When PTSD and Intimacy Collide: What Really Happens?
Difficulties with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intimacy are common, regardless of the nature of the trauma leading to PTSD. A quick search of the Internet will return dozens of links to websites regarding PTSD and intimacy and the challenges PTSD presents in maintaining intimate relationships. There is a flood of information regarding trust issues, poor communication, closeness, violence, sexual dysfunction, and more. However, in my case, all the facts and statistics do is cause my eyes to glaze over without really getting to the point. In an intimate relationship, partners usually come to understand each other's behaviors. What really happens in a relationship when PTSD and intimacy collide?
When PTSD and Intimacy Collide
While reading through a PTSD forum, I came across a plea for help from a man whose wife had suddenly left him. He described her rapid change in behavior. Almost overnight she began finding fault in everything he did for her while she continued to expect more and more from him. She didn't want to be touched. She didn't want to talk. She accused him of infidelity. He wasn't on the forum because he saw these behaviors as symptoms of PTSD. He was there because he knew she had past trauma and he wanted to respond to her without triggering her PTSD.
While I was full of respect for his desire to avoid traumatizing the woman who had just wholly torn him apart, I was shaken by his story. If it had been an older post, I might have thought it was written by my husband only a year earlier. I had acted similarly while on the verge of a dissociative fugue. Just as the man writing the post could not see how his wife's behavior was an extreme flare-up of PTSD symptoms, my husband struggled to understand what was happening to me. When PTSD symptoms intensify, intimate partners can be utterly unprepared for the changes and challenges that rapidly take place in their significant other.
PTSD Triggers Cause Sudden Changes in Intimacy
While the story above describes two extreme situations, it points out how much can change when an individual is dealing with heightened PTSD symptoms. Hidden triggers, those flashes from the past that trick PTSD brains into emotionally revisiting traumatic events, can surface at any point in a developing or established relationship. Even after being together for years, a couple's intimacy can be adversely impacted by PTSD.
Here are some examples of common changes in behavior people might see from partners experiencing increased PTSD symptoms:
- They begin avoiding physical contact, including holding hands or kissing.
- They have a lack of interest in previously shared activities.
- They express anxiety or panic if their partner is overdue and can't be contacted.
- They sleep excessively.
- They don't want to talk; they seem disinterested in their partner.
- They become overprotective.
- They become dependent on their partner to complete tasks they used to do for themselves.
- They forget conversations or commitments.
- They begin or increase their smoking, drug use, drinking, or computer gaming.
- They develop an unwarranted fear of their partner.
- They become more critical or demanding of their partner.
PTSD Can Lead to Deeper Intimacy
While the list above may seem intimidating, my experiences have resulted in a stronger relationship with my husband. Couples don't need to fear PTSD. By understanding that PTSD can result in symptoms that require support, couples can establish a plan for what to do if difficulties arise. The truth about PTSD and intimacy is this: while PTSD presents its challenges for couples, it also calls upon each partner to share and grow in ways that are immensely rewarding.
Sources
APA Reference
Hollowood, T.
(2018, January 10). When PTSD and Intimacy Collide: What Really Happens?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, December 23 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/traumaptsdblog/2018/01/the-truth-about-ptsd-and-intimacy
Author: Tia Hollowood
Hi,
I cannot thank you enough for writing this. I am going through a really tough time with my husband at the minute who has been diagnosed with PTSD, but is in denial about how he is acting and feeling as being symptoms of PTSD. He is currently sleeping at his parents and we haven’t been intimate or kissed for 4 months now. He is sometimes quite cold with me and will only hug me. I kissed him on the cheek the other day and he said he felt uncomfortable with it and was worried about what that meant. He thinks he just doesn’t know whether he loves me or not but yet he has said he does love me but is struggling to show it at the minute. We have a 4 year old son together and before 6 months ago we were very happy and had everything going for us. Now I worry that because he won’t accept he has PTSD and I am willing to support him with this and be there for him because I love him deeply that he will throw it all away. There is only so many times I can try and make him realize that everything he is going through at the moment is the PTSD. He goes to counseling through work but I worry he isn’t fully utilizing this help. It’s heartbreaking to see the person I love not being and acting himself and then using me as his emotional punching bag. I hope and pray that we make it through this nightmare stronger and together.
Melissa, I am with you. I have had a 5 year relationship and we moved in together and talked about future plans of us buying our house and spending the rest of our lives together. Then I got a heart attack and had heart surgery and then 3 months later she was experiencing ptsd symptoms and has moved out and distanced herself from me. She believes I am a trigger due to my heart surgery, she is going to get help but has to wait 8 weeks to get in to see somebody on her health plan. She says she has all the love and care for us and me but she goes numb and cant show or receive the love you need for a relationship. Her husband died of a bought with cancer 12 years ago, so I don't know if that is what help trigger the PTSD with my heart surgery. I am sad and have a hard time sleeping and thinking about it all the time!! What do I do???
Hi Johnny, I’m sorry to hear you’re going through a tough time. I definitely suggest that your partner see a therapist for her PTSD symptoms. They can be very hard to deal with. Wishing you the best!
