Is PTSD Contagious? I Freaked Out! ~by Welby O'Brien, LOVE OUR VETS

Funny how living with our vets and PTSD can affect us too. And usually just when we seem to think we have it all together. HA! 🙂

This morning I was in “go” mode, on my way out for the day. On a roll and doing great! Getting ready to pull away from the curb in front of our house, as soon as I put the car in gear, BOOM! What was that? I broke the car! The engine fell out! It’s gonna blow up! We can’t afford a new car!

Freaked out, I ran back up to the house to enlist my husband (note to self: avoid the word enlist around here). Seeing my panic he panicked too! Cool, huh?

We flew down the driveway both fully activated! He got in, turned it on. Pulled it forward. Wow. I was speechless. (I did manage to sneak in a prayer along the way. Always a good thing.) He got out. Handed me the keys and smiled.

I learned three things today. First, my husband is wonderful (I already knew that).

Secondly, I can get triggered too!

And thirdly, cars go better when you TAKE OFF the parking brake. (Good, Welby.) 🙂

Humbling in many ways. And now I know I too am susceptible to panic and being triggered. I was reminded that panicking is not always productive. So why do we go from problem point A to global disaster point Z in two seconds? One word: PTSD. They have it. And so do we.

Whether wives, partners, parents, friends, or any form of loved ones, as I remind us all in Love Our Vets: Restoring Hope for Families of Veterans with PTSD the PTSD affects us more than we realize. The most important thing is to first be aware. When we start to panic, or get triggered in any way, can we pause long enough to recognize it? Sometimes that is enough in and of itself.

We cannot instantly fix our feelings or reactions,
but we can gradually become more mindful of them.
And in so doing we get a little stronger and a little more stable.

The PTSD does indeed affect all of us. And as challenging as it may be, it does not have to prevent us from loving and fully living. And I am finding that the more we can laugh at ourselves, the more our sense of humor also has opportunity to grow!