Q&A with Kaine Fisher, Chairman of Rose Law Group Family Law Department
“My husband will be returning from Iraq any day now but I feel like our marriage is already over. I’m certain he is suffering from PTSD. He is distant and combative. I want to be fully educated and prepared about PTSD so I can try to fix our marriage before I consider divorce as a serious option.”
Veteran statistics show that at least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Depression, and astoundingly, less than half of these individuals seek medical help to treat it. This is troubling and deserves more attention. I suspect the average American cannot even begin to comprehend the trauma a service member endures while serving our country, which is why the general public should make more of an effort to be educated about this and other troubling disorders that plague our veterans. The recent tragic events that unfolded at Fort Hood expose the urgent nature of this problem.
Various research and studies show that PTSD causes more unemployment, can lead to homelessness, can tend to lead to more instances of domestic violence, increases the rate of suicide – and what I am addressing with this article – can destroy a marriage.
Many of us know of a friend or family member who has returned from active duty, and for us, it’s a heartwarming feeling. For the soldier, however, the experience likely poses a mixed bag of emotions. The emotions might range from feeling invincible and indestructible to feeling immense guilt about the things they had to do in combat or extreme sadness about the friends they have lost. Just as with every relationship, communication is key. You should strive to be open and honest with your veteran spouse and encourage them to open up while at the same time being careful not to pressure them. Undoubtedly, you will never understand what your spouse is going through so all you can do is be supportive. Make them feel welcome and try to make their return home as comfortable as possible. Continue reading
To further discuss family law matters, Kaine Fisher can be reached at kfisher@roselawgroup.com
