Supporter How To Support A Loved One With Ptsd

[Amanda_j]

HI everyone. I'm looking for any information or advise on supporting someone with PTSD. I noticed the severe changes in the man I love about a year ago. I wasn't shocked when he revealed his diagnosis, his symptoms ticked all the boxes. The first thing that I read online when searching for information was "educate yourself as much as possible". So that's why I'm here. right now I'm not sure what to do.....

 

[Deleted member 20280]

Self Education is one of the best ways to gain a deep understanding of PTSD, unlike a lot of psychological conditions PTSD is the forced survival of ones personal trauma's. Being able to understand that from an onlookers perspective is what a lot of sufferers need. That simple act of empathy can make so much difference. PTSD can be a very lonely place to live your life.

Having others there to share the emotional burden really is all it takes. A problem shared really is a problem halved.

Knowing that we are not alone in our pain gives us the strength to stand tall and carry on.

I thank you for being a supporter and send you a :hug: from the UK

Laurie

 

[Amanda_j]

thank you so much. Apologies as I don't know how to navigate this site on my mobile yet. When he told me about his diagnosis it was a very brief "conversation". Since then he has withdrawn more. Right now I don't know what to do. He is pushing me away but I don't want to go. I feel as though if I knew more about what he is going through then I am better prepared to support him, but he won't talk to me about anything.

 

[intothelight]

@Amanda_j Welcome and you may want to check out the Supporter Section as there is a lot of great information there you may find beneficial.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Welcome! Researching is something that comforts me as a supporter. We can't physically do a lot of things to help our sufferer most of the time, but researching is something we can do to help the general situation.

 

[desiderata310]

I'm on my mobile today as well. (it's moving day)
As a sufferer, I can say that when I told my kids and my best friend that I had ptsd there's was a tremendous amount of anxiety and embarrassment and humiliation surrounding it for me. I thought I was going to be made fun of/ be met with skepticism... (And that memory makes me tear up) and I withdrew after telling each of these people in my life. A lot of that is because I was/am still working through the idea that I am not 'crazy' but have a disorder that has a pretty intense impact on my life. I was afraid that they would not want me in their life, would view me as weak or would tell me to just 'get over it' or ... Well the list goes on

It's hard to know exactly what's going on in his head. I would say reassure him that think he's incredibly brave for tellingyou. That you know it's not his fault and that you understand that it's a natural response to an unnatural event. Tell him you are here for hin and that you want to be a part of his team. The tag line to this site is something like 'PTSD is an isolating disorder. connect!' (Again I'm on a Mobile so i can't find it to quote properly)

Then give him a little room to work through the trigger and absorb what you said(and may possibly need to keep repeating).

Above all patience.... PTSD will make you just as frustrated as it does him sometimes.

It's great to have a name to put to this but it sometimes feels like being punished for something someone else did.

Tell him about this site. Could prove useful. I know its helped to ask ' do you feel/experience...' And be validated.

Welcome to the forum.