Is someone close to you currently experiencing PTSD? This can be an incredibly hard time for them, but it can also affect the people around them too. In fact, one of the most important factors affecting recovery from PTSD is social support. This article will go through just a few of the things you can do to help someone who is struggling with PTSD.
As already mentioned, the most important thing you can do is support your loved one. You can do this by just listening to them, and letting them vent their feelings and frustrations to you, without judgement. It can sometimes be hard to just let someone talk, without offering your own advice, however this can often prevent people from opening up again, as they may feel they’re being judged. Another strategy for supporting them is to create routines where possible. People experiencing PTSD often feel a sense of instability or insecurity in their lives, and implementing routines into daily life can help to try and restore this.
Something which commonly happens for those with mental disorders in general is close friends and family begin to treat them differently because of their disorder. This can make someone feel even more isolated or alone than they may already do, and this is especially the case for people with PTSD, as they may already feel no one understands what their experiencing. Doing normal things, things you did with your friend or family member before the onset of their disorder or the traumatic event, can help restore a sense of normality to the individual’s life, as well as help them to feel included. However, for PTSD specifically, it’s important that whatever you’re doing not remind them of the traumatic event, as this could potentially do more harm than good.
An innate reaction in many of us is to try and protect those close to us who have been hurt in some way, by trying to encourage them to do certain things. While this isn’t necessarily bad, it’s important to remember people tend to instinctively know what makes them feel calm and safe, and to let them do those things. If you try and control a person’s actions too much, it’s possible you may remind them of the traumatic event they experienced, or it may make them feel insecure.
The most important thing you can do to help someone with PTSD is to be patient. The healing process takes time, and is different for every single person, so it’s crucial you let people heal at their own rate.
With that being said, if you would like to arrange an appointment to see one of our experienced psychologists to talk about either your own experience with PTSD, or if you’re concerned about someone close to you, please do not hesitate to call us on 3488 0483, or email us at admin@baypsych.com.au.
Additionally, if you’d like to learn more about posttraumatic stress disorder, please read the article about it on our website.
