Does he have PTSD

[Intothevoid]

My husband has alcohol problems but he refuses to accept it. It's been about 8 months since he began drinking more and getting drunk often. He was abused as a child. His mother was single after loosing her husband to suicide. She used to date abusive men who hit her kids and emotionally abused them as well. She did her fair if drugs too, often neglecting them. I think that his past is causing his alcoholism. Sometimes he us very angry and abusive. Lately he's been acting impulsively and making bad financial decisions. He does take care of me and kids financially. He has also change his views on important life matters and he feels that he should carry a gun at all times. There too much to list here. I wonder if he has PsTD.

[brice1967]

Although I am not a physician, I would believe your husbands condition could very well be a product of his past.  Abuse is often the cause of PTSD and depression can manifest itself in many ways.  A lot of depressed individuals get caught up in self medicating with either drugs or alcohol.

There are ways to help him, but he has to want the help.  If he can't get to a position where he wants and will accept help, its just a battle nobody can win.  You can't change him.  He has to change himself.  You can be supportive and reaching out to AA or similar program teaches people how and what to do.

[MYoungAtHeart]

of course there are online tests for a lot of issues, also including PTSD, but a true PTSD diagnosis must come from a Medical doctor or Therapist.  Anything else is just guessing and yes you do list a lot of things that happened to him but he is the only one who knows what bothers him the most and why he needs alcohol to get through life.  We are also many times afraid to ask our mates or friends when they are sober what might be bothering them in case it will set off another round of alcohol fueled anger or depression.

If you husband is a true alcoholic, then you must get some help for yourself and the children.  Waiting for the magic moment when your husband might see the way to sobriety in his own time may just never happen.

There are many free and low cost programs for families of Alcoholics.  You can call your county court house or city hall and they might be able to point you in the right direction.  I do know what you are going through and I wish you all the very best as you move forward.

M

[gemme771]

hello welll it could be have you tryed to talk to him about this when he is sober

[kcwolf]

i dont know if it would considered ptsd, usuaally ptsd happen after a traumatic event and most of the time gets better with time, but there are different types. anyone who's lived thru abuse and traumatic events will usually act out in some way if they never got help, i know i did, you become depressed and then you become angry becaussed your depressed and you eventually become an angry depressed person, im not a psychiatrist so i really cant say for sure, but, i can say he needs help its a vicious cycle, alcohol depression and anger , i know you love him but if he refuses to get help then maybe you leaving with the kkids will motivate him, sometimes you got to hit rock bottom before you realize you need help and  do you really think thats a good environment for the kids? you have tto break the cycle its not gonna get better if he doesnt get help only worse