General Why do so many with combat PTSD have issues around the holidays?

[Mach123]

It's not situationally important except to avoid it. If it wasn't this it'd be something else. This is how I am. Anything can start it everyone is different. Lots of pet love but dogs are one of my biggest issues with PTSD reactions currently.

How can something so nice be such a problem? I hate or when I hear that, like Charlie Brown. Everything was a problem for me (is)

Treat the person who is suffering as being set off with no conscious knowledge of why they feel.like that. I was always inconsolable but never knew what was wrong. I don't want to go to the parade, even though I.do.

The holidays were murder for me though my.trauma is from CSA not the holidays. Now I enjoy them thank goodness.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Yep... Veterans Day slump here too.

 

[Friday]

Yep... Veterans Day slump here too.

I’ve almost sobered up.

Not a bad year, all told.

Not a great one, either, but there’s definitely been a lot worse.

 

[Sweetpea76]

I don’t think he spoke to anybody in 3 days this time.

 

[LuckiLee]

J had a bad few days. Not much sleep and tons of nightmares. (he doesn't remember them thanks to prazosin) Come to find out he lost two of his brothers on 11/11 in Bahrain in a matter of seconds. So much of his trauma happened during October through January.
?

 

[Deanna]

J had a bad few days. Not much sleep and tons of nightmares. (he doesn't remember them thanks to prazosin) Come to find out he lost two of his brothers on 11/11 in Bahrain in a matter of seconds. So much of his trauma happened during October through January.
?

I'm so sorry he's going through this.

 

[Freida]

It sucks because I love the holidays so much. But underneath.... hell is bubbling up just waiting to explode in my face. :(

 

[LuckiLee]

This year is starting off a little better than previous years. He has more tools in his toolbox this go 'round. He's been drinking a couple (super duper strong) of cocktails most nights for about a week. I've addressed it and he says it helps him communicate and share more, sometimes. (It also helps him get what little sleep he does get.) Ok. I get that, he's been purging alot of his thoughts and feelings in the evenings. It seems to calm him. If something is bothering him he shares it with me instead of bottling it all up and exploding like a PTSD pinata all over the place. Other aspects of his life aren't as chaotic as they have been so that is definitely helping too.

Hugs to all of you!

 

[Never_falter2]

This year is starting off a little better than previous years. He has more tools in his toolbox this go 'round. He's been drinking a couple (super duper strong) of cocktails most nights for about a week. I've addressed it and he says it helps him communicate and share more, sometimes. (It also helps him get what little sleep he does get.)

My Vet bought lots of red wine and even more sherry for the upcoming holiday season for the same reasons I guess but also because Sherry for some reason I do not know is associated with Christmas... and the red wine: you can make homemade mulled wine from it so that I cannot even complain. Not sure how that is in your country but in ours christmas is very much associated with being drunk (but only drunk from certain beverages, such as punch, sherry or mulled wine. If it is Christmas and you are drunk from local beer you are a drunk, but if you are drunk from mulled wine, sherry or imported beer from a far away place, like say the US you are just a Christian celebrating the birth of the savior... I always wondered what Americans drank at Christmas to show they aren’t drunks... maybe German beer? or maybe they aren’t that odd. Sorry for off topic). However I am not sure what the think of it. On the one hand I think that is much too much alcohol he bought betone the other hand it is a tradition and it helps him sleep and open up, like you say.

 

[Friday]

@Never_falter2

Spoiler: I’ll be off-topic with you for a moment - American holiday drinks

Eggnog ( :wtf: YUCK)
Hot Buttered Rum ( :happy: yuuuuuum )
Caribou (like mulled wine, but with whiskey :sneaky: )
Hard Apple Cider :D
^^^ Most Popular Around Here ^^^
Christmassy Cocktails (make it red & green, red&white, hot & spiced, or give it a festive name) 17 Best Christmas Martinis - Holiday Martini Recipes for Christmas Parties
20 Wonderful Cocktails to Sip All Winter Long

Pine Barrens Ritz Carlton Chicago

On the one hand I think that is much too much alcohol he bought betone the other hand it is a tradition and it helps him sleep and open up, like you say.

My (lovely) family doesn’t drink much.... But many of my best holiday seasons have been away from my extended family with friends who do get into the holiday spirit. Not drunk, just warm, relaxed, and friendly :happy: Which I reeaaaally need. For other people to be relaxed. Other people being stressed out, tense, etc. sets off all of my warning bells and is exhausting to be around.

 

[Never_falter2]

Sorry, for being off topic... but... Christmas cocktails, what a splendid idea! I am sorry for the megauncultivated question, but do those go with Stollen (you do have Stollen, don’t you?) and cookies?

 

[OrangeJulius]

I think the holidays are starting to hit hard. He's been so off and we have shit to get done around here so it's incredibly frustrating.

Zero affection as expected. Ignoring me. Well, maybe not ignoring but I think he's so checked out he doesn't hear me or notice me.

Thank goodness for my dog. On paper our doggie is his ESA, but I swear he's more of mine than his. It's so nice to have someone in the house happy to see me and give me love when boyfriend isolates.