The social stigma of PTSD

[PeeJ52]

17. I try to deal, I know what you mean about people don't get it if you weren't military...

I was hit with divorce after 26 years of marriage, depression, lung cancer, alcoholism, DUI, fired from job 8 weeks after lung cancer surgery and subsequent nine months unemployment all within one year of turning 50 years old. This was in 2002, so I had to pay for COBRA during those 9 months so that I maintained continuous insurance so I could be insured for a pre-existing condition when I got another job. Since I was on unemployment at $275 a week, just after splitting every thing in half with my wife in the divorce and paying her alimony, (she got the money, I got the debt), I also went broke.

I have seen psychiatric help every since 2002 and they all say it's PTSD because it was just too much to handle, too fast. I've been on almost every kind of medication out there. It has been impossible for me to hold a steady job since 2002 because I always get too defensive when I get the least bit of criticism. Even though I've been awarded Employee of the month awards early in my stays at 4 different employers since then, I always end up getting fired because I eventually get paranoid and freak out. Thankfully I'm 66 now and retired. At least now I have peace. Except when I sleep. The dreams won't stop... I don't even try to tell any one.