T
Tryin2staystrong
My spouse is a combat vet and has really been battling PTSD for about 3 yrs now. He has been retired from the Army after 22 yrs for a 1 1/2 now. When the onset of the PTSD came on things were really tough, but with counseling and medication things were going good. Not to say we didn't have a have our ups and downs, but we have always worked through them. And for the most part things have been really great. He works out of town 7 days on 7 days off, and is the the middle of transitioning to a different job. He will be doing the same thing, just in a different town. It's something he has wanted since he started this job. He has to do some training before he can officially move. Unfortunately part of it was the week before Christmas, and then he had to work during Christmas, so we were apart. The stress of all the change and the unknown of what is going on is really getting to him. He has admitted this to me, but has always been able to work through things. The Thursday before Christmas he was just telling me that everything would be ok. That he promised he would work through this if I would just stick with him. ( I always do)
Then on Monday for whatever reason he decided to take half the dose of his meds instead of the full dose. He said he was so dizzy he couldn't see or speak. There was nothing I could do because he was at work. So I just tried to talk to him and tell him he can't change his meds or stop taking them. He has been on a downward spiral ever since. He was suppose to come home this past Thursday but didn't. He won't talk to anyone, he has completely shut me and my kids out.
I got one text from him yesterday that said, he didn't think things could get any better than they are now. And that he just can't do it anymore.
I don't know what to take of all of this. All of the counseling and books I have read about PTSD say give him his space and he will come back. Don't take to heart what they say when they are in this state because they are angry, and hurting the one closest to them is the easiest and the safest. I'm trying very hard, but I'm also a over thinker, and always have a tendency to think the worst.
My family is of no support because they do not understand PTSD, so I don't even involve them. Most of my friends that have been through this have given up and are divorced. So that is the advice they give me. They don't see my relationship, they see what they been through. I'm don't want to give up. We have been married for almost 19 years, and I'm not ready to give up.
Any advice or guidance wouldn't be greatly appreciated.
Then on Monday for whatever reason he decided to take half the dose of his meds instead of the full dose. He said he was so dizzy he couldn't see or speak. There was nothing I could do because he was at work. So I just tried to talk to him and tell him he can't change his meds or stop taking them. He has been on a downward spiral ever since. He was suppose to come home this past Thursday but didn't. He won't talk to anyone, he has completely shut me and my kids out.
I got one text from him yesterday that said, he didn't think things could get any better than they are now. And that he just can't do it anymore.
I don't know what to take of all of this. All of the counseling and books I have read about PTSD say give him his space and he will come back. Don't take to heart what they say when they are in this state because they are angry, and hurting the one closest to them is the easiest and the safest. I'm trying very hard, but I'm also a over thinker, and always have a tendency to think the worst.
My family is of no support because they do not understand PTSD, so I don't even involve them. Most of my friends that have been through this have given up and are divorced. So that is the advice they give me. They don't see my relationship, they see what they been through. I'm don't want to give up. We have been married for almost 19 years, and I'm not ready to give up.
Any advice or guidance wouldn't be greatly appreciated.
