General What Is It About Combat Ptsd And January!?

[KO18]

I have noticed that there are so many Combat PTSD supporters joining the site or that have already been on the site that describe that their sufferer has really struggled since the new year. I know for my BF the walls came tumbling down on New Year's Eve. Is there something about this time of year that has them all triggered?

One person mentioned that they may be stressed beause the government is asking them to re-pay stimulus money from a few years ago that they were over-payed.

Any thoughts on what could be causing this or am I imagining this trend?

 

[ProudWife99]

The first part of the year is always difficult for us, but it is more about the fact that the days of the trauma happened during the first of the year. Maybe there is something in common there? I don't know.

Sorry I'm not much help and I hope things have gotten better since your post!

 

[Zipperhead]

Over the Holidays, Soldiers don't have their normal "stress outlets". Physical excercise is down, no work to distract, added stress of finding the perfect gift and company visiting. Normal people usually find the holiday season stressful. Little wonder Vets do too.

 

[KO18]

Thank you guys for your feedback! What's interesting about what you said Zipperhead is that I got BF several Christmas presents, which he knew that I had gotten him something, and he didnt get me anything. I was honestly very surprised that he didnt get me anything at all! But I never made a fuss or even said anything about it. I went shopping with him for his family and he did get rather stressed.
Right after the holidays I had a talk with him... very calmly and I thought it went well, about working on our level of communication and being more affectionate just in little ways. Then two days later the walls came down on New Years. Not sure if that was my fault or not... guess Ill never really know.

Things are better now... we went though a rough patch but things are looking up. I just wonder if it will happen again next year if we stay together.

 

[Toria]

Hi KO10 - I look at it from a slightly different perspective, but that could be because my Husband is no longer in the Forces. We had quite a relaxing time over Christmas and then in January it was all back to normal - back to work, back to daily stresses, cold weather, dark nights etc etc - basically the January Blues but times 10 when you add in PTSD. I think a lot of people are more positive in general once Spring arrives. I may be over simplifying that quite a lot though!

The other thing is that new year is traditionally the time for turning over a new leaf - but if you (or he) is are (is) stuck in a cycle of PTSD then turning over a new leaf and making positive changes really isn't that easy.

As for the presents - or lack of them - you do kind of get used to it... :oops: