Bristol Palin's ex — and 'Teen Mom' viewers — slam her 'selfish' reaction to his PTSD
Bristol Palin made her Teen Mom OG debut on Monday, and things got off to an explosive start. Palin and then-husband Dakota Meyer — she confirmed the pair’s divorce in August — got into a heated argument about his anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Meyer, a U.S. Marine, has struggled ever since watching members of his platoon die during a savage ambush in Afghanistan in 2009.
A post shared by Teen Mom (@teenmom) on Oct 1, 2018 at 7:00am PDT
While riding in the car with the couple’s two children, Sailor Grace and Atlee Bee, in the back seat, Palin asks Meyer what is wrong. Meyer responds, “I’ve been trying to tell you for a week, my anxiety’s been going nuts … I’ve been having nightmares.”
Palin asks how she can help, but the two quickly start bickering, with Meyer accusing Palin of criticizing him and being unsupportive.
“I’ve asked you for help a thousand times,” he says. He questions why she can’t understand that his PTSD isn’t a choice.
Palin argues back, “It’s hard for me to have compassion in these situations, because you keep pulling the rug from underneath me.” With a look of concern, she reaches out and rests a comforting hand on her husband’s shoulder while he continues to vent his frustration.
Viewers quickly took to social media to weigh in, but their reactions were divided. Some felt the 27-year-old mom of three — eldest child Tripp, from her relationship with Levi Johnston, is 9 — was being “selfish” and “inconsiderate.” They sympathized with Meyer’s battle and thought he deserved his wife’s understanding. One Twitter user was moved to tears by the disagreement.
Bristol doesn’t get it . She’s selfish. You knew going into this, he haS PTSD, he went through a lot. I’m crying on his segment !! @Dakota_Meyer #TeenMomOG
— Keeping up with The Rounds’ (@Jodie_2007) October 2, 2018
Another claimed Palin is misinformed about her husband’s condition and referenced something Palin allegedly expressed to the couple’s therapist: her fear that Meyer might one day kill himself.
I think Bristol needs to learn more about PTSD before judging her husband. The last thing you do is talk about suicide in front of someone suffering from that. Especially someone who has been at war.
— Melissa C (@melisssa_c1) October 2, 2018
Even Meyer himself is getting in on the Twitter debate. The 30-year-old Medal of Honor recipient thanked viewers for their support — he even expressed appreciation for “the negative stuff” — and retweeted a user who had a particularly biting thing to say about Palin’s judgment as a parent.
“I need to find the right time to bring it up” bringing it up in the car with the kids is the right time? Yup spread it on thick for the cameras Bristol. His anxiety didn’t just show up at soccer #TeenMomOG
— Kate C. (@_kate_c) October 2, 2018
Instagram users piped up too, calling Palin “phony” and saying she couldn’t care less about what Meyer is going through. One defended Meyer, saying, “This guy is dealing with stuff you couldn’t even imagine.” Another suggested the cameras are adding to Meyer’s stress, saying, “I feel like Bristol was only thinking of herself when she agreed to do the show.” A fellow military wife commented, “I’m sorry, but if you can’t support your man at a time like that, then that’s just messed up.”
Despite all the detractors, though, Palin does have her share of supporters too. One person on Twitter complimented her poise and sympathized with the struggle to communicate with a spouse who’s dealing with something so difficult.
I really like Bristol.Might end up being my fav. She’s calm and collected and very well spoken. I feel for her not being an expert dealing with someone with PTSD. It’s so hard to communicate to each other, you can’t say the right words. I’m sure many will relate to her storyline.
— QueenBeach👑🏝🌈🐠💦🏖 (@xoxoxoxxo777) October 2, 2018
Another women, who said her own spouse also has PTSD, chimed in to let Palin know she wasn’t alone.
#TeenMomOG… wow. I 100% know what Bristol is going through. My husband has PTSD. It’s no joke. Yes it’s really hard on the person with PTSD but it’s also really hard to be a caregiver to them!
— Jessi (@jbenj219) October 2, 2018
There were also those who criticized what they felt was Meyer’s insensitivity and unfair expectations. One person — who claims to also live with PTSD — tweeted that she was “over” Meyer and scoffed at the idea that his behavior was due to anxiety. Another accused him of using his health as an excuse to be a jerk.
Just watched #TeenMomOG & I’m already over Dakota on the show. I get PTSD, anyone who’s followed me for a while knows Armando & I have been through it. But you can’t blame EVERYTHING on it. Belittling Bristol as a mom, especially in front of the kids, is not due to your anxiety.
— Laura Christie 🌻 (@Laura_Christie3) October 2, 2018
Bristol is absolutely right! Just because you have ptsd doesn’t give you the right to be a dick. He is very aware of the shit he says. Stop apologizing and just don’t say it. Don’t make ptsd an excuse to say whatever the hell you want. That couldn’t be me. #TeenMomOG
— J E S S I C A (@msjdavis) October 2, 2018
Over on Instagram, commenters accused Meyer of being “manipulative” and “mentally abusing” his wife. Some defended Palin, with one commenter saying, “I deal with this daily … STOP putting it on her and just get help.” Another put it bluntly, writing, “Stop being a piece of s*** to your wife because you can’t handle life.”
What many commenters were able to agree on, though, is that PTSD and its effects on marriage and family are important topics to address. According to the nonprofit PTSD United, 70 percent of adults in the U.S. have endured a traumatic event, and of these, 20 percent —or 44.7 million people — develop PTSD. An estimated 8 percent of Americans have PTSD at any given time.
If you think you or someone you love might be suffering from PTSD, the PTSD Foundation of America encourages you to call one of its many hotlines to find out how to get help.
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