Who am I?
Wow that is actually a tough question right now
I have been feeling so void of a personality for such a long time
I had to think hard about it.
Because up until this minute I have let my PTSD define who I am.

here goes
I am a wife and mother of 5, Mine, His and Ours.
4 are grown 1 still at home
I do not work I am on disability for many reasons.
I am an artist, I work in oils and acrylics
I am also a computer CG artist.
I am a doll maker, all mediums but I love porcelain
and cloth 'play with me' dolls for little girls.
I also work in ceramic clay.
(I would love to feel well enough to go back into the studio
and create something)
My husband built me a really nice studio a few years back.

I live out in the country in rural Georgia USA
I am originally from the Chicago area, but have lived many places
both coasts and lots of big cities.
I really love living out in the country.
Kids, Dogs, Cats and even a 17 year old goose and some fish.
Now that's the way to go as far as I'm concerned.
Next year I want to have some chickens again they are fun
and those fresh eggs can' t be beat, but the pen needs work.

I have a big flower garden, I planted it before I got so sick.
My husband spends a lot of time trying to keep it alive for me.
I have been so apathetic about it lately,
but am trying to kick myself into gear.
My husband likes to grow the vegetables and I grow the perennials.

Den (my husband) broke his wrist last week and is wearing a miserable
cast from fingers to shoulder. He is not a happy camper right now.
He broke it trying to fix a pump down at the creek which waters the garden.
We are in a major drought and he is very resourceful
He slipped in some mud and fell and landed on his left wrist.
No income coming in except my SSI for at least the next 6 weeks.
Geez I don't want to think about that.
I'm trying to take that 1 day and 1 bill at a time.
This will prolly take what little savings we have down to nothing.
But hey, we have plenty of vegetables and fresh watermelon
and cantalope.

So I guess I better stop before I write another book.
Sona

male 47, 3 children 20 the 20 year old stayed 2 weeks and said i had it and went back to new york now she works her ass off and goes to school . the others are 17, 16, born in brooklyn .ny. moved to n.c becuse i could not take the flash backs and the hallucinations my family really does not like it here but i am lucky that they understood and made the move . I enjoy the outdoors, motorcycle riding ,fishing , music, i am a old punker .But as we all know the things we enjoy we really cant enjoy or just dont do them anymore . In my case i rode 12000 miles per year in the last 2 years i have rode 3000 miles . I would fish everyday of the season in new youk on foot .Purchased a bass boat when i moved here 14 months ago i went out maybe 10 times sorry i am ranting but it feels good thanks .............................Mikeyo

For now I will keep my name private because I am not the one who suffers and I have to respect his privacy.
I am 41 living in a small Alaskan town. We have 2 sons. We have been married 20 years.
I joined this site because I feel my husband suffers from PTSD. He has not been diagnosed, but he has many symptons and I know he has reasons.
He was face to face with a close friend as that friend died, and although there wasn't anything he could have done to change or prevent it he carries the guilt and shame for it happening just the same.
I held him from the beginning and I've heard his screams. His nightmares are vivid and he eventually turned to the bottle to get relief. Only I didn't see it. He could be so strong and he's never been abusive or lacked motivation to keep our business going.
He is involved in his kids lives and is a good friend to many, so I missed it.
It wasn't until medically he began to weaken that I saw what was right in front of me. He is now getting help for that, but I want him to seek help for PTSD too. It seems to me that to seek treatment for alcoholism without addressing the root eventually will lead to the same end.
At least find out if its there.
Reading the posts here have been more helpful than I could have imagined.
I have always been the strong one in my world. Growing up, friends, marriage, work...I was the one who could carry the burden, and I don't think I could ever hold a candle to the strength I've read on these pages. I know I am tough, I work in one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.
But here there is true courage, true fortitude to continue on and I applaud you. I thank you.

Hey,

My name is Darleena. I grew up in Massachusetts, married an AF man and traveled around the world for the next 21 years with our three boys. We divorced after I found the third wheel in the relationship. I now live in Florida and work for the AF as a Youth Center Programs Director. I love working with children and it's more special as my boys have grown up and are on their own now. I am back in college working on a degree in Business in an effort to better my life. I am a quilter and I'm the coordinator for a state wide community service project that presents quilts to the families of fallen military from FL. I am the carer of a man with PTSD from military trauma and we've been together about 8 months... on and off as he fights to control his episodes. I love my children, my bf, my work, his children, old movies, and my quilting project. In between all of that I get to mow the lawn and trim the bushes. ;~)

Hi everyone,
I picked my name as it's my sun sign. 47 years old in body, ageless in mind. Chosen career is working in commercial fishery in the North Pacific and Bering Sea but I've worked in Russia, the Faroes and Chile.

Get to see home for a few months at a time. I live in the Pacific Northwest, fell in love with this area and never left.
I'm always trying to find out more information on PTSD so I can get a better grasp on what is going on in my brain, so I'm here.

good thread

Most times...

I am a confident woman.

I am an artist. I sketch, paint, emotions decorate my canvases.

I am compassionate and most of all empathetic.
I hurt TOO MUCH when others hurt (the narcissis in me) I want to make everyone better......... IMPOSSIBLE...but....being honest, I think I should try.

sometimes... I doubt myself...

I feel weak sometimes, helpless... Those are the worst... but most times... see above...

Alicia