For those who don't frequent the Introductions board, I'm Jolene and new to PTSD. My husband is a Marine and had told me a little before we got married that he had been diagnosed with PTSD quite a while before we started dating. I really didn't know anything about it and since he hadn't had any treatment for it I took his word that he was fine and didn't need "help"...he seemed fine to me. Sure, he drank a little too much on the weekends and had a bit of a temper sometimes but he was funny, caring, protective, adored my little boy and I fell for him.

Fast forward. We've been married now for two and one half years and have been having what I thought were marital problems for quite a while. About 7 months ago I almost left him and have felt that way at least a half dozen times since then. One of the major problems have been how he treats my son, who is now 7, and calls my husband "Dad." My son tries so very hard to bond with my husband and I just didn't understand what the major problem was. Every excuse h made sounded just like that: an excuse. Then he dropped a bomb on me...."I just can't connect with him and I don't know why. I can't connect with anyone, not even you." Out of all the clues there were, that's what made me think something major was wrong. I started doing research and stumbled on, really, the symptoms of PTSD. I could hardly breathe. The nightmares he has almost every night, the agressive behavior, the temper, not being able to connect, use of alcohol, on and on, everything was there. And here I was, for the last 7 months just thinking he was just turning into a big self-centered jerk. I still feel awful about that!

I don't know what to do now. He's not in any kind of therapy. He says he wants his life to change, that he hates how he feels now in just about every way, but will make changes himself because he's afraid of loosing his military clearance. From everything I've read so far, PTSD sufferers need help and without it things get worse. I also know I can't push him to get that help but I'm scared for him, scared for our family. He's so devoted to the corps but if he doesn't get help I'm worried that by the time the corps' done with him, there will be nothing of HIM left. I don't think I can sit around a watch things get worse for him but I don't know what to do.