My partner moved in without ever telling me about his PTSD do the childhood trauma although I knew he was in therapy every Friday for many years which is already going.. He did make it clear that he expected a sexual relationship because I had been celibate for decades and suffer from a very extreme pain disorder that affects my ability to have intercourse. Paragraph that we agreed to start therapy for me with regards to that. And Carla but shortly thereafter was extremely selfish using me as nothing more than a vessel looking at me as if he were not more Monster and I were his enemy the last three sex acts we do have and the last one he got on his phone and when I made a comment he said that's how he relaxes afterwards and that was not so. In paragraph I knew something was wrong and then it was no sex whatsoever or sexual intimacy after that he was impaired left when I contacted he told me it was do the PS I'm sorry PTSD would not allow me to speak about it at all or even touch him it was a. Of many many months almost a year and I did not have sex although I did try to bring it up many times to him he gets so angry and our relationship has been more than explosive he's actually been abusive great deal of the time. I've been patient as that's what he had asked for but now I had gotten to the point where I was suicidal not understanding enough of this disease I've been reading for months and months reading and now I'm in counseling with my old therapist however none of this makes up for the love that I desire never mind of frustration. I finally given him some ultimatums because he doesn't talk about anything and I need to understand certain things the other morning he came in and said everything is going to change although he had reassured me a few times that everything was going to work out it will all be fine and I kept saying how do you know he kept saying cuz I do cuz I do that was that was all I got from him a couple of times this week and I feel that how could he have this big spark in his eyes and act loving and sexual all of a sudden when I had asked him all along was he masturbating because I wasn't doing anything and I was totally frustrated and he kept telling me no I don't believe it I don't believe in male can be totally free of sex for over a year when they told me they did it like 5 times a day before they moved in I just wonder if he has borderline or Paschal narcissistic personality disorder and maybe other disorders that affect his personality he is abusive pusher because of the PTSD and the more I read in the more I feel that this is not warranted I keep saying to him lately there's no excuse for it PTSD or mental abuse her anything is an excuse for the abuse that you've been playing on me that's when he came in this morning and said everything was going to change and it dude but I can't be receptive because I want an explanation for the overnight change because I gave him an ultimatum and he doesn't want to lose me that's the reason he said it's because he didn't want to lose me so what has been going on all these months over a year actually understanding that he hasn't cheated on me what have you been doing how has he would need be did it childhood turn although I knew he was in therapy every Friday for many years which is all going.. He did make a clear that he expected a sexual relationship because I had been celibate for decades and suffer from very extreme being disorder that affects my ability to have intercourse. Paragraph but we're going to stand up there a thing for me you play nas do that. Carlos what shortly thereafter he was extremely selfish using me as nothing more than a vessel looking at me if he were not Warminster and I will his enemy the last three six actually you have and the last one you got on his phone and when I made a call man he said that's how he relaxers after work and that was not so. Probably I knew something was wrong and then it was no sex whatsoever or safely Timothy after that to you, and when I contacted you told me it was good to see you before PTSD would not allow me to speak about it at all or even touch him it was a. Of many many miles from last year and I do not have sex with other like to try to bring it up anytime and he would get so angry and I listen to it has been more than explosive he's actually been abusive great deal of the time. And, I have been patient is that what do you have off for but now I had gotten to the point where I was suicidal not understanding enough to be I've been reading for months and months reading and now I'm in counseling with my old therapist I ever going to get except for the love that I desire never mind the frustration. No I finally given an ultimatum because he hasn't talked about anything and I need an explanation for what's been happening and how he could change overnight after looking at me as a object of like a tree outside no admiration of Sparkle all of a sudden tons that's not going his eyes love and love what the hell is going on here other morning he came in and said everything's going to change my address with me if you can fit everything was going to work out it will be fine and I kept saying how do you know and you can say because I do cuz I do that was hit it was all I got from here. It's a couple of times this week and I feel that how could he have just gotten his eyes and a loving and sexual all of a sudden when I hit often all along with masturbating because I wasn't doing anything and I was totally frustrated and kept telling me no I don't believe it I don't believe me I can be totally sucks for over a year when they told me they did it like 5 times a day before you moved in I just wonder if he has borderline or partial narcissistic personality disorder and maybe I like this now I just saw his that go along with the PTSD as well I am certain certain of it I just don't know what they all are even though I have a bachelor's in psychology to other medical degrees I'm not an MD at one point I did tell him that if we did not at least hug and you did not spend the night in the bed with me then this relationship was going to go to hell told him without counseling it would go to hell with sometime later at least we did. Cuddling in that was good even though we had no sex. Helping them flee I encourage people to do that if they can no the other day he did say he would go to counseling with me cuz he knew he would lose me if you didn't but I have mentioned it more than one or two times I'll guarantee he'll say like before he never says one thing I want to say is that I'm missing all my cash savings thousands and thousands of dollars and were the only two in the house no one else ever enters my apartment and he just swears that he didn't do it what do people think about PTSD and theft what do you think he has other psych issues someone please respond to me I don't know what to do I don't know after I've been lied here for a month after month after month every pore of my body wanting love and sex from my husband now he will try to be changed it makes me question what was happening all along I don't believe it was just PTSD can anybody said some light on this because I don't feel comfortable sharing my body with your mom a facial do this to me all over again at some point and how do I know he won't without any explanation of what really happened except that he heard things in his head he has things in his head any stealing living therapy
Darin... go to the VA and get help. They do have a good program. Communication, communication, communication! My Vietnam Vet has PTSD and was just recently diagnosed. He started the program three weeks ago. He is open to learning how to make changes, sort of. People don’t say the tuff stuff about PTSD. No intimacy is a real problem in a marriage! Unless you both get help and learn to understand the whys this will always be a relationship problem for you. I feel like I was lied to, but then he didn’t know about the PTSD and I believed all the excuses he threw my way. He makes a lot of excuses for his avoidance, another PTSD symptom. If you get help through the VA, there is a program for your wife as well. I’m not going to sugar coat it... get help. If you’re young you have time to get understanding and make changes. It is possible but you have to do the work.
