You can get through it
Bronze Member
Hi Angus
To have your love constantly tested in this way is cruel; PTSD is by its very nature a destructive force, therefore to sometimes have our destructive thoughts confirmed by the action of others may give those destructive thoughts some validity, and so the vicious cycle of crash and burn starts all over again.
On the other side of the coin you also have needs and it sounds to me that you’re display of caring emotions are being manipulated and used against you, even if only by the very fact you are a rock in the relationship, and as so perceived as being unbreakable; which may give license for your wife’s behavior but will do nothing for your own esteem and may only serve to escalate your own feelings of guilt for not being able to change the situation. Sometimes we have to accept there are things that just can’t be fixed if there is not a will on both sides to follow things through, I believe you are right to fight for your marriage but not to the cost of all else, that being your own sanity and wellbeing.
My advice for what it is worth is to stand back and wait for her to come to you, not easy I know but to seek rational reassurance from a non rational mind is out of the question at this point and only therapy and the test of time will give the answers to your heart felt questions
Steve
To have your love constantly tested in this way is cruel; PTSD is by its very nature a destructive force, therefore to sometimes have our destructive thoughts confirmed by the action of others may give those destructive thoughts some validity, and so the vicious cycle of crash and burn starts all over again.
On the other side of the coin you also have needs and it sounds to me that you’re display of caring emotions are being manipulated and used against you, even if only by the very fact you are a rock in the relationship, and as so perceived as being unbreakable; which may give license for your wife’s behavior but will do nothing for your own esteem and may only serve to escalate your own feelings of guilt for not being able to change the situation. Sometimes we have to accept there are things that just can’t be fixed if there is not a will on both sides to follow things through, I believe you are right to fight for your marriage but not to the cost of all else, that being your own sanity and wellbeing.
My advice for what it is worth is to stand back and wait for her to come to you, not easy I know but to seek rational reassurance from a non rational mind is out of the question at this point and only therapy and the test of time will give the answers to your heart felt questions
Steve