I did, but not so much now! This is why us with PTSD, tend to relate automatically to others with PTSD, as we don't need to explain what is going on with ourselves, as each other already knows. One thing that has stood out to us all on course, is that whilst we all have different stories that derived our PTSD, the symptoms are all the same for each one off us. That is something that stood us all up to take notice, were not alone!

I have days where all I want to do is be left alone. I will never work again now, well; not for an employer anyway. I can work for myself, though even that is limited nowadays, as I lose concentration too easily and so forth. Luckily, my financials are sorted. One less stress. But lots of things still stress me... though I am now managing that much better than I was.

What has jumped out at me, is that most things emotionally, came out as anger. That alone was then making me angrier at being angry for no apparent logical reason. Go figure? This PTSD iceberg, that we came up with on the current course, really helped me put things in perspective with anger and my emotions. Helping that, also helped me really come to terms that "I'm not the only one", as such, and that others are having just as hard a time as me.

Some people suffered anxiety more, some depression, some anger, some a combination, and then the good old favourite, alcohol and substance abuse (attempting to avoid and suppress the emotions), which for me definately just didn't work.

Wow, I don't think you have to worry about "rambling" here, as I'm just as bad as you are. I feel so good just talking to others now about "our" issues, and how hopefully we can all help one another.

I have the same problems, though I just tend to put it down to lack of experience. The fact of the matter is, is that others haven't suffered and gained the problems associated with trauma, and unless they do, they will never fully understand. Our counsellors tell us that right from start, they understand, but do not know the exact impact it has, even though they are experts in PTSD, they don't have PTSD.

One off our course counsellors mentioned that someone did a study in how to improve counsellors responses to war like trauma, in a hope the counsellors would then understand what is going on inside those with PTSD from war service. Well, they sent them out in a war zone, to follow troops into battle, unarmed, where they could study the effects. Most of the counsellors committed suicide, and the others have PTSD and are too sick to work anymore. When they told a room full of us veterans that they did this, we basically all said at the same time, "no shit", what do you expect they would do? The soldiers had weapons, a safety net I guess, they had nothing, but still the same environment and experience the soldiers where getting. That study went very very bad, and won't we done again anytime soon I imagine!

So, I am the one that had to learn to cope with those around me not fully understanding what is going on with me, not the other way around. My wife has gained valuable knowledge, but even she still says at times, "she doesn't fully understand"! I don't know if that is right or not, but it worked for me anyway.

Oh yer... her learning some aspects of how to deal with those with PTSD, have certainly helped me. Then again, the relationship groups that we did on the course did the most for us both, as it split the difference from PTSD related events, to just normal life and relationship problems. My wife tended to blame lots on my PTSD, where a lot of things where just relationship issues, but because neither off us could see that, we just got on the arguement merry-go-round until she gave in, as PTSD had then kicked in for me at that point of anger and frustration, in which I just shut down.

I could be shutoff for a week, easy, before learning what I know now. I know that isn't right, nor normal behaviour, so I make an effort to tell myself those things and apoligise. I think that is the toughest word for us with PTSD... "SORRY", as it just doesn't get used enough...

And you reckon you ramble... I reckon I could give you a run for your money here!!! So many things come in to my head at once, I guess I just tend to go everywhere when typing...

Sorry!