Research Research: What Was Like Growing Up With A Parent With Ptsd?

[Erik Gustafson]

Greetings!

My name is Erik Gustafson and I am PhD student at Capella University. I also was in the Air Force for 20 years and I am retired from active duty.

I am looking for people who grew up with a parent who was a veteran of the Armed Forces and had combat PTSD who would like to help out with my research.

There are two reasons I am doing this research: (1) to learn about what it was like growing up in a home where a parent had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and (2) to really look closely at the how you deal with things like finding happiness and purpose to your life now. The experience of living with a parent diagnosed with PTSD affects individuals in many different ways. Interviewing individuals who have lived this experience allows a deeper understanding of effects, both immediate and lasting, as a person matures to adulthood. It is these experiences that I am interested in exploring with you in my research.

My hope is that this research will add to what is known about how PTSD affects the whole family. A healthier family may help people better realize their dreams and reach their full potential.

To be in this study, I am looking for 1) someone who grew up on a home where one of your parents was a veteran of the Armed Forces and had combat-related PTSD 2) that you are at least 18 years old and 3) now live independently from your parents. If this sounds like you and want to help, I would very much appreciate hearing your stories!

If you would like to learn more about volunteering in this research or have any questions whatsoever please reply here.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this and think about being in my study!

Thank you.

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[cat]

I'd be happy to take part in this research & will be very interested in the results, it may even answer some questions I have.

My father was in the UK Army during the second world war, he lied about his age & joined up aged 17,he suffered many symptoms of what i now know was ptsd. Throughout his life he had numerous breakdowns & was hospitalised many times. He was a wonderful man but tortured by his thoughts & memories.

 

[Erik Gustafson]

Thanks for volunteering! If you want to provide your email, I can send you the informed consent release and more information.

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[Molon_Labe]

My father served in the infantry during Vietnam and his combat experience would be considered more on the "extreme" end of the spectrum. He was also shot during an ambush while out on patrol.

His ptsd/alcoholism had a huge impact on my life and I would be very interested in participating in your study.

 

[Erik Gustafson]

Thank you for your interest, Molon_Labe. I will send you a message with further information.

 

[Erik Gustafson]

Hi Cat, just following up to see if you had an questions with completing the survey. Thank you

 

[Erik Gustafson]

Hi Molon_Labe,

Just following up to see if you are still interested in participating. Thank you.

 

[annatb]

My father was a tank commander in the second world war. His brother, a pilot, was killed in the same war, but only reported missing. My father interviewed his brother's squadron mates to find out what had happened. He found the crash site and his brother's grave. However, his parents would never believe him and insisted his brother would "come back one day".

Anyhow, I realise now, 60 years later, that he must have suffered from ptsd. He was just described as a "difficult" man, irascible (though also charming and funny and intelligent, and good company). He was an engineer and did well at his job. However, my mother suffered and we, his children, suffered from his moods, his sudden flare-ups. Some of the stuff was really crazy. Impossible to believe that an intelligent man, who can manage a mine, could be so illogical and irrational. He could brood on little things and make it huge. He always felt ashamed of his flare-ups afterwards.

Anyhow, I wish someone had diagnosed and helped him. It would have made a big difference to my mother's life. It would have made a massive difference to my life. One of his crazy, illogical, things was to thwart my every effort to achieve. And yet he wanted to boast with my achievements. Crazy. It broke me in the end. My life could have been very different.

My brothers and I were terrified of getting married and having children. If we had known what was wrong and that it wasn't a craziness that would necessarily repeat itself in our own lives, we would have felt easier about committing ourselves to having families of our own.