ptsd?

[katymidnight]

Hiya im just wondering if any one out there can help me. My patner has been serving in Iraq i know for a fact he has seen some nasty stuff the thing is he seems like a totally different man. he is moody, snappy, doesnt seem to care less about anyone and finds it hard to sleep, when he does he sometimes wakes up with nightmares not that he will admit it! What is it with you blokes why is it such a failing to say your hurting?
I really want to help him as i love him to bits but how do you help someone who keeps telling you to leave him alone?
Can anyone give me any advice as really worried about him.
Cheers for reading this
K 0X

[Stan_Deezy]

Katy,

this is a good site with a lot of the blokes here having gone through the same things from various theatres.

Read through the threads and posts; a heck of a lot of good information is in here to help you.

Chat to the listeners; easily identifiable!

The one downside to PTSD is that partners must always "think of number one first". It sounds cruel, but the condition is very self-destructive and can drag everyone into it. That's the bad news, the good news is you've recogonised it quickly; the listeners will give you advice on how to broach the subject with your GP, your husbands unit and possibly his medical officer.

PTSD sufferers often don't think they have a problem until it's far too late; get them within the first six months and things look a lot better. HM Forces now have a better approach to PTSD than in the past (it's called learning by mistakes!).

First thing is talk to a listener for advice on how to raise the issue with someone within your husbands unit.

Good luck and God speed,

Stan

[El Prez]

Hi Katy, open this site and leave it up and running next time he is near the computer. Get him to read a few of the more amusing posts and then ask him to read this forum. "Blokes don't do help" is so far off the truth it's incredible. Many of us on the site have been more than glad of the support and advice from our oppos. Don't be shy about asking, and please assure him we will try and help. For professional advice look under 'Combat Stress'.
PM if you need some more pointers or just want to chat, that's not a pulling line!

[harry hackedoff]

It`s deffo not a pulling line, Bud
PM any of us Katy, we`ll listen.
It`s good to talk

[goreD.]

Katy,

It is obvious that your partner is suffering from P.T.S.D. It is a common illness which is brought about by mainy things.

First of all let me assure you that it is nothing to be ashamed of, either by you or your partner.

P.T.S.D. Is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. You cannot expect someone to witness or be involved in life threatening/stressful or gruesome situations and walk away unchanged. Infact to my mind it would be unthinkable for someone not to changed in certain ways. This is what defines us as human beings. The ability to have a wide range of emotions.

I have suffered from P.T.S.D. myself and can state from experience that it is a wholly treatable illness.

My symtoms were, nightmares, flashbacks, inability to sleep, crying, loss of appetite, guilt, aversion to certain circumstances, lethargy and a constant general feeling of tiredness.

The first thing for your partner to do is address the problem. I cannot tell you how to get him to do this. It is something which he will have to realise himself. Obviously you can help greatly in this process by offering care, love and support.

Once help is sought his problems will be identified/controlled and treated.
It, for me was amazing once the treatment started. I spent the first hour sitting in front of the Pyschologist crying my little eyes out. Once I got what was bothering me off my chest I felt like a new man.

I obviously wasn't cured after just one visit. It took numerous visits to achieve this. I was put on a course of Rapid Eye Movement Therapy. This really takes it out of you but is proven to work.

Once successfully treated I recommended this to several of my colleagues.
I was even asked by the Physcologist to appear on a video to promote the treatment and cure of this most distressing illness.

What I will say to you is this. If your arm is broken you go to the hospital and get it fixed. There is no shame in that is there?

The same analogy with your head ! If it's broken go and get it fixed.
There is no shame in it whatsoever.

I am proud of my achievements in life. I am no less proud of having P.T.S.D. and being treated. Certain things happened in my life which caused this, things beyond my control.

What was within my control was the ability to realise I had a problem and seek help.

Contact me any time and if it is within my power to help I will.

goreD.

[PILOT]

Hi Katy your partner does seem to have PTSD he will be too worried to go to his Army doctor as he will feel that his Army career is over if he does. Remind him that he has the rest of his life to live and that PTSD is now classed as an INJURY. Tell him that you really do love him. Tell him that the thoughts that intrude his mind are a natural reaction to horrific or terrifying experiences. Tell him that many more really tough men have developed PTSD and come through stronger than before and from a better place of deeper understanding. Tell him that there is life and there is hope again in his life. Then contact his unit and tell his commanding officer that you love this man and you want him to receive the help he deserves. Then get back to this site and post their response.

Tell his mother and his father that you know he is struggling at the moment ask them to help him. If he has PTSD he may be too irrational to seek help for himself. Give him the love and support that he needs yet take care of yourself first and foremost. Keep yourself rested and strong.
Do not be tempted to 'think like him' at the expense of your own sanity.
Yet if you truly love him do not give up hope. He will need all the help and support that he can get right now.

