Need To Get Lost.......

[Numb82]

I feel like I just need to get away. Load up my saddle bags, pack a tent, get on the bike and ride. No cell phones, no computers or internet, no worries, and no people. I just want to get lost. But I have a family and a job that I need to take care of. I have emotional numbness due to my ptsd. My wife is trying her best to help but it just makes me worse in my opinion. I just don't care any more.

 

[Jimmy1]

Welcome Numb82,

What you have is common amongst all of us so your not alone mate. The body's natural reaction when your emotionally hurting normally is to burst into a blabbering mess, but you obviously have had military training and the military teach you to lock all your emotions away. You are not allowed to smile, you are not allowed to cry.

The going for a ride is actually a good idea to clear the head, the only problem with that usually is that you have a lot on your mind and might not have the full concentration needed. But isolating is something that we all do. Is there somewhere you can go in your house and be by yourself? Does your family understand about PTSD?
I will answer some more later.

If you could do us all a courtesy and post an intro in the introduction area. It will give us all an idea of what country you actually live in and where you have served. It just makes it easier and there might be some guys that can give you some direction.

Cheers

Jimmy

 

[Numb82]

Sorry, I have served 2 deployments in Iraq with the 101st out of Ft. Campbell, KY. Once in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008. My wife has been reading about PTSD and deals with it the best as she can. I will post an introduction too. Thank you.

 

[Ted Moen]

PTSD is all about intrusive feelings making us uncomfortable in our current situation. Recovery is all about learning to manage our behavior with the intrusive feelings raging in the background, behaving appropriately in our current situation, participating appropriately in our set of current relationships and activities. Of course you feel like you need to get away, and convincing ourselves we no longer care is a normal part of intrusive feelings. What you want to get away from is actually the intrusive feelings, but you can't get away from them, they are part of you, so you break off current relationships and activities instead.

Passing on the advice of one of my favorite therapists, the challenge is to behave in our current situation as we would have if we were not experiencing the intrusive feelings.

Ted