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Anonymous40796
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Default Dec 13, 2018 at 07:58 PM
  #1
I have schizoaffective and that's why im on this forum. However, my brother in law was honorably discharged and, it wasn't until then, until he retired, that PTSD became a factor.

My sister, his wife, believes he has bi polar symptoms also. He doesn't interact with his family much, he mostly attends to the garage where he plays videogames alone. Recently he got in a fight where the police picked him off the streets wandering and brought him home. My sister said she didn't even recognize him at first, that's how much blood there was. Also, he lit the couch on fire, walked upstairs, and told my sister. She rran down and poured water on the couch. Why would someone do that? Also, he was driving 120mph's on the highway with his daughters int he care. Why? My sister is one of the strongest people I know and she's reaching her limit. She asked his parents for help and they refuse, which my sister is very angry about. My sister put a restraining order on him and the VA hospital is keeping him for atleast 14 days , so until after Christmas.

What's the psychology involved with his recklessness behind the wheel and lighting the couch on fire?

Any feedback would be very welcomed. I want to understand him s i can help my sister. My own ptsd was shortlived, and wasn't as intense has what he is going through.

Please help.
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Default Dec 13, 2018 at 08:25 PM
  #2
I am sorry your sister has been dealing with this challenge. Her husband will need therapy for a while with therapists that understand how to treat combat PTSD.
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Default Dec 13, 2018 at 08:56 PM
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He's at the VA hospital right now and staying at least for another 14 days. Is there anything I can say to her to help her understand what's going on exactly? She's at her wit's end right now.
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Default Dec 27, 2018 at 09:46 PM
  #4
My guess is, he is angry as hell. Some of his people were killed violently and he's living in the anger.
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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 10:13 PM
  #5
Sorry your sister's husband is such a challenge for her. It sounds like his PTSD is severe and more than she can handle. The behaviors you have shared here mean he is really unsafe to live with and extremely unhealthy for children to be around. Her husband is definitely not dealing with civilian life as all he wants to do is isolate himself and throw these terrible tantrums. She needs to keep the restraining order on him in place and he needs to be in treatment and longer than 14 days. It sounds like his mind is stuck in combat and it doesn't take much for him to get triggered, possibly even haunted by flashbacks. It's not unusual for someone with PTSD to be misdiagnosed with bipolar because triggers can set off the mind into frantic frenzy which is NOT the same as mania. It's important to understand that when someone experiences flashbacks it's really like you are actually reliving what is happening in the flashback. It can be VERY intrusive meaning it isn't something he is MAKING happen to him.

Combat PTSD can be extremely challenging which is why 20 combat veterans a day commit suicide.
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