Hi Nikki,

I am the spouse of an Army Ranger. He has PTSD.

He did classified missions. He won't talk to anyone about what happened. Because he signed papers that if he did talk the military could put him in jail.

He is getting help from the VA. Their ups and downs from second to second are frightening to say the least. I agree with the vets that said he is "still over there" ! It's sad to say they train our men and women for war and send them away. BUT they don't train them to come back to civilian life, they just turn heavily trained soldiers back in to civilians and expect them to handle it.

Hang in there, take care of yourself and kids. That is very important.

hugs to you and the kids

Take Care
Donna
aka/wildcritter

Hi Nikki,

I am new here too, and I am sure you will find some answers, and some suggestions, and most importantly you will not feel alone anymore !

My boyfriend has been seeing doctors for the past 3 years (vet hospital) and I know he is not out of the woods yet (might never be like he was) this is something we have to accept. But ! my boyfriend is getting much better, and so will your husband ! My boyfriend found help after so many years of wondering, maybe it will go smoother since for your husband it has not been so long !

Hang in there, show him your love and be patient and offer him your shoulders to cry on, cause there will be lots of tears ! He will need you !

Good luck !

I found a book called
Change your Brain, Change your Life.
The doctor is a psychiatrist who uses SPECT scanning of the brain and you can actually SEE where the blood is flowing or not to the five centers he describes. Based on this scan, he can then prescribe some meds more accurately than with the hit and miss version of treatment.
I really feel for you as I have the blow ups also, but not near as often as your husband. Fortunately, my partner knows this about me and is pretty tolerant.
I just know that as time goes on, once I was diagnosed with PTSD, that I am getting less angrier and confrontational. But it is taking the efforts of this new "team".
Maybe the chaplain can conduct some sort of "intervention".

Hi Nikki, welcome to the forum.

hi nikki my name is Sonja also a wife of a marine vet that served in 1stgulf. who was in 2force recon. I am sorry its happening to you and your family. I know it gets really rough sometimes to hold things together in the home while still trying to keep your sanity. I can relate to many of the things you and your family are going through. All i can offer right now is a shoulder to lean on and an open ear as i am going through similar experiences. But, i think we've come to the right place
Can anyone who has gone through this personally offer any advise on how to open the communication highway between family members suffering from PTSD? Maybe something encouraging helped you open up to your family and friends.

Hello, JarHeadWife or Nikki if you prefer. Welcome to the forum!

Hope

You too seriously, ..... Welcome. I just found and read your new here too.

Hope

Hi, I read your message, and I totally understand what your husband is going thru. I am a former marine, I just right now signed up for this site. I was a 0311 marine, but in bootcamp I volunteered to go to Washinton D.C., where I became a honor guardsman. I was stationed there when 9/11 happened, and I watched the pentagon burn. I was only twenty years old. I think my ptsd started the following month, when I got put on guard duty. I really did lose my mind, did some crazy things. I am orignally from and currently live in Santa Cruz, CA. I am married now, and have a beautiful daughter. I am a real mellow dude, but I really find it hard to relate to anyone. It really sucks. I can't compare myself to everything your husband has gone thru, and as a fellow marine I support him. I don't know what state you live in, but in CA people can get medical marijuana for PTSD. I smoked alot of pot before I got it legally, and let me tell you, it really, really worked. Being legal made me feel like I was apart of my community, and it made me feel so relaxed. I used alcohol alot to cope before, and it just made me into a monster. Pot just makes me want to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's and watch Beatles movies. I don't barely use it now either, just once and a while, when I take my dogs for walks or bike rides to the beach. Its not for everone, but it really can make you feel all light and happy again. On a side note too, you can find this on the internet, the Israeli Defense Force can prescribe medical marijuana to Israeli vets who want it, their government knows it works. Semper Fi, and bless you all.

Zachary