PTSD: Helping The Trauma Victim
PTSD is a relatively new diagnosis. During the American Civil War, the symptoms were labeled ‘soldier’s heart’. During World War I, the symptoms were labeled ‘shell shock’. After World War II, some veterans as well as survivors of concentration camps and survivors of the atomic bombings showed symptoms of this disorder. In the 1980’s, when so many veterans of the Vietnam War displayed symptoms and major difficulties re-adapting to civilian life, PTSD was officially recognized, described and named. We now know that PTSD can occur in any traumatic situation.
What can you do if someone close to you is suffering from the ill effects of a traumatic situation?
It is helpful to:
- Talk about what was seen, felt and understood.
- Encourage your loved one to visit their family doctor and to follow the advice of the professionals.
- Educate yourself about PTSD. If you know what to expect, it will be easier for you to be supportive.
- Give reassurance that your loved one is not crazy and that it is alright to cry.
- Be alert for signs of depression, anxiety or sleep deprivation and ask about it.
- Be alert for signs of withdrawal from friends, fun, interests, commitments, school, sports, or work and point this out.
- Offer huge doses of listening, patience, gentleness, respect, acceptance and encouragement as the person recovers.
- Give advice only when asked for it.
- Be aware of what is being used to numb thoughts and feelings. Alcohol and street drugs should be discouraged.
- Encourage positive life-style issues such as good nutrition, exercise, relaxation, down-time, planning something to look forward to.
- Realize that traumatized individuals need a sense of being understood. Often, they are experiencing symptoms that don’t make sense to them and may not make sense to you either so logic and reason will not help the situation.
- Know that ‘triggers’ are reminders of the traumatic event. These might include articles in the media; legal proceedings; anniversaries of the event; a particular type of person; certain places, sounds or smells. Any of these can set off an emotional or physiological response. When this happens, you can help by being calm and understanding.
It is unhelpful to:
- Downplay or judge the symptoms or assume that your loved one should ‘be over it by now’. Recovery takes time.
- Blame the person for what could not be helped or changed.
- Take their feelings and behaviours personally. If you do, the person you are trying to help will feel invalidated. Try not to let your feelings get in the way of listening well.
- The symptoms are real; treatment and recovery take time. The key to dealing with PTSD is to recognize what it is so it can be dealt with appropriately.
