؟ How do you help someone with PTSD
For people suffering from PTSD, it can be a difficult and painful experience. In this article, we'll look at how you can provide support and help to your loved ones or friends suffering from this disorder.
According to the US National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), about 6% of individuals suffer from PTSD, which is a psychological disorder that affects people who have previously experienced traumatic, traumatic, or frightening psychological events at some point in their lives, such as: Victims of wars, natural disasters, and people who witnessed violent crimes.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
Symptoms of PTSD appear immediately after the traumatic event, or months or years after it. These symptoms include the following:
Remembering the painful incident and recalling it constantly: The person with PTSD sees disturbing nightmares about the incident, or brings up the incident or other memories related to it as if he is reliving the traumatic experience again.
Avoid things that remind him of the accident: The person tries to stay away from places, sounds, smells, or activities that remind him of the traumatic accident.
Mood or memory disturbances: It is difficult for many people with PTSD to remember the details of the incident, and it is also common for them to feel depressed, guilty, or ashamed because of what they experienced.
Feeling anxious or stressed: Post-traumatic stress disorder can put a person in a constant state of alertness and caution, unable to relax or feel comfortable, and this feeling may push the person to take dangerous or harmful behaviors.
How is PTSD treated?
If you think that one of your friends or family members is suffering from symptoms of PTSD, you should encourage him to see a psychiatrist so that he can diagnose him and prescribe the appropriate treatment for him. Useful treatments for PTSD include the following:
Psychological and behavioral therapy: There are several forms of psychological treatment. It can be through talking only with a psychiatrist and expressing thoughts and feelings. The doctor can use specialized techniques to reduce the impact of trauma, such as: EMDR technique, during which the injured person is directed to move his eyes or hands. In a certain way and continuously, and at the same time conjuring up the painful memory and thinking about it, as studies indicate that following this method of treatment helps the brain to re-process the memories and make them less strong and less painful.
Taking antidepressant and anxiety medications.
How can you support someone with PTSD?
1- Let him know that you are there for him!
The most important and first step in extending a helping hand to someone suffering from PTSD is to let him know that you are there for him. You wait for him, you see him, you care about him, and you are present and ready to support him in the way he wants and at any time.
If he rejects your support, and informs you of his desire to remain alone for a period of time, you must respect his desire and give him the space he needs, while emphasizing that you are ready to hear his complaints at the time when he is ready to speak.
2- Ask for the support of family and close friends
A person suffering from PTSD can greatly benefit from the constant presence of friends and family who love them and feel comfortable with them. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask for help from those close to you, by planning fun group activities with them, exercising, or adopting a new healthy habit.
3- Encouraging the search for professional help
In addition to psychological support, you should encourage the injured person to seek the help of a specialized psychiatrist, and take him to the session appointments if he allows you to do so.
It is worth noting that even with treatment, symptoms of PTSD may persist for years, so be sure to continue supporting and understanding the affected person until this difficult period passes and the patient returns to normal.
