Hi there, I am struggling. My partner is suffering from PTSD and will not seek help. I don’t know how to encourage or support her throughout the tough times. The tough times consist of mostly me making an innocuous comment and her shutting herself off from everyone for anywhere up to a week. This is putting a huge strain on our relationship both during episodes and at other times. I’m almost at the end of my rope and I don’t know where to turn to for help or how to progress things so that she will get the counselling or other help she needs.
I am based in West Auckland and would appreciate a pointer in some direction.
Col
Hi Col, sorry to the tardy response but I have been dealing with my own issue and not back on track. How are things now?? Can you tell me what the caused the PTSD so I can hopefully send you guys in the right direction. Cheers Bill
You must see your GP, and she needs to see a CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST. Preferably one that is not pc.
this is NOT a psychiatrist by the way. Or a psychotherapist either. You need some long chats with a “Clinical” Psychologist. And not an educational psychologist, military psychologist etc. Psychologists deal with ‘normal’ problems, and a good one, can be of great help. They can treat you, and take this lurking, ambushing pressure that jumps up on us. Well worth a try no problem.
I am a retired ex Police Sergeant, ex Probation officer, CYF social worker of over 30 years experience. I cannot recall any particular traumatic event precipitating my breakdown, rather the cumulative effect of dealing with crisis situations over years led to my being treated for recurrent depression. However I belive my problem is more complex than that. I further compounded my problem by tackling CYF and the Police on behalf of clients and issues of the public good which dragged on for years. I now exist on Govt Superan with no other financial support, have become isolated from my adult children, have trouble with relationships and employment. I lack the will and energy to put my extensive knowledge to any useful purpose or indeed do anything more than exist really. I respond badly to counseling and psychotherapy because my extensive training in both enables me to sabotage support.. I have made token efforts to get help but my pride/arrogance/shame whatever and pervasive sense of apathy shot me down. I don’t expect any miracles but rather hope there may be a measure of understanding and acceptance that will give me the will to battle on.
Hi,
I too am a PTSD Veteran of Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam. I am a Colonel( Retired) with 3 children and like Bill Blaikie have had a number of senior positions abroad including Being an Ambassador, High Commissioner and Consul-General for new Zealand at various times I am much older than Bill, but do understand the processes he has gone through and hope and pray that he will get the final peace and balance to his life as I have experienced. One thing I do know is that you cannot do it on your own and you do need to attend the sessions with the others.
What have I done about Bill’s situation? I have written to the Prime Minister, John Key, and outlined to him the consequences of th Government NOT meeting the terms of the unwritten contract it has with the servicemen they send away on active service. That is to provide for the treatment of battle casualties and the support for next of kin for all casualties. If this contract is broken, it will cause a loss of morale and the fighting spirit of our servicemen. I understand the importance of this support which is significant foundation of the edifice which is Defence, where is the understanding amongst politicians of all colours? I have also circulated his situation to some blogs in the hope that he gets the support he deserves. I am 98% disabled but will continue to support as many young veterans in need of help asI am able to. Help is needed.
Hi Brian, thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement. I would love to hear what the PM has to say in his reply to your letter, please us informed. Regards Bill
I am a PhD student from Germany (University Kassel) and I am doing a research exchange under the supervision of Dr Karolina Stasiak from the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland. I would be incredibly grateful if I could post or distribute my brief online survey among your users.
I am doing an international study of patients’/clients’/mental health service users’ attitudes towards the use of Serious Games in psychological therapy.
Participants can take part if they are between the age of 16 and 85 and have experienced any form of psychological therapy (i.e. any form of “talking therapy” such as cognitive behavioural therapy/CBT, psychoanalysis or other forms of psychological counselling) in New Zealand.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (j.huss@auckland.ac.nz) or my supervisor (k.stasiak@auckland.ac.nz).
This study has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committees.
Heard your interview on Radio NZ this morning on my transister radio. I am ex NZ Army and Police, from which I was medically discharged on psycological grounds after 12 years service (I spent 5 years doing forsensic work; dealing with cases including multiple homicides). Unlike you, my wife didn’t stick with me. I am divorced and homeless; living in my truck. Like you I have had trouble holding down a job long term so have returned to study in the interim. Thank you for bringing attention to PTSD!
I did hear on the show that you were giving away a couple of copies of your book…I may be too late by now, but I would be interested. I have a PO Box; 5133 Port Nelson, Nelson NZ.
I’m a producer on TVNZ’s breakfast show and I’d like to get Bill on the show to interview him about PTSD
Can someone give me a call on 021990922 OR email me at miranda.fisher@tvnz.co.nz?
we met last year when the Pilgrim Bandits were in town and I was wondering if you would like to come and talk to our organisation about your experiences?
Dedicated to You (and my wife Nancy and our children)
This website is dedicated to my wife Nancy and our children
This website is a place for people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to come to, find out more about the illness and seek help and friendship from others that are affected by PTSD. I have established this resource as I found that when I was on my journey to recovery I wanted somewhere I could go to get information on PTSD to help me in my journey to wellness. Most importantly, I wanted to read and hear about others’ stories of their journey through PTSD. In addition, I wanted to be able to talk to others with PTSD, as suffering alone is not the way to recovery. “PTSD—or any mental illness—does not belong to mental health professionals, but to the people who live with it and are in recovery from it.”[i] To find out about my journey go to Bill’s story.
