From what I have observed, most people who know nothing about PTSD will be scared shitless when they learn that the world isn't the fuzzy, warm place that they think it is.
Trauma is something most people are not equiped to handle and that makes them run like chickens when confronted with someone elses pain.
Hell, I wanted to run! It is hard to believe what people will do to the ones they are supposed to love. My wife was abused by family.
What in the Hell short curciuts in a mans head that causes him to hurt the very people that he is supposed to die to protect. You see, I love my wife...More than myself. I am charged by God Himself to protect her from all harm. I can't run. But I can Fight!! I will do all I can to empower her to win against this PTSD!!!
I know that I may not have this condition myself, but when my best friend is affected by it, that makes it personal.
I'm sorry to sound a bit pissed but when I have seen how people have treated Marilyn when she tries to explain this to others I become very protective of her. Most don't understand and just plain don't want to hear about it. They want to stay in their little comfort zone without a worry in the world.. While others suffer.... Not me.. I want to help...

Wayne

Couldn't agree with you more Wayne. This is the very question that goes round in my head daily regarding my brother. Murdered his wife and son, attempted to murder his daughter. Makes no sense to me as a father and husband. Suicide perhaps, but taking your loved ones with you, who you are supposed to protect above your life, as you say? Never !!

Understand this too Wayne, as I am very protective of my niece. You are correct, many families do not wish to help. Frankly it floors me, the number of families that don't help. Disgusting. Never been able to understand it.

Jim.

Jim,
I'm so glad that Evie has you in her life. You sir, are one of the factors that will allow her to heal. I really respect the way that your family has rallied around her! Stay safe for she will have need of you. I can see that due to your also being in the service of our country and caring as you do, you will be an offset to what has happened to her. It will be a slow process but Evies' healing will happen.

Wayne

Thank you. Sincerely hope you are correct about Evie. I do worry greatly. I wish you the same for your wife, who is indeed fortunate to have you as well!

Jim.

How can they support me if they're the perpetrators?

Well that's the point of the poll Clancy. If your family are the perpetrators then you would vote no.

I chose "somewhat" because my immediate family is unaware of the PTSD--it was caused by growing up in their house. I've told two friends, one who lives far away and one who lives nearby. The far away one didn't talk to me for several months and was quite brusque so I've stopped bringing it up at all. The nearby friend has been wonderful and I'm working hard to be honest about what's going on with me.

I'm trying to be more honest in general without necessarily going into a big PTSD spiel. For example, if I'm feeling delicate, I'll decline to go out and say I'm not up to it. Or I'll leave when people argue and say I don't want to be around it right then. Everybody doesn't need to know the whole sordid story, but I'm trying to lie less so I feel less ashamed.

No, because they really don't beleivve it's happening. They have this idea that I can just "get over it". Yeah. Right. And they don't have a Traumatic Brain Injury to deal with either.

No. Whether it's because I'm afraid they won't understand or afraid they won't want to help anyway...I just don't allow them to.

I'm not sure... my immediate family and the like, as in my father and mothers families, do not want to hear of it and pretty much disowned me. The two aunts that were supportive I lost trust for when one of them tricked me into coming over to her house for dinner while my mother was there, and I'm not supposed to see my mother anymore. She was trying to get the two of us together on good terms again and that will never happen considering that woman constantly hit and yelled at me for years on end and then dropped me at a hospital when she had enough of me. My other aunt, my father's sister, started to try to get me and my father together and I walked away from her, not wanting anything to do with anyone who did not understand that I can not be around my parents any longer.

The reason I say I'm not sure is because of my new in-laws. Kim's mother is very supportive and even read my novel about my past. She was rather pissed off after reading it, but keeps telling me how much she loves me and wants to be there for me. Her one sister is rather nice as well and her father... well he is a question considering he doesn't talk much and I did take his little girl away to Canada with me, but he did give me a hug and even kissed my cheek... All in all they seem supportive... I don't know what they would do if they saw me break down in front of them though...

Jaa ne

Kat