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The biggest thing was the social events with the family.

Jeff McDowell, US Army 1985 - 2007, talks about how his PTSD affected his loved ones.

Transcript

Probably the biggest impact hypervigilance had

on my family was that I just didn't want to do things.

They would say, "Hey, let's go to a movie."

And I'd say, "That's OK.

I got things to do.

Why don't you guys go and have fun."

The biggest thing was the social events

with the family, doing things.

You do things at home with your family

and maybe even individual things away, like you might go

to a lake together, might have a picnic together.

When you're talking going on a social event,

like to somebody else's house, then you start analyzing,

"Well maybe I've got too much to do.

Maybe I don't have time for this.

Maybe you guys ought to go, you'll have more fun.

Maybe I don't want to stay very long."

And so you start backing out of all those things.

That's probably I think as far

as how hypervigilance affects the family.

I suppose for family members, don't give up.

You loved them beforehand, you can love them again.

They're the same person, it's in there.

It's just it's got a lot of stuff in the way.

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