blindly accept behaviors that may be confusing.
The bright side of all of this is recently, I was able to find a guy who's a retired fireman and he does not have PTSD. And going through what I just did makes me so much more grateful that I found him.
This is my farewell thread to the board. I didn't post much but I felt for each and every one of you....both supporters and sufferers. Good luck to all of you and I hope everything is well for you all.
