Supporting Someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition. It is more likely to start after a life-changing event or trauma. PTSD can also occur in people who hear about trauma that happens to a close family member or friend. PTSD can present in anyone at any age.

Friends and family can help someone with PTSD by being supportive and understanding.

How does PTSD affect a person?

• Reliving the trauma again through:
  • Dreams.
  • Feelings of fear, terror, sadness, or anger.
  • Unwanted memories.
  • Flashbacks, or feeling like the past event is happening in the present.
• Avoiding reminders of the event. This may involve:
  • Showing less interest or not taking part in daily activities.
  • Avoiding people or losing connection with them.
• Being very sensitive or reacting to certain settings. The person with PTSD may:
  • Be easily startled.
  • Engage in self-destructive behavior.
  • Be irritable.
  • Be highly stressed or feel on edge.
  • Have outbursts toward others.
  • Have trouble focusing or sleeping.
• Having negative moods and thoughts, such as:
  • Negative thoughts about self and others.
  • Stressful and negative feelings without a clear cause.
  • No memory of parts of the traumatic event.
  • Feelings of blame toward self or others.
  • Trouble experiencing positive feelings or events.

How is PTSD treated?

• Medicines to reduce PTSD symptoms.
• Counseling (cognitive behavioral therapy,or CBT).
• Exposure therapy. This is done by a therapist who specializes in the treatment of PTSD.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

If your loved one has other mental health problems, they may also be treated.

What actions can I take to support a person with PTSD?

Talk about the condition

• Be present and listen well.
• Keep conversations positive.
• Ask questions if you do not understand.
• Know that it is okay for your loved one to talk about the traumatic event. You do not have to "fix" things.

Create a safe environment

• Encourage the person with PTSD not to drink alcohol or use illegal drugs.
• Ensure your loved one has a good relationship with their mental health provider. This can help lower the risk of self-harm or suicide.
• Have a time-out system that allows anyone to stop a discussion and step away to calm down when emotions are high.
• Tell the mental health care provider if your loved one is often angry or violent.

• Think about putting a security system in your loved one's home. This may help them feel safer and reduce their symptoms.
• Help your loved one create a safe and healthy home setting.
• If your loved one becomes angry or violent, go to a safe place and call for help. If there are children in the home, get them to a safe place as well.

Help the person look for resources

• Ask your loved one's health care provider about therapists or support groups that specialize in PTSD.
• If your loved one is a veteran, look for information from a local veterans organization. Call the National Caregiver Support Line to get support and resources from a social worker: 1-855-260-3274
• Think about joining self-help and support groups for yourself.

Find other ways to help

• Make an effort to learn about PTSD.
• Ask your loved one how you can best help them.
• Attend family therapy to reduce tension and stress.
• Help your loved one follow their treatment plan.
• Offer to come along to health care visits.
• Exercise and go out with your loved one.
• Encourage your loved one to talk with people they trust.
• Try not to take your loved one's feelings or actions personally.

What are signs that the condition is getting worse?

• Your loved one's symptoms are more intense or more frequent.
• Treatment does not seem to help.

Talk to the health care provider about changing your loved one's treatment or adding more resources.

How should I care for myself?

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Drink enough water.
• Get regular exercise.
• Know that the process of PTSD treatment takes time. Be patient.
• Stay positive.
• Make time for activities and hobbies that you enjoy.
• Ask for support from family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, support groups, or a health care provider.

Where to find more information

• National Institute of Mental Health: nimh.nih.gov
• National Center for PTSD: ptsd.va.gov

Get help right away if:

• Your loved one has thoughts about harming themselves or others.
• Your loved one is:
  • Acting suspicious, angry, or violent.
  • Having repeated flashbacks.
• You and your loved one are having more fights.
• Your loved one tells you that they are very depressed or anxious.
• Your life is in danger. Leave and call for help as soon as possible.

• Call 911.
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 988. This is open 24 hours a day.
• Text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

Summary

• PTSD is a mental health condition. Symptoms can start after a traumatic event.
• Treatment for PTSD may include medicines, counseling, exposure therapy, and EMDR.
• Talk with your loved one about PTSD and its symptoms. Get information from health care providers or support groups.
• Ensure your loved one has a good relationship with their mental health provider. This can help lower the risk of self-harm or suicide.
• It is important to take care of yourself. Do not wait to take care of yourself if you feel like you are in danger. Get away and get help.