I have complex PTSD from an emotionally and sexually abusive past relationship. I have been with my current partner for 5 years and over the past year I have experienced a drastic increase in PTSD related intimacy issues. He feels like he did something wrong and I just don't know how to explain why I was ok for years, but now I am not. This article helped because I now know I am not the only one that had this issue years later. Thank you!
i have ptsd . military and a abusive childhood. it affects my present relationship greatly with intamiancy. she states i dont meet her needs and i feel as if i am doing all i can. how do i help her because i feel i have no more fight in me.
Hi, I was wanting to know if there is anything a person PTSD that struggles wirh intimacy can do to help? Someone who wants to be intimate but physically can't due to the PTSD. Besides medication, are there any other things a person can do to help them be more intimate without their PTSD affecting them?
Hi Hazel. The struggle with intimacy due to PTSD, in my experience, takes time and understanding. Just as we can not snap our fingers and make our PTSD disappear, we cannot anticipate every situation where our PTSD will interfere with daily life, and that includes intimacy. If therapy is a possibility, it is my first recommendation, and couples therapy can also help your partner to understand the issues you face.
It might be tempting or convenient to separate issues with intimacy from other PTSD symptoms, but they are all part of the same package. While it is difficult, speaking with your partner about your PTSD and about the difficulties you experience with intimacy is crucial. If your relationship has progressed to the point where you are becoming intimate, this is an issue for both of you to face together, whether you include therapy or not. It's through these discussions with your partner that you will discover where your comfort level is, and how to communicate when you're having trouble, even when that occurs "in the moment."
I lost my father and brother in an accident in August of 2016. I was diagnosed with PTSD and a bunch of other stuff. I’ve been having problems with intimacy lately and it feels like I breakdown before or after sex. I love my partner more than anything. I want to please him and I don’t understand why losing two non sexual men would curb my sexual relationship. Please help me understand, or try to understand.
Hi Jen, thanks for sharing. While I'm no expert on the subject, I do know that trauma and grief both have the potential to significantly alter one's ability to be intimate. Perhaps this isn't about sex so much as it is about loving someone and the pain of losing them.
Our brains are fascinating. They try to save us from pain‚ but they don't let us in on the plan. Perhaps there is a part of you that recognizes sexual intimacy as a component of a deep and trusting relationship. Your brain recognizes that the pain of losing someone close is almost unbearable. Grief, especially grief with PTSD‚ can lead us to unknowingly push away loved ones. It's a warped defense to avoid being hurt by avoiding love, but the brain doesn't care about the trade-off, it just wants to feel safe.
There are other reasons that could be leading to these difficulties but you are definitely not alone. If you need further help I suggest finding a counselor experienced in both PTSD and grief counseling. Tia
Awesome article Tia. It is so good to know that you managed to overcome your PTSD and established a stronger relationship with your husband. It is true that couples who manage to get past it, emerge stronger in their relationship, but it requires a lot of patience from the unaffected partner. A lot of times, it damages them too. Therapy helps to deal with these issues.
Again, another great piece Tia. It confirmed some experiences we’ve had and made me see other ones differently. This past two years have been a trigger for me (I am shocked how hard that was to write). Thanks again for sharing.
Thank you Christina. I'm so glad you shared that with me, even though it was hard to write!
Hey Tia! I'm one of the new writers for HealthyPlace. I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you for sharing & I could really relate.
Hi Whitney! Thank you and welcome to the HealthyPlace blogs!
I am heartbroken about my boyfriend whom seems to suffer from PTSD . He broke off our relationship suddenly after 4 years and talk of marriage. He was triggered and has shut me out of his life . I love him and am willing to be there but he insists that I not be there or involved with him anymore. He may be getting help but it's not clear . I respected his wishes but I fear he is lost to me forever.i am focusing on myself but wondering how I can help save our relationship
Hey M, going through the same things. And wondering if there is hope. Heart is with you.
Hi Melissa! I am going thru the very same situation right now and wondering if you could share how your situation played out? It would mean a lot to hear. Thank you so much!