I came across this on Facebook as I was updating my page www.facebook.com/ptsdwifeyblog and wanted to share it to show perspective from a person who suffers from PTSD.

PTSD Letter Written By PTSD Victim ♥

“A Letter to My Significant Other About My PTSD

I have PTSD there is no cure yet but I can and will be treated for it.
I have triggers and I will teach them to you as I figure them out myself.
I know you did not ask for this but either did I, together maybe we can work it out.
I have issues with trust that have nothing to do with you, please stand by me anyway.

I have issues with anger that you can’t believe, but I can learn to control my reactions.
I have a tendency to self medicate with alcohol and drugs because they help me escape.
I feel like a ticking time bomb and would never want or mean to hurt you or our kids.
I will learn to gauge my triggers so I can better control my frustration and rage and anger.

I will stay busy, because free time and worry exacerbate my PTSD symptoms.
I will never forget the trauma I have been through, but I want to go forward with my life.
I realize that even good and bad stress is a trigger, so stress is something we will try to avoid.
I know that the anniversary of my trauma will always cause a rise in my PTSD symptoms.

I hold in a lot of anger, so sometimes I take things out on the wrong people, my loved ones.
I know my anger can go from A-Z immediately without any kind of warning for you.
I especially dread holidays, they are reminders, but with time this dread will be lessoned.
I am diagnosed with PTSD but that doesn’t make my flashbacks or hallucinations go away.

I have a lot of fear I try hard not to show, one of my greatest fears is dying soon or right away.
I do know that once a fear is conquered it loses its power to hurt or haunt me anymore.
I have a lot of anxiety all of the time, it is very hard for me to ever totally relax.
I do know when my anxiety levels increase my PTSD symptoms are on the rise, I may need help.

I have intimacy issues because I feel like the people I care about always die in the end.
I don’t want to get close to anyone because I don’t want to lose anyone else that I love.
I have a lot of guilt about things I have had to do, also because I did not die and I survived.
I share these things as a peace offering of the things I cannot change but am willing to work on.

If my alcohol and drug abuse start getting out of hand, I will need professional help.
If I can not learn to control my addiction to adrenaline, I will end up in trouble or jail.
If I don’t try and explain this to you, my significant other, how can I expect you to understand.
If I face that I have PTSD and do all I can to help myself that means PTSD does not have me.

Love,

Mrs. Williams”

Before you leave, don’t forget to stop by my shop. Proceeds go towards my PTSD Outreach Initiative!