Sufferer Just Getting Stuff Out - Husband Hung Himself

[JstGtnItOut]

Hey to anyone reading this. I’ve been through some stuff and never talk about it. Then I googled ptsd forums and this is the first one that I clicked on and decided to make an account. I figured I could get stuff off my chest and no one knowing who I am and maybe get some support from people who understand a little better than the people in my life. I haven’t had any traumatic events happen in 4 years but it’s still a struggle sometimes. My story is actually pretty long, but the main part of it is that my husband had hung himself in a tree because of his drug problem and me leaving him until he got straightened out... he done it in front of me and I had to cut him down and save his life, rode in the ambulance with him then stayed with him in the hospital and never left his side. He was in ICU sedated for 3 days then he was for the most part ok. Then he stayed for 3 more days in a regular room at the hospital, then went to a mental hospital, then went to rehab for his drug problem when he got discharged. Everybody has been good since then, it sucks that I’m still struggling from all the stuff in the past sometimes because he’s doing so good now. I just wish I could get over it but I have flashbacks randomly that remind me of it. Not just of what happened but the feelings I had, the panic I felt... just all of it comes back to me... like it’s happening all over again. well that’s me just venting a little and sharing a little bit of my story.

 

[ladee]

Sorry to hear of your situation. But it is very rare for someone to have PTSD from one trauma. As hard as it was, it may not meet the criteria for PTSD.

Have you been diagnosed by a qualified Dr?

Don't misunderstand. My heart hurts that you had to go thru this with him. And I am not minimizing the things you are going thru now.

Just saying you may need therapy and support, but not have PTSD.

 

[Gs172003]

Hey to anyone reading this. I’ve been through some stuff and never talk about it. Then I googled ptsd forums and this is the first one that I clicked on and decided to make an account. I figured I could get stuff off my chest and no one knowing who I am and maybe get some support from people who understand a little better than the people in my life. I haven’t had any traumatic events happen in 4 years but it’s still a struggle sometimes. My story is actually pretty long, but the main part of it is that my husband had hung himself in a tree because of his drug problem and me leaving him until he got straightened out... he done it in front of me and I had to cut him down and save his life, rode in the ambulance with him then stayed with him in the hospital and never left his side. He was in ICU sedated for 3 days then he was for the most part ok. Then he stayed for 3 more days in a regular room at the hospital, then went to a mental hospital, then went to rehab for his drug problem when he got discharged. Everybody has been good since then, it sucks that I’m still struggling from all the stuff in the past sometimes because he’s doing so good now. I just wish I could get over it but I have flashbacks randomly that remind me of it. Not just of what happened but the feelings I had, the panic I felt... just all of it comes back to me... like it’s happening all over again. well that’s me just venting a little and sharing a little bit of my story.

I'm so sorry that happened to you! Welcome to the forums. I hope you find what you need here

Sorry to hear of your situation. But it is very rare for someone to have PTSD from one trauma. As hard as it was, it may not meet the criteria for PTSD.

Have you been diagnosed by a qualified Dr?

Don't misunderstand. My heart hurts that you had to go thru this with him. And I am not minimizing the things you are going thru now.

Just saying you may need therapy and support, but not have PTSD.

I have to say that's a new one on me..

I wasn't aware that there had to be multiple traumas to be diagnosed with PTSD.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Hey to anyone reading this. I’ve been through some stuff and never talk about it. Then I googled ptsd forums and this is the first one that I clicked on and decided to make an account. I figured I could get stuff off my chest and no one knowing who I am and maybe get some support from people who understand a little better than the people in my life. I haven’t had any traumatic events happen in 4 years but it’s still a struggle sometimes. My story is actually pretty long, but the main part of it is that my husband had hung himself in a tree because of his drug problem and me leaving him until he got straightened out... he done it in front of me and I had to cut him down and save his life, rode in the ambulance with him then stayed with him in the hospital and never left his side. He was in ICU sedated for 3 days then he was for the most part ok. Then he stayed for 3 more days in a regular room at the hospital, then went to a mental hospital, then went to rehab for his drug problem when he got discharged. Everybody has been good since then, it sucks that I’m still struggling from all the stuff in the past sometimes because he’s doing so good now. I just wish I could get over it but I have flashbacks randomly that remind me of it. Not just of what happened but the feelings I had, the panic I felt... just all of it comes back to me... like it’s happening all over again. well that’s me just venting a little and sharing a little bit of my story.

@JstGtnItOut While ladee makes a good point about how PTSD is diagnosed, and there are specific criteria, I think it is appropriate to say that watching someone you love try to kill themselves must have been horrible, traumatic, and I'd probably have had flashbacks and/or nightmares if that had been me and not you. But she's right in the fact that to get a handle on your symptoms and feelings, seeing a trauma therapist a prudent decision. Do you see one now?

 

[ladee]

I said it was 'rare', not impossible. Having a professional diagnosis helps in any treatment plan.

 

[hithere]

really sorry-that sounds horrible. Have you tried to get any help for this? I have never heard that a diagnosis for PTSD required more than one traumatic event. I don't believe that is correct. I just wanted to say what a trauma you have gone through. Welcome.

 

[Gs172003]

I said it was 'rare', not impossible. Having a professional diagnosis helps in any treatment plan.

My mistake. Though, I haven't heard that either. Interesting.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I said it was 'rare', not impossible. Having a professional diagnosis helps in any treatment plan.

@ladee I agree.

 

[Kubash16]

I am so so very sorry!

As far as the PTSD criteria- I think this would actually meet. If me watching my father die counts (as professionals do say that it does), I’m thinking just because he didn’t complete his suicide, this still counts. Not a doc though so ya.

 

[TruthSeeker]

My daughter was given the criteria of PTSD because of her husbands, gruesome death. Everyone is different.

 

[JstGtnItOut]

Thank you all for replying. What I mentioned in the original post was just the major trauma I went through. I had a few others a few years before this event with him and leading up to it. And also somethings that happened at the hospital as well that wasn’t major but still have flashbacks from all of it. It was a very hard journey. I just struggle the most with the images from his suicide attempt. He almost died. When I cut him down he hit the ground very hard and he was foaming out the mouth, I had called 911 as I was holding his legs up to try to take the tension off of his neck, then I realized I had to cut him down, I ran inside and got some sewing scissors of my mom’s and cut him down. The 911 operator could hear him snore breathing very slowly and told me to do cpr on him. I can remember saying “oh no! he has foam on his mouth” and continued to do cpr on him then that’s when the ambulance got there and they took over. I remember his eyes glazed over and going in different directions... the way his mouth looked... the way it sounded when he hit the ground... it was real bad. No matter how much detail I put in that event on here... no one would ever know how I felt. It was like hell on earth. I love my husband more than words could ever explain. I’ve known him since 6th grade. I’m thankful every day that I was able to save him, I just wish I wasn’t haunted by it. I had tried counseling but it was too hard on me to talk about out loud.

 

[ladee]

@JstGtnItOut I am sorry your introduction was hijacked by me not simply asking if you had been diagnosed with PTSD.

Welcome. I am very sorry for what you have experienced. And my heart hurts for what you are experiencing now. Hope you stay around and see if the forum can help. Sending hugs of understanding.