Do Your Family and Friends Support You?

batgirl · #1 28-01-2007, 05:17 AM

In my case, I have a tremendous amount of support. But I continue to be surprised that other people don't. So, I'm curious about people's levels of support, or lack thereof, from relatives, spouse, friends, etc.

Andre · #2 28-01-2007, 09:22 AM

I am partially ashamed of this, but no. I do not believe I can risk telling my family about this because so many of them also have it from war experiences and from accidents, but everyone is in denial. I question what to do sometimes but there is not much choice with what energy I can spare for anything. I have been able to tell my elder brother and his friend but even then I am hesitant to really explain that much. I have done this for so long already that it is almost too much momentum to change that part of my situation at all. It was not something I wanted to change before, instead it was something I was glad for as it let me keep things hidden, but I wonder how to go on to return to more of life now that I have a desire to live. Still, everyone around me is fragile and many are very close to actually dieing already so I do not want to stress them any more.

batgirl · #3 28-01-2007, 09:40 AM

That must be really hard, Andre, with several people in your family with trauma issues. I know I feel bad enough telling my family things, and they are not fragile at all.

becvan · #4 28-01-2007, 10:49 AM

I get sabatoged by everyone except my best-freind and my step-mom. They are the only support I have.

*shrugs* can't expect any more than that consider I have PTSD from my family.

bec

veiled · #5 28-01-2007, 03:23 PM

I have good support now. I have almost 10 phone numbers set out for me and the inlaws willing to drop everything to help in times of need if I crash at home with the little one. Very understanding people, just I am not as willing to let them in and see me down (it is emabarassing). But if I crash with the little one alone I would call. But when it comes from my own family, as is blood... None.

anthony · #6 28-01-2007, 03:52 PM

An interesting poll Evie... well done, great topic. I choose "somewhat" as I have enough to get by on, though more is always good.

Marlene · #7 28-01-2007, 11:53 PM

My family and friends have been wonderfully supportive of me through this. What's been difficult is accepting that help, especially when this all started. Being the 'strong one' it was hard to accept the support. Now that I figured out I don't have to be that person anymore, it's a lot easier to accept the help and support. And having my husband tell me, 'You've taken care of everyone for 20 years...now it's our turn to take care of you' really blew my mind.

The flip side of this is that there were a lot of people who I thought were friends and would be supportive. When it turned out that their friendship was just a 'good times' friendship that fell apart at the first bad time hit-man did it hurt! But I now know who really cares and who isn't worth my time.

nov_silence · #8 29-01-2007, 09:51 AM

I have people in my life that are supportive. My husband can be the strongest support or the last straw for me somtimes. I consider him and my sister my family. My mother? She doesn't get what I struggle with and I don't explain it to her anymore. My dad doesn't know that I have PTSD.

mouse · #9 29-01-2007, 03:10 PM

My friends and family KNow that I have PTSD a few have looked into what it is but most of my friends and family don't want to know to much or get involved

Claire · #10 31-01-2007, 07:36 AM

My parents are pretty useless although I dont think they mean to be. They just dont know how to help and I dont give them the opportunity to anymore either. Some friends are rubbish but I have found others that are very supportive. One is even training as a therapist so he understands loads of it. My friends and family are divided. The ones that know and help and the ones that do and dont.