Hi Jods anniversary is next Tuesday I said to hubby tonight dont stress over getting anything for it ( which he was starting to do ) we will go out for dinner one night when he feels like it.
It sounds like your hubby talks to you about his feelings which is a good thing mine wont talk about feelings at all.
You sound like you are supporting him pretty well as long as he appreciates it.
Jen

Superd,
What is GAD? (there are so many acronyms around)

You probably already know this, but depression often has phsical symptoms (headache, stomach ache, etc.) It's called a psychosomatic illness which is a word I hate because it sounds like you are insinuating it's all in the head. But it actually refers to the way the psychological is tied to the physical body.
What to do? That's tough, you know your wife better than I do. But from personal experience, when my depression gets to the point where I'm immobilized (cancel appointments, etc.) I need a giant shove to get my ass out of the house and on to my appointments. My husband (xoxo!) will ask me, "Do you need me to take you to the hospital?" or "Do you need me to check you into an inpatient psych unit?" And I know he's prepared to do it, even if it means calling for an ambulance.

When he says this it makes my blood run cold with fear. Going there means I'll give up control, they'll try different meds on me, etc...
It gets my butt in gear every time!

You might try a push or shove like that. It's so horribly sad to say but ultimately she is the only one who can make herself better. That's another aspect of Depression that keeps me motivated - the high percentage of relationships that don't make it. I can't imagine life without my husband, and I know he's human and can only take so much... I do things I don't have the energy for out of fear of losing him too. Whatever it takes, whatever works - as long as the outcome is a healthier person - that's the goal.

Boo, She's pretty much told me why she doesn't go sometimes, just not in so many words - She's told me recently that the fear of confronting the event in therapy is huge...she says the fear is actually painful for her, as in physical pain. Also, she told me yesterday that she was "worn out" this week (she got back from a trip Monday morning - the "red-eye" flight) and that she probably needed a rest (from therapy), though she said she needed to call her therapist to reschedule (which she usually does).

Do I just need to suck up the money thing, be grateful she goes at all, and try to have more patience? My wife isn't a bad person at all, and I know she wants to confront this, but the times like this are so hard, combined with the money wasted...

Also, I want so badly for her to acknowledge the effect PTSD is having on the both of us, her with the physical symptoms and me emotionally...I feel like things would improve if she could accept that (although she may not agree)...is that just a pipe-dream?

I'm a big believer in no B.S. communication - it's definitly worth a mention to your wife on all those accounts. If it's bothering you she needs to know. It's really hard to not treat her like a fragile flower, but walking on eggs around her only causes more stress.
You can't play the "what if" game (what if she gets more depressed, what if this sparks yet another argument, etc.)
In sickness and in health / for richer for poorer, it is still a relationship.

GAD - generalized anxiety disorder

I did a little reading up on GAD just now and I'm left with questions. I wish I could ask the therapist lol... How can anyone diagnose your wife with GAD if she already has been diagnosed with PTSD? I could be wrong, but it appeared to me that GAD would be anxiety disorder assigned to those who have the symptoms of PTSD but without the traumatic incident(s) to spark it off?

It just seems ridiculous that anyone would get diagnosed with both....Does anyone here happen to know, and can fill in the blanks?

I got diagnosed with both. Both at the same time too. That does seem a bit redundant, doesn't it?

Yep, sounds to me just like anxiety from her PTSD, nothing more, nothing less. Whilst we all need room to move within our recovery process, there must always be a definitive line drawn when the sufferer is not in control of PTSD. A mutual agreement for example, sick or not, attend the appointment. I would also be a betting man to say it is nothing more than the anxiety of attending and facing fears. That does make us physically ill, no doubt about it.

These are the very same tactics I once tried, and failed with kerrie-ann, as she could see exactly what I was doing also... avoiding therapy to face my fears.

Moral: Coincidence? I think not, and that is what the sufferer must see. Therapy appointment = suddenly sick. Why? Anxiety of facing fear.

oh absolutely, Nam... The whole thing just baffles me. I could see someone without any traumatic experience getting diagnosed with GAD, but not someone who has been exposed to trauma.