Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem that can occur after a traumatic event. It can be hard for people to know how to help someone with PTSD because it is impossible to relate to their experience.
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Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem that can occur after a traumatic event. It can be hard for people to know how to help someone with PTSD because it is impossible to relate to their experience.
Make them feel safe. Try to find out what their triggers are and help them avoid those if possible. For example if they have PTSD because of a shooting don’t take them to fireworks. They will not enjoy it. Be patient too, be prepared to expect that they sometime don’t want other people around them. A stressful situation can make them feel suddenly very tired. Assist them as best you can with practical things they can’t handle at that moment. Living with PTSD means living with a hyperactive brain which will react to the slightest stimuli. That means that they will have trouble with kids screaming, or any other noise you can imagine. Learn to keep them to relaxed. For Christmas offer them a noise cancellation headset. They will take it with them every single day wherever they go as that allows them to isolate themselves when necessary.
Most times, best is to get the person some professional counseling and if needed, medication. Not everyone can completely recover from PTSD. I’ve been dealing with mine for decades. Be kind. Try not to get angry at the person for nightmares, and avoiding places or people who trigger their flashbacks. Be patient. Take care of yourself too. If you think there’s a good chance that the person could harm you during a flashback, then take precautions to protect yourself and discuss this with the person and their psychiatrist if the person will allow it. If you have no worries about harm, then try to treat that person as normally and respectfully as possible. Normal can be a wonderful thing.