General Ptsd And Weapons

[Glara]

As I've mentioned in previous posts, my ex sufferer collects guns. A LOT of guns. When I was in town last month he took me to a gun range. And he gave me a knife to carry.

My question is, is this common with Ptsd? It seems to me like it gives him a sense of safety. Of course he's thought about using them for suicide and that's terrifying. So how common is this and is it for safety reasons, or the ultimate plan of suicide?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

What is his trauma from?

 

[Sammyiam]

Hi Glara,

I am terrified of guns, knives, and any weapons of any sort. I find it hard to confront people and would never dream of having any of those things. In New Zealand I don't think you wouldn't be allowed a gun licence with a mental health problem. They are getting very tough on that sort of thing. I would never carry a knife on me as if someone did attack me, the first thing that they could do is take the knife off me and use that against me. When I have very down days I wouldn't won't to have a gun or anything like that in the house as I wouldn't feel safe.

Sammy

 

[Wastinglight]

Did he grow up around guns? Is he ex-military? I would have thought having a lot of guns would be more about his upbringing, career and/or his interests than the PTSD specifically, but that's just me.

 

[Friday]

It's a common thing for military folk. Weapons are protection, and security, and safety.

My new trauma therapist deals mostly with military & cops, & has a rule about carrying in his office: you're completely welcome to. Just mention it. He's actually more concerned when a person stops carrying, than when they are. Ditto, time at the range is seen as a good thing; you can't hit what you're aiming at if you're distraught. It requires calm hands, clear eyes, and slow breathing. In fact, the only thing more soothing than shooting for me, is Valium. Or possibly sex. But the benefit of shooting, is that it doesn't cloud perception. No chemical numb, or lost in another person. As soon as my hand locks around the pistol grip, or I twist into a sling and press my cheek up on the stock? Whoosh. Serious peace & clarity.

As far as suicide goes? Eh. Depends on the person. For myself & many others? Pfft. I have a 2000lb battering ram that can go 150mph parked in my driveway. I have a cupboard full of pills. I live in a city with very tall buildings & bridges, and very fast trains. I've got a house full of extension cords. There are 100s of ways to off yourself, if you're serious about it. And taking away my weapons only removes one of the best outlets/ tranquilo/ calm places I have. I'm much more of a suicide risk without firearms than with. For others? Suck starting a pistol or kissin your rifle is a fast & painless way to go. Takes out the spinal chord & base functions of the brain (heart/breathing/etc) all in one go, and is also known as disconnecting the hard drive. Totally cuts off the power. Unlike a lot of other methods which are likely to be drawn out & painful. Eating my gun is my least favorite way of killing myself, but it is on my favorites list.

Personally, I choose to be as worried about prior-military with firearms as I am about prior-military with a vehicle. Cops & EMS rarely punch it up to 120 & spin their wheel... Because they see the broken bloody survivors of those wrecks on a regular basis... And don't wanna be one! But I know a hell of a lot of military who run their motorcycle into a wall, or spin their wheel at high speeds. So if a friend has an armory? Cool. If they want their pastor to hold onto their pistol for a few months? Also cool. They're smart, they know themselves, and their know their own risks.

 

[Sweetpea76]

A lot of vets enjoy firearms. My vet is a gun enthusiast, and he has gotten me into shooting as well. He usually has a knife on him too, but I'm not sure that is so much a PTSD thing as a habit. We grew up in a rural area, and a lot of men have knives on them around here.

With that being said, I do think that his hypervigilance probably exacerbates the situation. He likes the added security of having a firearm nearby in case of intruders. He is used to sleeping with his side arm in Iraq, so I had to institute a "no loaded guns in the bed when I am in it" policy. He does not concealed carry though, and is not irresponsible with his guns. Also, even though the thought crosses my mind, I don't think he would commit suicide with a gun. He has told me as much, and that has seen enough gun violence in his life. He doesn't even hunt anymore. When we shoot, we only shoot paper.

Him arming you... yeah, that's a hypervigilance thing. My vet has me armed to the teeth. I have every kind of mace and stabby women's self defense thing he lays eyes on. I even have a knife concealed in a hairbrush handle. He doesn't concealed carry, but he talks about wanting me to. I think he worries more about me than him, because he can defend himself.

 

[Deleted member 28845]

For me, if I was him, since he is your ex, would be that I wouldn't want to talk to you anymore. You probably make him angry and sad. As a man with PTSD, you probably should leave him alone.

 

[Sweetpea76]

But I know a hell of a lot of military who run their motorcycle into a wall, or spin their wheel at high speeds.

Hell yes. I think there is some kind of unwritten code about getting a motorcycle when you get back from deployment. My vet has a big ole Harley that I'm actually a bit jealous of, since it's his other woman.

 

[Friday]

@Sweetpea76... LMAO... Seriously! :D I came across the phrase 'please pass the motorcycle' a little while back, and it's so true!!! Sometimes I really <3 being an adrenaline junkie.

 

[shimmerz]

It requires calm hands, clear eyes, and slow breathing.

Fascinating! I would never have thought of this. So physiologically this can be used as a good thing......

 

[Glara]

Interesting. He's not military, but I have no idea how he was raised, except that's where his ptsd comes from. I never ask.

He has Harley. He's big and tattooed, a biker, not in any club. He likes to look intimidating. But I saw him cry the whole time I was with him, over his cat.

He is very smart, he's an engineer. He shoots very well, and follows all the safety regs. He does carry concealed as well. He did say he thought about using his gun to end it all.

I refer to him as my ex because up until Saturday night I hadn't he hadn't texted me in 2 weeks. I did answer that last one, but only said "hi". That was the end of it. I am not talking to him and I'm thinking of him as my ex at this point, but yes, I'm still thinking of him.

I was thinking a lot about his huge gun collection, in part because I saw American Sniper. Good movie, but didn't deal with the character's ptsd as much as I thought it would, based on the trailer.

Anyway, just wondering if it could be because the ptsd that he collects weapons the way he does and wanted to get some thoughts on it. I was not raised around weapons of any sort. But all the adult men I grew up around were either military or former military. They didn't seem to feel a need to collect weapons. I just thought maybe the need for weapons was a way to try to feel safe.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Ignore @IbanezPanic82. He isn't so nice and has been put on forum time out but apparently it didn't help change things.