Introducing my Vet to stress-reducing activities
What does your vet like to do hobby-wise? Anything he enjoys doing will provide relaxation for him. At first he will do better if its just you and him (if you don't share his enthusiasm do something else along side his activity). Crowds or groups with exacerbate his hyper vigilance. As he works with a Vet Center or the VA, gradually these symptoms should ease but until then work out a signal for when he starts to stress so that you both can step away from the stressful situation to a less stressful place. Yes Tai Chi and yoga can help with stress but he may prefer a more active sport like martial arts or basketball. You can always be his cheering section - just having you in his orbit will help anchor and calm him - even if he doesn't say it, it truly helps.
I always have a willing ear - been a Vietnam Vet's wife for 30 years and my vet is 100% disable with PTSD. Its been a long hard learning curve but we made it to a better place and its been worth it!
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Rogue,
I follow my hubby's lead. If there is something that he likes, and it is within reason( he has a TBI) then we work together to accomplish it. Yoga is fine, but may not be for him. Maybe he would like MMA or Tai Chi. I have found that music calms hubby down, and so we listen to lots of music. Walking or jogging may also be good. Just because he may be discharged, doesn't mean he can't still be affiliated with some type of military job. Schooling may be an option. Voc Rehab can help.
Relaxation and meditation can help, just find something he likes and then work at it. Do something that you both enjoy, and I wish you the best.
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Hi all, I am the girlfriend of a current U.S. soldier, we've been dating for three years. He will finish his 9th year of service this November and he's completed one tour during OIF 02-03. He's always had minor symptoms of PTSD that we both have recognized and talked about but he didn't start experiencing major PTSD issues until this past July when the Army told him he would be deploying in April. He's turned in numerous amounts of paperwork and was declared non-deployable and now we are waiting for the final medical examination board to give him an honorable or medical discharge. This is a great relief and a great sadness to both of us because the Army has always been his dream but has now become his nightmare.
But like I said, he has been diagnosed with PTSD and is struggling with it greatly. Mostly it's depression and hypervigilance. Now I'm an avid promoter of yoga and it's healing capabilities, but he thinks it's girly and only thinks of it as an exercise. How do I introduce him to it without getting the third degree? Also are there other things/activities that vets do that can help reduce stress and clear minds? I've read that many people love the Tai Chi, but we don't have a studio or even a college club in the area we could get involved in. I'd like for this to be an activity that both of us could share, just to reinforce the bond between us.
Thanks for all your help and input!!!