[i] Howard Kudler, M.D., of the Duke University Medical Center; When the War Never Ends: The Voices of Military Members with PTSD and Their Families by Leah Wizelman
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Hi there, I am struggling. My partner is suffering from PTSD and will not seek help. I don’t know how to encourage or support her throughout the tough times. The tough times consist of mostly me making an innocuous comment and her shutting herself off from everyone for anywhere up to a week. This is putting a huge strain on our relationship both during episodes and at other times. I’m almost at the end of my rope and I don’t know where to turn to for help or how to progress things so that she will get the counselling or other help she needs.
I am based in West Auckland and would appreciate a pointer in some direction.
Col
Hi Col, sorry to the tardy response but I have been dealing with my own issue and not back on track. How are things now?? Can you tell me what the caused the PTSD so I can hopefully send you guys in the right direction. Cheers Bill
You must see your GP, and she needs to see a CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST. Preferably one that is not pc.
this is NOT a psychiatrist by the way. Or a psychotherapist either. You need some long chats with a “Clinical” Psychologist. And not an educational psychologist, military psychologist etc. Psychologists deal with ‘normal’ problems, and a good one, can be of great help. They can treat you, and take this lurking, ambushing pressure that jumps up on us. Well worth a try no problem.
I am a retired ex Police Sergeant, ex Probation officer, CYF social worker of over 30 years experience. I cannot recall any particular traumatic event precipitating my breakdown, rather the cumulative effect of dealing with crisis situations over years led to my being treated for recurrent depression. However I belive my problem is more complex than that. I further compounded my problem by tackling CYF and the Police on behalf of clients and issues of the public good which dragged on for years. I now exist on Govt Superan with no other financial support, have become isolated from my adult children, have trouble with relationships and employment. I lack the will and energy to put my extensive knowledge to any useful purpose or indeed do anything more than exist really. I respond badly to counseling and psychotherapy because my extensive training in both enables me to sabotage support.. I have made token efforts to get help but my pride/arrogance/shame whatever and pervasive sense of apathy shot me down. I don’t expect any miracles but rather hope there may be a measure of understanding and acceptance that will give me the will to battle on.
Hi,
I too am a PTSD Veteran of Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam. I am a Colonel( Retired) with 3 children and like Bill Blaikie have had a number of senior positions abroad including Being an Ambassador, High Commissioner and Consul-General for new Zealand at various times I am much older than Bill, but do understand the processes he has gone through and hope and pray that he will get the final peace and balance to his life as I have experienced. One thing I do know is that you cannot do it on your own and you do need to attend the sessions with the others.
What have I done about Bill’s situation? I have written to the Prime Minister, John Key, and outlined to him the consequences of th Government NOT meeting the terms of the unwritten contract it has with the servicemen they send away on active service. That is to provide for the treatment of battle casualties and the support for next of kin for all casualties. If this contract is broken, it will cause a loss of morale and the fighting spirit of our servicemen. I understand the importance of this support which is significant foundation of the edifice which is Defence, where is the understanding amongst politicians of all colours? I have also circulated his situation to some blogs in the hope that he gets the support he deserves. I am 98% disabled but will continue to support as many young veterans in need of help asI am able to. Help is needed.
Hi Brian, thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement. I would love to hear what the PM has to say in his reply to your letter, please us informed. Regards Bill
Can anyone recommend any trusted therapy or therapists for PTSD in Wellington if possible?
Kia ora and hello PTSDyouarenotalone,
I am a PhD student from Germany (University Kassel) and I am doing a research exchange under the supervision of Dr Karolina Stasiak from the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland. I would be incredibly grateful if I could post or distribute my brief online survey among your users.
I am doing an international study of patients’/clients’/mental health service users’ attitudes towards the use of Serious Games in psychological therapy.
Participants can take part if they are between the age of 16 and 85 and have experienced any form of psychological therapy (i.e. any form of “talking therapy” such as cognitive behavioural therapy/CBT, psychoanalysis or other forms of psychological counselling) in New Zealand.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (j.huss@auckland.ac.nz) or my supervisor (k.stasiak@auckland.ac.nz).
This study has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committees.
You can go straight to the survey from this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MRLGTZ9
Thank you very much for your support!
Best regards,
Jessica Huss, MSc
Auckland Hospital Support Building
Room 12.099, Level 12, 2 Park Road, Grafton
Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Hi Bill,
Heard your interview on Radio NZ this morning on my transister radio. I am ex NZ Army and Police, from which I was medically discharged on psycological grounds after 12 years service (I spent 5 years doing forsensic work; dealing with cases including multiple homicides). Unlike you, my wife didn’t stick with me. I am divorced and homeless; living in my truck. Like you I have had trouble holding down a job long term so have returned to study in the interim. Thank you for bringing attention to PTSD!
I did hear on the show that you were giving away a couple of copies of your book…I may be too late by now, but I would be interested. I have a PO Box; 5133 Port Nelson, Nelson NZ.
Regards, Paul
Hi There
I’m a producer on TVNZ’s breakfast show and I’d like to get Bill on the show to interview him about PTSD
Can someone give me a call on 021990922 OR email me at miranda.fisher@tvnz.co.nz?
Many thanks
Miranda
hi Bill
we met last year when the Pilgrim Bandits were in town and I was wondering if you would like to come and talk to our organisation about your experiences?
look forward to hearing from you soon
Ian