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Tips and Advice for maintaining close Relationships with PTSD

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This entry was posted in Uncategorized on July 8, 2021 by maplemountain.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental health condition that arises from an individual witnessing or having a profoundly traumatic experience or a series of traumatic events. These traumatic events can vary from sexual abuse and physical abuse to domestic violence and sexual assault. It is tough to cope with PTSD, which impacts not only the person but also all the people they are close to. 

Family life hurts when you have to watch someone struggle with chronic PTSD. Maintaining close Relationships with PTSD can seem difficult and draining. It is essential to understand their interpersonal stress and how you can help them overcome the effects of abuse.  

What is PTSD?

Posttraumatic stress disorder is an intense and long-lasting emotional response to a profoundly distressing. Traumatic events may include:

  • They are serving in the military, also known as combat-related PTSD. Military veterans are highly susceptible.

  • Toxic relationship and abusive partner

  • Physical Injury

  • Terminal Illness

  • Bereavement

Some people experience symptoms of posttramatic stress disorder right after the event, whereas others will experience symptoms months or even years later. No matter when you experience symptoms, it can still be difficult maintaining tight relationships with PTSD.

Hyperarousal symptoms:

  • Being on guard

  • Cannot tolerate loud noise

  • Being easily startled

  • Crying more than usual

  • Anger

  • Panic attacks

  • Sleep disorders including insomnia and nightmares

Reexperiencing symptoms

  • Nightmares and flashbacks of the traumatic event

  • physical response to flashbacks such as hyperventilating

  • panic attack when reminded of the traumatic event

Avoidance symptoms:

  • avoiding triggers for traumatic memories

  • unable to deal with emotions

  • loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed

  • Feelings of hopelessness

  • numbness

  • Poor concentration

Without expert psychiatric treatment, PTSD can lead to a range of long-term problems, including:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Substance abuse and addiction

  • Self-harm

  • Social withdrawal and isolation

  • Relationship and work problems

  • Suicidal thoughts

  • Chronic pain

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How can you support someone to keep maintaining close relationships with PTSD?

Listen to them

it is essential to listen to your loved ones while they are experiencing symptoms of PTSD. Would you please encourage them to open up about their distressing experience in combat experience? Ask them how their trauma affects them in their day-to-day life. Do not pressure them to open up too much. Maintaining close and strong Relationships with PTSD is difficult but it is important to have boundaries. Let them know that they can talk to you at their own pace, and you’ll always be ready to listen.

Don’t be judgmental

when your loved one is opening up about their combat experiences or distressing experience, it is important not to judge them. It is hard for you to understand what they are going through if you’ve never experienced PTSD. Trauma is subjective. Everyone experiences it differently. While maintaining close Relationships with PTSD, you should never interrupt. Your loved one should feel safe to confide their thoughts with you. What is traumatic to one person may not be traumatic to the other. Whatever your loved one is going through is very real to them. It is crucial not to ignore their feelings. 

Learn about their symptoms and triggers

it is essential to try to understand your loved one’s symptoms. Everyone’s PTSD is unique. It is necessary not to place your loved one in a cookie-cutter. It is also essential to learn what triggers them and leads them into a panic attack or depressive episode. For example, your friend may get scared at the sound of fireworks. A loud noise could trigger flashbacks. Understanding their triggers can help them cope when they become anxious and to respect their boundaries.

Look after yourself

it is essential to regulate your own emotions and mood when supporting a person struggling with PTSD; you can practice coping with any negative feelings you’re dealing with. You will have more energy. We look after ourselves To take care of your loved one that is struggling.

Could you help them to seek professional support?

It is also essential to seek treatment efforts for your PTSD. Treatment efforts can vary from cognitive processing therapy to treat chronic PTSD or behavioral therapy to treat emotional distress. Without professional treatment, the distressing symptoms that are associated with PTSD may become worse. That’s why it’s so crucial for your loved one to seek help if their PTSD is becoming challenging to manage or is having a detrimental impact on their daily life. Maintaining close Relationships with PTSD may seem like a daunting task in the beginning, but it will be well worth the reward!