Military Families
kmc217
member
DH's PTSD-- anyone else?
kmc217
member
I don't usually post here but just wondering... my DH is a USMC veteran (disabled in Iraq in 2002) and has PTSD, severe at times. Our DD2 is 5 weeks old and DH seems to be in a deep funk again... he tells me he'll "never be happy" and generally wants to sleep all the time. He's on meds and has recently started a second med and has a new psychologist (again) through the VA (they keep changing them on him) but he only can see her once a month. I'm sort of at my wits end with him and have been understanding and accomodating for his depression for so many years... he is really hard to live with at times and makes vague threats about moving somewhere else and quitting his job etc... I'm not sure what else to do/where else to go. I know I should seek counselling myself but right now I don't have the time/money to do it... we have 2 kids and I'm on maternity leave from work and wouldn't even have a sitter for the kids (DH works 11 hour days usually). Just venting and/or looking for anyone else in a similar situation...
DD1 7/10/08 DD2 8/11/10 DS 7/2/13
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Re: DH's PTSD-- anyone else?
https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/Vet_Center_Services.asp Start here- call and ask what type of counseling is available.
Many places offer free childcare- I don't know about the vet centers specifically, but they may. You could also check with any local Operation Homefront/Project Homefront organization, or local churches to see if they can assist with childcare.
Here is more information on PTSD services: https://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/state_PTSD.cfm?STATE=MA
Your local VFW may have information on services or childcare.
One more place to look. https://iava.org/content/mental-health
Good luck!!!
You may also want to look around at the civilian therapists in your area to see if there are any who deal with PTSD. Many therapists in private practice will pro-rate their rates based on a patient's ability to pay.
Best of luck to you!
I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. Check out the some of the nonprofits that work with veterans...maybe they can help get you and your DH additional counseling sessions.
https://www.giveanhour.org/skins/gah/home.aspx
https://returningveterans.org/
https://www.thesoldiersproject.org/
I deal with this on a daily basis as well. Husband just went last week to ANOTHER new psychiatrist at the VA and started on new meds. I am crossing my fingers they will do a better job. Talk to your husband about going with him to his appointments. Usually the doctor will set something up where you can both join. Just hang in there. I know its a difficult time but you have to remember its not really him that is acting that way. I am sure he wants to be better just as much as you want him to. Also, prayer gets me through sometimes. Hope this helps
I don't really post on here ever, but I am truly sorry that you are having to go through this. I don't have much advice to give besides just kind of waiting it out. DH and I are both combat veterans. We both went through a lot during our deployment (he was disabled at the begining of our tour), both of us live with PTSD. It is very frustrating to deal with the VA and the way they constantly change medications. DH finaly said forget it to meds. We have been home for 5 years, and are both separated from the military now. I remember thinking that I would never be happy again. That a day would not pass that I wasn't entirely engrossed in everything that happened, but at about the 4 year mark of being home I started to feel better. I know that sounds like forever. Sometimes I feel more on-top of controlling my symptoms than DH. He tends to just think staying insanely busy will make it all better. I will say that he and I both benefited from going to counseling offered outside of the VA through the "vet center" near by. We both liked it because the people offering the counseling had actually been through what we had. At the VA there were just so many civilian psychologists and doctors that we felt just didn't "get it". If you have anything offered like the Vet Center close to you that could possibly be of some help.
Again, I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. I'm sorry if I was butting in, but I just want you to know that it will get better in time.