I’m marrying a veteran with severe C-PTSD among other things; it’s been a hard season since an abrupt episode interrupted our joy. He is withdrawn but tries hard to communicate with me and reassure me of his love and commitment…it’s still hard to watch him suffer(nevermind my grief over the situation). Will you pray that God shows him a way forward? We don’t want medication if we can avoid it.
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As a general rule of thumb, visual hallucinations result from toxicity such as drugs, fever, or a tumor. Auditory hallucinations are associated with mental illness. A medical doctor that practices psychiatric medicine might be able to prescribe something for him that can help reduce the symptoms.
Traumatic events in life like combat, rape, being abused as a child can leave a significant impact. One way to get them to fade in the past can be to view it like a car accident. From such an event one might not completely recover, but one can improve and gain what function they can while allowing the past to fade into a distant memory.
Thank you for sharing something so deeply personal. My heart truly goes out to both of you. 
It is clear that you love him deeply, and I can only imagine how painful it must be to watch someone you love struggle while also carrying your own grief and the weight of an unexpected season.
I will be praying that God gives him a way forward, one step at a time. May the Lord meet him in those moments when he feels withdrawn, overwhelmed, or unable to express what is happening inside. May He bring peace where there is turmoil, strength where there is exhaustion, and hope where this difficult season may have brought fear or uncertainty.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18.
I also pray that God gives you both wisdom as you seek the best path forward. May He lead you to compassionate, trustworthy people and the right forms of support and care, and give you clarity in every decision you make. There is no shame in seeking help, and I pray that whatever support proves most helpful for him will become clear in the right time.
Please remember that healing is often a journey, and even the smallest steps forward can matter. The fact that he is still trying to communicate with you and reassure you of his love and commitment, even during such a difficult time, speaks of a heart that is still fighting to hold on.
May God protect the love between you and strengthen the foundation you are building together. I pray that this season will not destroy your joy, but that in time you will both look back and see how God carried you through it.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.” — Isaiah 41:10.
I will be praying for healing, wisdom, peace, and a path forward for both of you. May the Lord surround him with His comfort and give you strength for the days when your own heart feels weary.
Heavenly Father, draw near to those suffering from PTSD. Calm the fear and turmoil within, bring rest where there has been distress, and give strength for each day. Guide them toward wise help and a path of healing, and remind them that You are near to the brokenhearted and faithful in every dark valley. Fill their minds with Your truth, guard their hearts with Your peace, and give them hope for the road ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The fact that he is still actively reaching out to communicate and reassure you, even while withdrawn, shows a powerful commitment to your bond, but carrying that weight together is exhausting.
May God grant your fiancé a clear path forward, filling his heart and mind with quiet strength, relief, and steady healing. May He give you both peace that passes understanding, deep comfort for your grief, and wisdom as you navigate his recovery together without relying on medication unless absolutely necessary. May your bond be protected, renewed, and filled with restored joy.
Let me start by saying this. I AM NOT A DOCTOR. This is NOT official medical advice. Just some ideas. Since you both prefer to avoid medication if possible, there are highly effective, evidence-based therapies and holistic approaches that target trauma at the brain and nervous system level without reliance on pharmaceuticals:
Somatic Experiencing (SE) & Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: C-PTSD often lives directly in the body’s autonomic nervous system. Somatic therapies focus on discharging trapped nervous system energy and gentle regulation rather than forcing someone to re-tell painful stories.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A widely recognized, non-medication therapy for veterans that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they stop triggering “fight, flight, or freeze” responses in daily life.
Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB): A quick, local anesthetic injection near a nerve cluster in the neck. Many veterans with C-PTSD use SGB to “reboot” an overactive sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight), significantly reducing physical anxiety and intrusive episodes without psychoactive medication.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Increasingly used in veteran care to promote neuroplasticity, reduce neuroinflammation, and support healing in brain pathways impacted by trauma and stress.
Trauma-Informed Veteran Support Organizations: Programs like Wounded Warrior Project, which I HIGHLY recommend, The Mighty Oaks Foundation, or local peer-support networks offer faith-friendly, non-clinical retreats and mentorship tailored specifically to veterans and their spouses.
Walking beside a partner with trauma can easily lead to secondary traumatic stress. Please ensure you have your own safe sounding boards. Whether that is a personal counselor, a supportive faith group, or a spouse-focused support network. You need your grief and emotional fatigue to be cared for as well.
If you ever need help locating veteran-specific programs or specialized non-medication trauma resources in your region, please let me know.
Peter
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Thank you Lloyd. It’s hard to feel Gods presence during a dark season that comes on so suddenly.
I wait for Him to moor my ship, and I try to keeP my lover in the boat. It is exhausting, but love is sometimes a storm. I am thankful for all prayers.
Thank you Peter!
This is incredibly helpful information for me! Of course I value your prayers as I want to believe God hears us…but in the meantime I know he puts out answers within reach and expects us to grasp for them- so that’s what I’m trying my best to do. It’s sometimes hard to have faith(in all sorts of ways), but it’s so reassuring to know another brother-in-Christ is there for me, giving me a direction towards hope. Thank you so much 