New To The Forum

[AntBlas]

Hello everyone I am new to this forum.
A little background info.
I am 27 years old Ive spent all my adult life in service. After highschool i joined the Marine Corps and served from 2002-2006 got out and served in the GA National Guard from 2006-Present. I am also a Police Officer. I have been able to control my anger, irritablity, and my anxiety. Recently I lost a friend of mine on the department and my partner was injured causing him to be put on a chemically induced coma. I have been able to control my feelins and problems from the military, losing brothers and living. But these recent events have tossed me over the edge and my relationship with the woman I love is being strained to the point of no return. The VA is a lost cause and I was just wondering if any of you have been able to find alternative ways of helping.

 

[BigBear]

Hi AntBlas,

One thing I would recommend, at least if she handle it, is to get her involved here. It is amazing how much easier it is to deal with PTSD if you understand it better. I lived with my wife having undiagnosed PTSD for 12 years. Suddenly we are diagnosed and the world has turned upside down. Now it is like I've joined my wife's squad and am getting to fight along side her. Please don't get me wrong. Unfortunately, I was never in the military. But I think the analogy should be reasonable.

HTH and welcome,

Bear

 

[cherryblossom]

Hi AntBlas

I certainly don't have the same trauma history as you. However, this forum is great place to get information and support. I have no doubt that others here will be able to answer your questions much better than I can. In the mean time read, and learn all you can about PTSD - understanding it, is your best way of learning to manage the symptoms

Welcome to the forum
CB

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I don't have much to say...I can't offer much because I haven't gone through what you have. This forum is a lot of help and even if our experience are different we all mange to try to help one another. I recommend starting a trauma diary, its very helpful to just be able to get it all off your chest. Lots of support here. :)

Welcome to the Forum :) :) :)

 

[OKRADLAK]

Welcome, Ant.........I hope you can find practical help here. I am without a therapist and have found the practical ideas here to be a lifesaver, literally.

I dated a man who was a soldier and he had PTSD. I could not help him much because he took it out on me, but I also learned the VA was not too helpful in regard to him. They make certain GI's an example and help the heck out of them when a politician is coming! HOWEVER, that does not mean they don't help. There are a lot of GI"s on here who have been through it all and I hope they can offer you help.

We are all here to help one another and I hope you feel that here. Welcome.

 

[Maleigh]

Wow like the rest I have little in common, but I do have two things in common. Survivors guilt seems to have occurred with me and with your partner in a chemical induced coma leaves one feeling helpless, like there isn't anything anyone can do, but as in recent events with Congressman Gifford there is some hope.

She was placed in a chemical coma and even though we are seeing new photos of her 6 months later, she is a survivor.

Please the best thing your partner needs now is your hope, faith and positive flow and even though you say you dealt with the military tragedies, maybe they were just held in and all coming out in this event of your partner. I know with me as tragedy kept striking time and time again I just kept internalizing until it took one event for everything to come out, and maybe it is all of those coming out now.

I saw this with my father after the Viet Nam War.

Also when going through my brain tumor and the surgeries and the stress I endured, my husband couldn't handle the heat and it wasn't anything I could or couldn't do. He had to make a decision as to whether he was willing to use the resources to get through this with me and he chose not to, he left in some unusual circumstances.

Time has healed that wound but it still has a little impact on me today, but you can move forward and I love how you continue to serve our country and protect our freedoms. Just make sure you take time to heal you and to proactive things for you, to be able to handle all the situations this has caused upon your life.

I know with me with this recent death not saving the girl, I went back to basics and just started doing simple day to day things I enjoy for relax and peace and went horse back riding. The motions of day to day things we love slowly help us deal with things, the experiences never leave us.

But we have two choices to make, either let it affect us in a negative way and destroy our lives, or choose to find something positive from it that we can do to change us and others through what we have learned through it.

Not sure that helps, but we sure appreciate you.

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