PTSD

Hello, My Name Is PTSD.

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a disorder that can occur when people have experiences or witnessed a traumatic event. These could include, but are not limited to, abuse, terrorism or any other violent personal assault.

Loving someone with PTSD looks like…

Like many other mental illnesses, be wary of using language that can be hurtful. Do not tell them they will simply be okay or offer unsolicited advice on how they should handle this situation. You must work hard to make sure they do not feel weak, or cloud their feelings with your own experiences and feelings. Try to rebuild their trust and safety. PTSD alters the way a person views the world and this is frightening. If there are ways you can help feel them secure and protected, do not hesitate to do so. This will help their recovery immensely.

PTSD can affect your mental health by…

Causing Hypervigilance and Paranoia: for example, always being afraid of being confronted with subtle, yet pervasive acts of racism (insults, looks or scowls from other people, etc). It can leave the person to always feel as if they are facing anxiety. Over time, this develops into a chronic fear and can contribute to PTSD when an even more stressful situation is encountered.

Okay, now, how do I interact with them?

1) Provide social support. While respecting their boundaries, your comfort can help the person suffering from PTSD to overcome their feelings of grief and unhappiness. Genuine support is one of the most important factors in PTSD recovery.

2) Do “regular” things with the person who is suffering from PTSD – exercising, going out to eat, taking up a hobby together or going out to eat. These things often times have little to do with PTSD or trauma experiences, and can enrich the life of someone who suffers from PTSD.

3) Educate yourself on their unique symptoms, triggers and effective methods of treatment. No presentation is the same, and the better you understand their situation, the more helpful you can be. 

4) If the person in your life with PTSD chooses to share their experience with you, be mindful to listen without judgement, interruption or giving advice. Active listening is one of the most important tools you have to help them. 

Biggest PTSD Myth…

Only people in the military can get PTSD.

AND

Though Black men and women have lower rates of anxiety compared to their counterparts, they have a higher prevalence for PTSD. One in 10 black men and women experience trauma; a lot of this trauma is race based.

Source: Help Guide, Psychiatry; Researcher: Devmi Epaarachchi