DH just diagnosed with C-PTSD and hyperactivity disorder

[mrsaligee]

DH has just been diagnosed with the above after I finally got him to seek help. He's been suffering for most of his 55 years and it has impacted upon him and his relations with me and our girls. I'd love to hear from anyone else in a similar situation and to know what to expect. I'm not completely naive when it comes to mental health having suffered myself over the years. But I recognise this is different. I had a great upbringing, he didn't. There's abuse in there as well as military issues. After a session I can't ask him how it went because he's a man of few words at the best of times. Also I get that he's being asked to relive the trauma so wouldn't want to put him through that. It would however be helpful to know the triggers so I/we can try to avoid them. Any advice gratefully received.

He might not even properly understand his triggers yet. It took me a while to properly understand what mine where - and sometimes things still take me by surprise.

For me personally a “you know I am here if you need to talk or can do anything to help” was all I needed of anyone else. I needed to work through my issues myself and as selfish as it might sound having to worry about others trying to understand made that harder.

Hi, it's taken me to ask him to leave if he refused to ask for help. It wasn't just that, he was spending all his time up at the Cricket Club and coming home staggering and slurring his words in front of our daughters' friends. There's two sides to every story and I haven't had an easy time with menopause but I'm also looking after my 91 year-old Mum who has breast and bone cancer and we're awaiting memory test results for her. I'm working 4 days a week too. So I've not been there for him but as much as I may be should have been. I'm glad he's getting the help and I have told him that he is being incredibly brave. I've been able to look back at certain situations and understand why he behaved a certain way given the limited amount he's already told me. Thanks for your response - any light anyone can shed is helpful x