What Is PTSD?

PTSD is usually caused by going through (or occasionally, witnessing) a traumatic event that threatens serious injury or death. Medical science still can’t completely explain why people develop PTSD, but research indicates it may be a complicated mix of:

• Stressful experiences
• Family history of mental health disorders
• Temperament
• How your brain is regulating the hormones and chemicals in your body in response to stress

What Are The Symptoms Of PTSD?

The symptoms of PTSD generally start within a month of the original traumatic event, but in some cases may not appear until years after the event. The symptoms tend to cause problems at school or work and in personal relationships, and also interfere with your daily life.

There are generally four types of PTSD symptoms: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative moods, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms may vary from time to time or person to person.

Intrusive Memories

• Recurrent, intrusive memories of the traumatic event
• Flashbacks to the original event
• Nightmares or dreams about the event
• Emotional distress and physical reactions to things that remind you of the event

Avoidance

• Not thinking about or refusing to talk about the traumatic event
• Going out of your way to avoid situations or places that remind you of the event

Negative Moods

• Negative thoughts
• Hopelessness
• Memory issues
• Withdrawal from family or friends
• Lack of interest in hobbies
• Feelings of emotional numbness

Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions

• Getting startled easily
• Always feeling on guard
• Self-castructive behavior (for example, alcohol abuse)
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Angry outbursts
• Guilt or shame

Helping a Loved one with PTSD

The first assistance response is to ensure your loved one gets a quality and reliable form of treatment. Understanding a loved one who is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be complicated. It can cripple the relationship, making it difficult for loved ones to relate or interact with one another efficiently. Living with a person who is going through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may at times feel as if you’re living with a stranger.

For you to help a loved one who is going through traumatic stress disorder, you can start by providing them with good social support. The traumatic events often keep the person away from any social connections, and to some patients, this may result in substance abuse. Therefore, you can start by ensuring that you are physically present and keep reminding the person you are there for them. This will help the person to overcome the feeling of helplessness, despair, and grief (accelerating the recovery process).

You should also be patient with the person as they go through the stress disorder. Dealing with such a person can be stressful, and at times it could trigger stress on your end. However, if you are looking forward to helping the one you love, do not pour out your burdens to them while they are going through a rough patch. Let them heal, and find a way to handle your problems without making them have to worry about you. It is also essential for you to be a good listener whenever your loved one chooses to open up and share their story.

Another way of helping patients with post-traumatic stress disorder is through rebuilding safety and trust in your relationships. This will facilitate room to let go of the traumatic event and start a new focus on life. Ensure you communicate more often and show more commitment to the relationship. Start simple and gradually improve on ensuring that the relationship you have keeps getting better.

Concentrate on showing them their strengths and ensure to keep any promises or commitments. Also, be sure to encourage your loved one to join a support group where they could share with others who are dealing with similar issues. This way, it helps one to feel less damaged and even realize they are on the right track towards treatment.