Supporter Partner Has Ptsd From Childhood Trama

[MeredithC]

Hello everyone,

I'm a middle class college student with a partner of a year and a half who comes from a radically different background than I do. She was raised in poverty and survived years of sexually abusive step-fathers. In the last year she has been beaten, mugged, and sexually assaulted (all on different occasions) and it has brought a lot of things to the surface (more frequent flashbacks, etc).

I can't fathom what any of those events must feel like. I want to know who she is completely but at the same time I can't handle being emotionally dumped on. We're having problems communicating and I promised I would learn more about PTSD so here I am!

-MeredithC

 

[reallydown]

Welcome to the forum. This place has a lot of good info on ptsd, its effects on family, carers, etc. Check out the carers' forum as well, since that most immediately relates to what you're going through. PTSD is a tough, tough thing to have for everyone involved. You've taken an awesome first step towards learning and hopefully understanding your partner better. Good luck.

 

[simplekindofgirl]

MeredithC- Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to find information, as well as to connect with those who suffer or support. You will get a birds eye view of what it means to be on either side of PTSD, and hopefully it will help you. If nothing else, know that you are not alone in your journey. I hope that you find comfort amongst these pages.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Welcome Meredith!

It can be hard to form those boundaries with someone as it can be tempting (for a sufferer) to want to emotionally dump on someone. However, your role is to stick to those boundaries, offering support, but staying out of the role of therapist. Not an easy task, but it can be done!

The forum is a great resource, but I also recommend finding books on PTSD as well.

Welcome!!