Something that I will comment on, is the term "walking on egg shells". This seems to be used by spouses and families of those with PTSD. I didn't realize it was really like this, until I had others spouses on the recent PTSD course also telling me, exactly what my wife had. When your using alcohol or substances to help suppress PTSD, the problem is, is that your tolerance levels seem to drop. In most forms, alcohol and substances are actually depressants, and whether you have depression or not with your PTSD, you tend to get atleast a mild dose when abusing alcohol or substances.

Your family is then "walking on egg shells" whilst your like this, in that they tip toe around you so as not to upset you. When I realised this myself, I simply thought, "shit, what have I been doing to my family?" It made me realise, and hopefully can help you realise, that by using alcohol and substances to suppress your PTSD, your actually making things worse for your family life. Even if your single, it changes everything for a new partner when they really see you in full flight, past the "honeymoon period" of a new relationship. Generally, a new partner will leave after lots of fighting, or digging your heals in, as the alcohol and substances are just making your problems worse again.

I know it sounds good to suppress your trauma, hell; I did it for years, but I have realised the problems I caused, and can only thank my wife now for hanging in there and sticking it out. If it wasn't for her, in actual fact, I'd probably be dead by now through sheer stupidity. If you know this is you, then maybe you need to seek help... NOW, and get past this problem.

I still drink, but I only have one or two beers or spirits every now and again, ie. couple times a week maybe, or even month, and I'm certainly much happier now than I was previously. My wife is no longer walking on egg shells, as her anxiety levels don't increase now, just because I've been drinking, and thinking that if she says anything, I'm going to yell at her. Life is better now, and there is no reason it can't be for you also.

Help is just around the corner: http://www.therightmix.gov.au/action.asp

Hey, thanks for posting this, it hits home hard. I used drugs, mainly speed and alcohol to numb out feelings of my ptsd for many, many years, i have been complete;y free from any illegal drugs, and scarely drink these days. I am single, but the effects my drinking and drug use had on family, my mum and brothers, is how you described, i can look back and see that now

My relationship with them is much better since being drug free xx