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Relationship The Positive Side Of PTSD For Me As A Carer

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amethist

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Last night as we sat chatting about anything and everything, which we have started to do more of again, my husband asked me if I loved him. This is not uncommon, so I replied with the usual jokey bit added on, "Of course I do, I married you didn't I", but the look in his face told me this time he needed more.

So I went over and sat in front of him, held both of his hands in mine and started talking to him, telling him how I really felt about him. I told him that even though he has been really ill with all this, I could always see that tiny bit of him that he was before PTSD invaded our lives. I told him how I knew that the man he was has gone, but the base of who he is is still there.

The crazy man who changes words to songs, just for the fun of it.

The crazy man who laughs at me when I do something daft, like trying to put the milk back in the shoe cupboard instead of the fridge.

The crazy man who embarrasses me at every opportunity on his good days.

The man who still shows me how much he loves me and appreciates all I have done for him over the last 3 years, without question. I have shouted, yelled and kicked doors down to get him the help when no one would listen to us about how ill he was in the beginning.

There is so much more I told him, but you get the message I was giving him. I would have done this before now, but now was the time to tell him, now was the time the would hear, listen and see I meant every word of it.

Now we can build on what is left of the man he was, along with the man he is now. He is my husband first, PTSD sufferer second. He still is a a pain in the butt, but he is my pain in the butt.

After all this and we had both wiped our eyes, yea we both had sweaty eyes as he calls it.

He then started to tell me how bad he felt about the way I had to suffer along side him, how he felt guilty of me having to miss out on so much because of all this.

I told him to shut up and listen to the positive things I have got out of his illness.

If it were not for his PTSD,

I would not have learnt about Crystal Healing, Aromatherapy. Being able to share some of this with others, to maybe help them as I have helped my husband. Met some wonderful people who own a peaceful and calming Crystal and Gem shop. Who welcome me every time I go there whether to buy something or to just have a boost of my own type of healing.

I would not have made so many wonderful caring friends all over the world and still making them. I would not have had so much fun and laughs with them when times have been tough for a few of us. The flare and life raft are always there when any one of us needs rescuing, before they drown in the emotions that overwhelm us at times.

I would not have found and joined a wonderful uplifting spiritual site, where the people on there have picked me up some nights when I have been so low I have almost cried in full view of them all while chatting to them on web cam.

I would not have learnt to appreciate more of the simple things in life, like listening to the birds singing while sat here typing away.

And I would not be here right now sharing all this, so others can see that sometimes you can get past the rough stuff. Hard and soul destroying as it is, there are also some good things that can come out of it too.

The butterfly is now opening her wings and beginning to fly free again.

Amethist
 
When I saw the title to this thread, I was ready to give my opinion on what I thought about ANYTHING being positive about PTSD....Instead your post made me cry.....I am so happy my friend that you shared this with all of us, as it is truly a beautiful and inspiring thread to read.

We need more carers in the world like you......Thanks Amethist!!!!!!
 
Thank you Amethist for this post. My life has changed because of PTSD as well. At first, I was so confused, lost and upset. I couldn't understand why someone I loved so much was behaving this way and treating me in a way I never experienced. I slowly...slowly began to realize...this was not about me or us. It was about what was happening to my husband. I am learning to look beyond myself and my selfish behaviors. Swollowing my pride was hard at first but once I accepted this was not about me nor did it have to be, my perspective changed...dramatically. I realized my love for my husband was truly stronger than I ever let him know. He was always the emotional giver to me and his family. He has been fighting off PTSD for many years. He got to a point he could no longer hide it. Now, when I look back at our 13 years together, I see so many times he wa fighting to keep it at bay. Struggling to lead a "normal life". I realize how much of that he did for me. I am sad that my husband is going through such a difficult time. I appreciate so much more about him and try not take anything in my life for granted. I let him know as much as possible that I love him no matter what! We are learning boundries and mutual respect. I have grown as a person...still growing everyday to be the best person I can be and let others who are close to me know how important they are. It feels good to share these things because it is sincerely from my heart. I guess I'm saying...I learned to love...really love and all that goes with it.
 
Hi craftgirl3

Thanks for the reply.

I don't think it is just about learning to really love as such, more being able to except the changes and grow with them. Keeping hold of what you can and letting go what no longer works. In a way starting out again, like you would with a new relationship. As long as you can understand that and work together with it, your half way there.

It sounds like your both on the right path together. It is hard, it is a rough ride, but if you can stick together and work as a team, it can be rewarding for you both.

Keep supporting each other, it does work.

Amethist
 
Beautiful Amethist...absolutely beautiful. It made even me teary which is not easy to do. Those of us who have wonderful carers are truly blessed. Well done and thanks for the post!
 
Amethist, I was very touched by your original post. My husband and I have had similar conversations over the last few years. It is freeing to be able to love and care so deeply and find a positive side to this journey.

Craftgirl3, my husband was only officially diagnosed last year but has suffered for 17 years. I married him as a suffer not knowing PTSD was part of him. His experience that caused his original symptoms was swept under the rug. So alcohol and porn were his coping mechanisms. I just thought he had a temper and was anti-social. Now I too know it was a sacrifice for him as well. He was just trying to live a normal life. So this past summer when he had to put himself in a similar situation again to keep our family housed and clothed I knew what a major sacrifice he was making.

We are now slowly working to find balance and healing.

Thank you both again for your posts.

His Beautiful
 
Things just keep getting more awesome LOL. I have just being asked to help run another web site, a much smaller one than this. Nothing to do with PTSD, something completely different and for my own benefit, but were it not for my husbands PTSD, that would not be happening either.

The positives for me are now starting to out number the negatives. I would not have been able to say or even see this happening 3 years ago, maybe not even 1 year ago.

How the wheel of change turns in such a short space of time.

Amethist
 
It's wonderful to read the connection you two have. Being on my own with this it gives hope to read and realize that there are truly accepting people out there.
 
Amethist, your post is so beautiful, and so true. I'm in a carer position to my brother as well as having C-PTSD myself, and identify with this from both sides.

I was actually thinking something similar last night and this morning before I saw this post. Last night we all went up on top of my friend's apartment house and watched the eclipse of the moon. Sitting there with the people I love most, all of whom are mentally ill, on the darkest, coldest, longest night of the year, watching shadow consume a full moon, I could just see so many things clearly in metaphor (or maybe it's just the hypothermia talking :D). A blood red moon on the winter solstice sounds like it would be frightening, but it was breath-taking, beautiful, and worth the pain of suffering the cold to see it.

Our painful experiences are like the dark side of the moon. Most people will never see it, but we have, and it's special and meaningful as well as horrible. And when the darkness of those memories eclipse us like shadow eclipsed the moon last night, we become something dark and rare, something that's beautiful and precious even if it's terrifying. The eclipses won't last forever, of course. We come out and shine again, even if we sometimes do it slowly and hesitantly.

Being survivors, or people who have willingly stepped into the darkness to help, makes us so special and strong and beautiful. We've all been forced to understand parts of ourselves and parts of others most people will spend their entire lives ignoring.

OK, all that probably makes no sense to anyone, but I'm still going to post it.
 
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