lawdog1980 Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) I have been married to my wife for 6 years now, we have been together for 7 and we have 2 beautiful children. I am currently on my 6th combat deployment, 4th since we've been married. We have been having marriage problems for 4 years now, mostly due to the affects of me deploying. Something in me changed after I came back from my first deployment with her. I became more emotionally distant, more irritable and self centered. We separated last year for 3 months so each of us could get the help we needed. While she was gone I was diagnosed with mild PTSD and was put on medication for it and attended regular counseling. After we got back together things went well for awhile and we started going to counseling, but before you know it we were having problems again and then I deployed again. 8 months into the deployment I came home for R&R for a couple of weeks. While I was home I tried not to start an arguement but it happened anyway. After I returned to Afghanistan she said she was going home, and she did. I felt so helpless, angry, hurt and just plain mad. I said alot of stuff to her that I shouldnt have said and dont mean. I truely love my wife and want to make it work. I am currently getting counseling in country for my problems. I will be returning home in January but she won't be there. I told her that my time in the Marine Corps is coming to an end. I know that I have put my work first and my family second. I just want a way to make ammends. We both grew up in broken homes and I don't want our children to do the same. Edited October 11, 2011 by lawdog1980
january2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I appreciate the sacrifice that you are making/have made. I think that your wife also needs to be appreciated for the sacrifice that she is making/has made. With six combat deployments, you've probably spent more time away from home than in it. In the meantime, your wife has essentially been a single parent, running the family home and raising the children. Since your time in the Marine Corps will come to an end soon - why not start putting your family first then? Perhaps get a consultancy position close to home so that you can be with your family. With the PTSD, meds and counselling, I know things won't be easy and it will be an ongoing process. There will be some dark days. But I think that you need to find a way to prioritise your wife and family now. Otherwise, what and who are you really doing it all for?
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