Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a mental health condition brought on by the sufferer either witnessing or living through a highly traumatizing event. The symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, panic attacks, depression, apathy, and withdrawal from everyday life. If you have a partner who suffers from this disorder, you may find that you are struggling to cope with the changes in your partner and don’t know the right way to approach them. Here are 5 tips on how to make life easier for all those affected by PTSD.
Be Patient
People living with PTSD have experienced an event that has been so awful that it has made them physically and mentally sick, so it is wise to let them open up to you in their own time. Do not push your partner to talk if they are not ready. Some people will just need you to be there for them and give them a hug when they need one. Let them know that you will be there for them whenever they want to unload their burden. Never take out your frustration on them and demand that they “get over it.”
Fight for Them
If your partner’s disorder was caused by an accident or event where they suffered severe injuries, you might want to help them claim compensation. Lawyers can help you pursue this claim. If the case has a successful outcome, your partner will hopefully gain monetary compensation as well as emotional as they will feel like their plight has been acknowledged.
Educate Yourself
Helping somebody with such intense mental and emotional stress is not easy. Read books, look at websites, and contact help groups in your area to gain as much knowledge as you can about the disorder. If you are ignorant of what to say and what not to say to a sufferer, you will be in danger of making their illness worse. Knowing about PTSD will help you recognize signs that your partner may want to harm themselves or other people, and you can get professional help as soon as possible.
Learn Their Triggers
PTSD often causes suffers to experience flashbacks, which take them mentally back to the traumatic event. Flashbacks and emotional downturns can be brought on by specific triggers such as loud noises or being in a particular location. You can help your partner by learning what these triggers are and do everything you can to avoid them or prepare for them.
Look After Yourself
Living with a person with PTSD can be extremely difficult, and the strength of your love for them will be tested frequently. It is therefore vital that you look after yourself. Your partner may have aggressive outbursts and highly emotional episodes that can make you feel scared and useless. Many suffers believe the world is a dangerous place and that they can trust nobody. Their self-esteem may deteriorate, and they will begin to doubt your love for them. You must ensure that you have professional support to step in and help out when the situation gets too intense for you.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
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