Tips for Supporting a Loved One with PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition triggered by a life-threatening or extremely frightening event that puts you into survival mode. PTSD affects both those who directly experience the event and witnesses.

PTSD can begin immediately after the triggering event, or it can take weeks, months, or sometimes years to develop. The condition negatively affects your quality of life and causes problematic symptoms, and nearly half of adults with PTSD also struggle with substance use or addiction. 

At Magnolia Medical Group, with offices in Denver and Wheat Ridge, Colorado, our board-certified mental health practitioners specialize in helping people with PTSD find lasting relief. We also know how valuable the support of a loved one is for those affected by PTSD. 

Supporting a loved one through this challenge can feel daunting, but your support can make a significant difference in their healing process. Here are our top five tips for helping someone close to you with PTSD.

1. Offer to listen, but don’t push them to talk

If someone you love has PTSD, offering an ear and being willing to listen can make a significant difference. However, you mustn't push your loved one to talk if they aren't willing or ready. 

Instead, reassure your loved one that you'll be there if and when they are ready or need to talk. Knowing that someone is willing to listen on their terms can ease some of the weight off their shoulders. 

2. Promote a calm, supportive environment

Research shows that by creating a stable, calm home environment, you can help your loved one with PTSD feel safer and more in control. This might involve establishing routines, minimizing potential triggers in their home, and ensuring they have a quiet, comforting space for relaxation. 

Be sure to talk with your loved one about what changes might make them feel more at ease and work together to implement these. You can make relaxation practices, like daily meditation or deep-breathing exercises, a part of your life together. 

3. Show them you’re there for them

Small acts of kindness and love can significantly reduce your loved one's stress and make them feel cared for and supported. For example, offering to cook a meal, doing the shopping, or simply being there to hug them or take a walk together can make a big difference in their day. 

This type of support helps to lighten their load, allowing them to focus more on their recovery. However, it's essential to make sure you aren't helping your loved one with avoidance, such as taking them on an out-of-the-way route so they can avoid going by a place related to their trauma.  

4. Avoid judgments and offer reassurances

Helping your loved one feel comfortable sharing their feelings is important for their recovery, and listening and responding to them without judgment can go a long way toward this goal. This means putting aside your thoughts and biases to truly hear and acknowledge their experiences. 

By being present and attentive, you're providing significant support that can make them feel less isolated and more understood. You can also offer reassurances of their value and worth, such as "You are worthy of love" or "I am not going anywhere."

5. Encourage professional help

PTSD is a complex condition, and for most people, professional intervention is necessary to navigate the disorder. Encouraging your loved one to explore different options with a professional can help them find the best path forward. 

You can offer to accompany them to their appointments, so they don't have to be alone. You can also help them keep track of any appointments or medications they take to support their recovery. 

How we help your loved one cope with PTSD

At Magnolia Medical Group, our supportive team of professionals creates a personalized PTSD treatment plan based on individual needs. Our goal is to help your loved one understand their trauma and reduce its impact on their life. 

Depending on your loved ones specific symptoms and the nuances of their condition, we may recommend different therapeutic modalities, including:

• Prescription medications to help manage troubling symptoms
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) to help process and understand the trauma
• Prolonged exposure therapy (PET) to help diminish the power of trauma-related cues and triggers

It’s important to understand that each person’s journey to recovery is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Our compassionate providers work with your loved one to find the right therapy for them. 

Learn more about supporting your loved one with PTSD by scheduling a consultation online or over the phone with a provider at Magnolia Medical Group in Denver or Wheat Ridge, Colorado.