I had to repost this...please read and share
"WHAT WE'D LIKE FAMILY & FRIENDS TO KNOW ABOUT LIVING WITH PTSD"
-Remember that my war experiences changed me. Having PTSD was not my choice, but I have to live with it.
-PTSD is real. I'm not stupid, crazy, or "faking it".
-Realize that going to crowded or noisy places makes me uncomfortable.
-Don't get upset with me when I can't remember something. My memory problem is real.
-Don't take it personally or think I am mad at YOU when I might explode or am short with you, or when I get quiet or confused. Be patient with me, it does not mean that I don't love you.
-I care about you, I do not want to hurt or harm those that I love. If I am threatening or out of control, it might be best to just leave me alone until I can calm down.
-Please respect my need for quiet. It is important to me.
-Realize that I have unpredictable highs and lows- good and bad days. And you do too.
-I need you to understand that holidays and "anniversaries" are tough times for me.
-I feel overwhelmed when you ask me a lot of questions. I will talk to you when I can.
-I may never share certain details with you because you have no way of truly understanding everything that happened. Respect that.
Such an important post. Good things to remember.
ReplyDeleteBe patient with me, it does not mean that I don't love you. What a valuable statement. I just want to introduce myself. My name is Ben King. I was in Iraq from April 2006-2007. I started my Blog, Armor Down, last week. I'm a rookie when it comes to blogging, but I have see the dark side and am trying to share how I made it back.
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