6 Tips to Help Someone With PTSD l Advice on PSTD l Ways to Help Love Ones with PSTD

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Post-traumatic stress disorder was often referred to as battle fatigue and was brought to the forefront by veterans who went through traumatic events during a war. This is a mental health problem that can happen after experiencing a life-threatening events in combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault, the National Center for PTSD reported. If you know someone suffering from the disorder, it can be a scary time for all involved. Any event can trigger night terrors, depression, anxiety and people may feel they are walking on eggshells with loved ones. The symptoms are not for the faint-hearted and can last more than a few months. Some signs to look for are avoiding events, depression, irritability and aggression. You can help by offering support, by listening, by being encouraging and by rebuilding trust. Here are 6 ways to help someone suffering with PTSD.

Seek Help

Professional help is a must for the recovery process. Looking into treatment is viewed as a weakness from many sufferers. List the positives of seeking treatment like receiving relief from depression, anxiety, confusion, shame or guilt. There are 3 types of therapy that is commonly used for PTSD. Family therapy, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (replacing distorted thoughts with healthy ones) and medication to treat secondary symptoms like depression. When you start looking for a therapist, try to find one who specializes in PTSD or someone who can direct you to a specialist. Call your family doctor for a recommendation or call your insurance company for a list of providers.