...TW... I suppose this could be a trigger for some.
I've come to realize that things just don't get better by waiting - I just have to make a choice to move on in one form or another before I really notice anything improve my situation. My problem with this is not knowing where to place my first step.
Background:
My wife and I have been married for 10 years, and have known each other for 3 prior. We've run into typical bumps in the road, but nothing like what we had experienced last year. We've had some great times together. Over the course of this last year, so much emotional drain has taken its toll on the both of us.
My wife was diagnosed with cPTSD in 2013 - anger had increased over time until 3/2016 when she had a psychotic break. Some of the other symptoms she experiences are hard to cope with which happen to be many more than I realize sometimes. Self-loathing, guilt/shame, fear of intimacy, maladaptive daydreaming/disassociation, avoidance, isolation, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, self-harm (historical and current ideation), aversion to affection, some memory lapses. All of which had come to a head during the psychosis. She began to push me away in an indignant manner even eluding to an emotional affair which ended up being false and imagined. It is real hard to watch someone you love hurt so much while they take it out on you in the process. I have since learned boundaries and apologies and forgiveness have found a place in our relationship.
The current problem is that she feels like she 'woke up' married to me and cannot recognize that I am her husband. She remembers our relationship as it were a dream as she had explained it. This further complicates a lot of the empathetic skills for her as sometimes I don't feel cared for as a husband. This may well be my own perception and I'm trying to be secure in myself with this, but conversations I have with her constantly remind me of this feeling. She will say things like 'you deserve better' and other odd things about compatibility and how shes now a different person than before. I will try to plan trips together with her, but I get responses like 'we don't have to be together for everything.' I'm not sure how to take this. We only spend Sunday's together as a family and have the weeknights/sat night after 8:00 together. That is it. I'm feeling drained and beginning to cling on to hope that things do get better.
Last month her therapist took me aside and stated that she believes there is something else (mental health wise) going on. The psychotic symptoms have diminished, but have not completely disappeared which is concerning to her therapist (and me of course.) I just don't know really where to go from here. I can only think that I could lead by example, but what does that look like? feeling kinda lost.