6 Steps to Help a Friend with PTSD
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Understand
We have to understand that the PTSD is not about you. It is
about the fear. It is about the anxiety. It is about the pain the sufferer
feels. Your friend is worried about the situation and it never involved you.
That is why when you are staring down at the obnoxious behavior exhibited by
the sufferer always think that it is part of the game that you choose to play.
PTSD is a disease, a disorder that you need to treat like any other disease.
Once you accepted this situation you will be able to take care of your
suffering friend better. Just don’t take things personally because it is not
personal.
Limits
Under no circumstances condone any misbehavior. Never
tolerate any abuse of any kind. There is no standard definition where the limit
starts and where it ends—you have to trust your gut feel on this. If he or she
gets violent and leave, the friend suffers. If you stay and roll with the
punches, you will suffer.
Stress
People caring with people with PTSD can suffer from a lot of
stress and could be one of the causes of anxiety. Some of the causes of anxiety
include financial stress, crisis management and even loss of interest in doing
simple things. The last thing a sufferer would need at this point is the
caregiver falling by the wayside due to stress. The tremendous strain can be a
telling blow to give up on the person suffering from PTSD. That is why
caregivers need to find ways to lower their stress levels so they can be
effective in providing care for the sufferers.
Knowledge
Learn more about PTSD and pay attention on what the doctors
have to say about your ward’s condition. If you must, take down notes on how to
effectively deal with the situation. During your free time, be more productive
by researching on the new treatments and new programs that can help sufferers
of PTSD on the Internet or reading it up in newspapers or magazines. This will
enable you to deal better with the ward and handle the situation.
Listen
They may talk about it and it may sound boring but they need
someone to listen about their fears and anxiety. Remember that they are living
in constant fear and anxiety that is not there. The last thing that they don’t
need is for a person that is not available to listen to what they have to say.
Listen do not patronize and always allay their fears. The fears sting but if it
is the only way to get rid of the poison then it may worth the while.
Fun
Well, this is easier said than done—but it is worth the
shot. Let’s face it. A person that is impacted with PTSD is stuck within his or
her fears. Humor may be the key that would unlock things and make living
better. Try to watch a funny movie or play fun board games. Remind him or her
that the PTSD does not mean the end of the world and there are lots of things
to look forward to. Try to entice him or her to take a new hobby and try to
make it fun, light and interesting. Maybe it will make them forget about their
fears.
A person with PTSD
may feel imprisoned and it is your task to unleash him or her from
self-bondage. Feelings can be tangled and it could complicate things between
caregiver and sufferer. Knowing how to deal with the disorder will spell
success in the end.
About the Author:
Ryan Rivera considers writing
as his passion and specializes on anxiety and stress related articles such as symptoms of anxiety,
treatment for depression and treatment for panic attacks. He can be contacted
through his Calm
Clinic Google+ account.
Category: Mental Health, Phychiatry
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