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We got to the point where we couldn't talk things out.

MAJ Joshua Brandon, US Army 2002 - present, talks about how his PTSD affected his loved ones.

Transcript

A lot of times with my wife for instance,

we'd be able to talk anything out.

We'd have arguments, maybe we'd go to bed angry but in the end,

we were always able to talk things out.

I noticed that as my anger and symptoms started to increase,

we got to the point where we couldn't talk things out

and I would say, we could have come close several times

to splitting up just because I was kind of ruled by this PTSD.

I wasn't controlling it or seeking therapy for it.

I know our personal life has suffered somewhat 'cause I'll

get quiet and withdrawn.

She wants to understand.

I've always been open with her

and she knows she can't understand what I've been

through but she wants to kind of understand what I'm going

through as far as the symptoms go.

And I know that for a long time, I would isolate myself

and only go out with buddies.

We'd go out and self-medicate with beer, trying to be

with people I understand, or I would sit in a room and read

and just not want anybody to be around,

and that's no a way to have a marriage.

It's a partnership, it's not one person suffering from this

and pushing somebody else out.

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