Study Studying Experience Of Partners Who Support Ptsd

[chris th]

Hello everyone!

I hope I can be welcome in this community as I have a great interest in PTSD and how it impacts on couples relationships.

I'm a Counselling psychologist in my final year of training and I'm conducting my doctoral thesis on the experience of partners of people with PTSD. Having worked for the last 2 years with individuals with PTSD I have become aware of what a difficult journey it is to experience PTSD. But I have also realised that it is an equally difficult journey for the sufferers' partners and this has prompted my interested in exploring their experiences. Although there are now many effective treatments for the symptoms of PTSD, there are not many effective couples interventions which help the dyad cope with the aftermath of PTSD. However, in order to develop effective couples interventions, we need to explore and understand how partners of individuals with PTSD experience their relationship. If you are a partner of an individual with PTSD and you are interested in taking part in my research please send me a PC and I will send you back my email address (unfortunately the site doesn't allow me to post my email address until I've made 10 posts). Alternatively, you can reply here if you feel more comfortable.

Prior to participating, I will email you an information sheet which explains the topic and the process in more depth so that you can decide if this is something you are interested in.

PS: The research is being conducted in the UK.

 

[Nicolette]

(unfortunately the site doesn't allow me to post my email address until I've made 10 posts)

Welcome Chris Th. Please note that the posting of your email address in public is not permitted on this forum. Please follow this link [DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/pages/help-site-rules/[/DLMURL] and view rule 16. Members can contact you via PC and you can provide your email address that way.

This includes your profile page too thank you.

 

[chris th]

Hi Nicolette, many thanks for the information!

 

[tvzz]

Sounds like an interesting study! Except im from Australia.. Good luck with it

 

[chris th]

Thanks tvzz, it's nice to get your positive feedback, even if you are unable to participate. I wish you all the best!

 

[Girl3]

Good luck with your research. I live in the US. There really needs to be more research about how to live with PTSD as a couple.

 

[chris th]

Hi Girl3, it's really nice to hear that partners believe that my study might contribute to the field! I agree with you, there really needs to be more research on this and more importantly, effective couples interventions (specifically for couples trying to cope with PTSD) need to be developed.

 

[amethist]

Hi chris

I am in the UK, and you are right, supporters do need the help and support more than a lot of people agree on.

There is very little understanding of PTSD in my part of the UK as it is, but I am lucky as a supporter, as I do have Carers UK, who help and support me a lot.

The strain of PTSD on a relationship is horrendous, no wonder many dont make it.

 

[chris th]

Hi amethist,

Carers UK is a great organization, it's great that you are able to access good support.

Unfortunately you are right about many couples not making it in the end. I've experienced the strain of PTSD on my personal relationship and when I started researching and reading about it for own personal understanding, I was surprised to discover that there isn't much support available for the partners. And what I've come to realise is that the interventions which involve the partner, simply put them in the role of the facilitator in their partner's change process, rather than focusing on supporting the partners themselves.

Fortunately this is starting to change more and more.

 

[Girl3]

, there really needs to be more research on this and more importantly, effective couples interventions (specifically for couples trying to cope with PTSD) need to be developed.

The work that is out there is weak and mostly pertains to war-vet couples. For me and many like me, women who got their PTSD from personal violence - whether in childhood or adulthood or both - the issue becomes finding partners that are emotionally or physically violent. We all need a way out of this mess...

Thank you for your work.

 

[Graham]

Hi Chris,
I am writing a masters thesis in Ireland on much the same topic. I would love to get an opportunity to chat about the research and any obstacles you have encountered. I'm currently canvasing for participants and am feeling a bit stuck.

 

[discarded]

I am in Australia also and agree it is a great topic. There are programs for couples here (war Veterans that is) but of course you have to be a willing participant and that is the biggest hurdle in my situation. My husband would rather get a divorce than face his PTSD.