I am a PTSD carer. Initially upon stumbling on this forum, I wondered if PTSD sufferers truly find it beneficial to chat on places such as this. Then to my pleasant surprise I found that the majority of forum members are in fact sufferers including moderators/admin. I suppose in that regard it may be a silly questions, but is it highly beneficial. I can imagine if I was a sufferer (which i feel as though indirectly in some ways I am) I would find it most beneficial. Almost like some form of therapy. If talking helps, why not typing right? Perhaps it helps the "processing"?

The main reason I ask is that I cannot imagine my PTSD loved one getting into something like this, so it hadn't occurred to me to suggest it when I feel he may be approachable about it. But perhaps that is just to do with his personality type. PTSD or not, he probably wouldn't be the type to get into forums. But perhaps I'll let him be the judge of that and just let him see what it's all about.

This forum is a marvelous source of support and information for those who will take it. Many here are very much helped by it. I have noticed very positive changes in my daughter since she joined here over a year ago. You are correct though, it is not for everyone. I believe you have answered your own question, in that all you may do is recommend it to your husband and leave the rest up to him. And incidentally, I am the one administrator (the only one!) who does not have PTSD.

I have found it very beneficial. It has helped me to know that I am not alone in my struggle. Additionally, I feel it a safe haven to get my emotions out.

I will certainly say online forums are not for all (my husband does not agree with most so he rarely comes on here) but this place has been wonderful for me. Even if you are not into forums and posting this place is great because so many subjects get touched on and such a wide range of responses. You can just read and run searches. You can see people with this improve over time which helps my hope. There is just such an abundance of ideas and different takes.

My doctors alone would have never been enough. People here really understand how I feel and did wonders pushing me lightly to think and relive my traumas in a decent way and supporting when I fell on my face in the process. I am still a train wreck but no where near as bad as when I first got here. I really have no idea what I would be like right now, probably dead, if I did not have this forum and the people here that make up this wonderful community, sufferers and carers alike. I really learned what PTSD was here and it did not mean the end of the world, though you could not have convinced me of that a while back!

It is so important to be understood when you decide to share. Unless you have lived the experiences it is very difficult to relate with the symptoms and stages of PTSD.

It helps me to see others who are travelling the same path and "climbing the mountain". It seems to be a constant struggle and to find others out there who are supportive, understanding, and comprehending your perspectives at the time is beyond words.

Just sign on some time with your loved one and share the time reading some of the material. As Anthony said, be careful what you choose to read at first because it can trigger you sometimes.

Pick the success forum. Let them see there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I love it here. I come here to talk and release, and i also get a great deal of happiness when i can help someone else.

I created this forum for this very reason, in that it was through my own experience to learn I spoke more about my trauma with people who suffered trauma themselves than I ever have a therapist or doctor. In fact, the majority of my healing has been with the help of other trauma sufferers. It was how I healed my trauma by understanding the full effects of others, to rationalize and implement known techniques therapists use, though typically twisting and manipulating them to suit as they have not suffered trauma to really know how best to apply these things.

Education can only go so far, and unfortunately its not far enough to help a sufferer of PTSD to heal and learn how to manage themselves. To achieve that I and others discovered the more effective way was to use a community, a group as such, of collective ideas, thoughts and experience to accomplish living once again, not just coping or not coping period.

I have learned a number of things about my PTSD here, that I did not read or found anywhere else. I have read all kinds of materials from all over the place... I have been in therapy... but some things you just do not know about unless you've BEEN THERE.

Like how it is not uncommon to have the lights on and TV on all night.

Or how PTSDers often go through "the fallout" which is the financial collapse that occurs when you cannot work and no longer have $$ to support yourself and pay for your stuff.

Or how it is so hard to date. (Or even CONSIDER dating!! Ugh!!)

Just simple, basic things, that I didn't read about in books... I have spent so much time feeling broken and wrong, that it is a relief to hear the things I am experiencing are normal and expected in at least a certain light. :) I have no one locally to talk to (besides my therapist) to "compare stories" with, so this board provides that.

:) Bailey

Yes it is a wonderful place to share, learn, help and hope. It also a place to come to get a kick in the ass when needed, or a shoulder to lean on.

Yup, it helps......Thanks Anthony!!!!!!!!

Wow, that sure is an overwhelingly positive response. Thanks so much for sharing your feelings about it.

Cindy, it is a lovely idea to sign on with my loved one and read some stuff with him. I will go straight to the success stories thread. I hope to be able to do that with him one day soon.

Thanks again.