Hiya im just wondering if any one out there can help me. My patner has been serving in Iraq i know for a fact he has seen some nasty stuff the thing is he seems like a totally different man. he is moody, snappy, doesnt seem to care less about anyone and finds it hard to sleep, when he does he sometimes wakes up with nightmares not that he will admit it! What is it with you blokes why is it such a failing to say your hurting?
I really want to help him as i love him to bits but how do you help someone who keeps telling you to leave him alone?
Can anyone give me any advice as really worried about him.
Cheers for reading this
K 0X

[harry hackedoff]

Then get back to this site and post their response

Are you real
Besides which, this post is over two years old.

How`s the decorating going btw

[PILOT]

Harry I did not realise that mentioning how the mans regiment responds to a call to treat a man with PTSd was within the official secrets act. Never mind though. Anyway when I opened up the page it said at the top that this post was posted on the 14/7/06. I am sorry that I missed the correct date yet the facts remain the same. I have also today read the 'tragic story' of captain Ken Masters. A British officer who said goodbye to his wife and children on the phone and then killed himself in Iraq. This kind of thing f@#k me off. because in reality if we could end the stigma of PTSD and remove the stiff upper lip. Then cut through the macho gung hoe bullshit, the men who really do need help might just come forwards without feeling that they are social lepers. I must also point out that I was responding to a woman in a more sensitive way that I felt was neccessary. I must also point out that I have posted many threads on this subject and all of them have been respectfully received in the manner which they deserved.

I nearly ended my own life because of PTSD and I state this clearly in my book. I will continue to reach as many people as I can with my knowledge of PTSD. The shame and secrecy of this condition has got to end. Would you have asked if I was real if her boyfriend had broken his leg and I asked her to contact his army doctor then let us all know how he was going to be treated? No i thought not. PTSD is still being treated like some deep dark secret. Unfortunately as long as the sufferer keeps it this way the longer the trauma remains. I hope I have explained myself and my position clearly. (How's the decorating cool response dude). For f@#k sake.

Then get back to this site and post their response

Are you real
Besides which, this post is over two years old.

How`s the decorating going btw

[Artist]

PILOT

I was diagnosed with PTSD in 1987. And thanks to people such as Psychiatric Doctors & specifically trained Naval Ma's taught to deal with all the problems it can bring to people who are suffering from it I am still alive and kicking.

Sometimes it rears it's ugly head and I have a bad time but because of my Oppos and an understanding lady who thinks the world of me I manage to cope.

You however seem to cream your nicks whenever you suss out a thread concerning it. Why don't you try and talk about other things. Going on about it all the time is a dead giveaway that you still need help as far as I'm concerned.

Artist

[PILOT]

Artist

Replies: 12
Views: 480
Forum: General Discussion & Introductions Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:54 pm Subject: What is this?
Please do not make fun of me.

(Ah it all makes sense to me now Artist. you have been there already.)

Anyway my point remains intact your still going on about PTSd good.

I have never claimed to be totally over my PTSD. Yet if you have had this condition then you will know how exhausting it is.
I have written my book to show others how I reached the point of developing PTSD. you may want to forget about your condition. yet what about other young men who are now as we speak developing PTSD.

Do you think we should ignore their plight and just hope that they dont kill themselves through lack of understanding. Well anyway I still maintain that this condition must be brought out into the open and talked about like any other injury.

I have only had my book on sale for the past month. It is selling very well. It is also receiving some excellent feedback. I really do want to help other people understand this condition more. It is an avoidable condition that claims many lives.

Bear in mind that I have researched PTSD for the PAST EIGHT YEARS.
So I know that there are many people out there who have this condition. I will help wherever I can. I will go on and on and on. Maybe I will get booted off a few sites yet my intentions are honourable.

But hey thanks for your imput.
cheers for now Andy Gregory.

[Frank S.]

PILOT, glad to hear your book's doing well, good for you.

You're posting advice in an older thread when we have "listeners" dedicated to help answer/address PTSD related questions. In doing so you come across as "forcing your way in", which some might put as "s*tting on the carpet".

Here's free and friendly advice: tread carefully. But hey, thanks for your input....

[Artist]

PILOT

I am not making fun of you. Some of us have Been at the Shitty end on more than one occasion and one thing we don't do is come on here and tell everybody about us being decorated war heros. It may impress the Wannerbies but it don't impress me one little bit.

Best of luck with your book. Hope it makes you a rucks. Just don't try and tell me or my Owd n Bold Oppos how to live our live's via an open forum. I've managed to survive over 50 years so far without recourse to needing a new approach to life shoved down my throat by some Lad who was wet behind the ears when I left Her Majesties Royal Marine Commandos 16 years ago. I just don't like it OK?

Artist