It is understanding how he could feel helpless and not know what to do or that he should be able to do more. I feel sorry for my husband when he comes home after I have had a rough day, as it is obvious on me, he just sits and looks at me so sad looking. I ask what is wrong and he says he wish he could do more to make me better. I have to tell him it will happen in time and remind him it is not as often I am ill now and not as severe.

My husband pretty much has all the gory details. I do need certain people at this point to understand what and why I go through what I do. But you can only tell when you are ready. We don't revisit details, he got it once. And if someone thinks it won't mess with their spouse is mistaken. My husband went through a lengthy bout of depression. It does effect them. And there is a residual effect of PTSD. They may not get PTSD but still get a form of it where they can have symptoms. May have to poke Anthony for more info on that. I cannot remember what it is called and it all involves, so my info on it is sketchy and I cannot remember where I read about it on here.

Just let him know if you are not comfortable if that is the case and maybe explain why you are uncomfortable (example - shame, that BTW you should not carry). It may be more helpful to explain, for both of you, how you feel about it more than the acts that caused it. Let him know even if he does know there is probably little he can do to change a thing unless his aim is he wants to be on guard himself for your triggers. Which will drive you both nuts as triggers are normally surprises. And two hyper vigilant people would be a bad combo IMO.

To me it is normal to want to know to try to protect you and normally with most things the more information you have the better you can do that. But with PTSD that is not really the case, explain that. More info is not always better. Most husbands feel that is their job. Protect you from the big uglies in the world.

It took a long time for me to tell my husband everything. And I did on my time table and in little pieces, no sense in over whelming the other half.