How to Help Someone With PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder is abbreviated as PTSD. It is a mental condition produced by a traumatic incident, either experienced or witnessed.
Most persons with PTSD conceal their symptoms from those around them, including friends and family. However, keep an eye out for the following symptoms of PTSD:
Avoidance: This is typical among people with PTSD because they avoid talking about or thinking about the terrible experience. They also appear to avoid places and people associated with or remind them of the traumatic event.
Intrusive Memories: This is distinguished by flashbacks that appear to relive the traumatic event, chronic emotional distress or physical reactions, and nightmares and dreams associated with the traumatic event.
Their physical/emotional alterations and behaviors are suited to the traumatic incident. They become jittery, easily frightened, unable to sleep and engage in self-destructive behaviors such as overdosing or suicide. They become aggressive, easily irritated, and guilty. Younger people and children suffer nightmares and re-enact the distressing occurrence.
HOW YOU CAN HELP A PTSD PATIENT
Living with a PTSD patient is tricky since it can harm family, friendships, and relationships. There's a chance you'll take PTSD symptoms personally, but remember that they don't have control over their behavior in most circumstances. The correct aid from you, a friend, or a family member can go a long way toward lowering PTSD symptoms and making them feel protected.
Regardless, the following are some ways you can assist a PTSD patient.
Be a good listener: Most of the time, PTSD patients keep to themselves. But when they decide to speak up, regardless of what they're saying, pay close attention. They must revisit their traumatic event as part of the healing process. Show interest in their problems by offering less or no advice.
Don't offer easy answers or comfort them that everything is fine. Don't pass judgment. Make no demands or make any threats.
Provide Social Help: Patients who have PTSD withdraw from friends and relatives. Maintain a healthy distance while respecting their boundaries. According to trauma experts, support from friends and family is critical in PTSD recovery.
It's challenging to love and support someone who has PTSD, however, don't put pressure on them to talk. Instead, keep reminding them that you care about their problems. Swim, run, go on lunch dates, or dance with them. These activities must not bring back memories of their traumatic event. Be patient, accept and expect mixed emotions, and educate yourself on PTSD symptoms and treatment options. Manage your stress.
Re-establish Trust and Safety: Trauma changes a person's perspective on the world. They make you feel unsafe and make it difficult to trust yourself or others. To re-establish trust and safety, you must demonstrate dedication and love to the relationship, telling them that whatever happens along the path, you're in it for the long haul.
Furthermore, spend time for leisure, discuss the future, and develop these plans with them. Keep your promises, as this will help them build trust in you. Encourage and remind them of their strength and ability to recover. Giving them options and control will help them gain confidence and self-esteem.
Watch out for triggers and manage them: Triggers might be external or internal. Keep an eye out for and control these triggers. Inquire with your loved ones about how they dealt with triggers in the past. Create a plan by tailoring theirs to yours.
Talk with your loved one about how to react to triggers and anticipate them to make it less scary for you both. You will be better positioned to offer assistance if you're calm. Pay close attention to patterns.
Sometimes it takes a meeting with a professional to take the first steps toward overcoming trauma. Reach out to our expert team of mental health professionals at DreamCloud who can help you and your loved ones get quality, patient-centered mental health treatment.
