How To Get Help For Ptsd

What Are Ptsd Triggers

PTSD is defined as a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. This condition is characterized by symptoms that include flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression. People believe that PTSD is a disorder of avoidance.

More often PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. This is an anxiety condition that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. The symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.

PTSD triggers are anything that causes a person to relive the trauma they experienced. Triggers can be people, places, things, or even certain smells or sounds. Some triggers are specific to the individual and others are more general.

Getting help for PTSD is important. There are many different treatment options available. If you think you might have PTSD, then it is important to get help to manage the PTSD triggers.

Can Children Experience Ptsd

Years of research suggest that children are vulnerable to developing PTSD after exposure to a traumatic event, though the symptoms may differ for young children, older children, adolescents and adults. The loss of a parent through death or by separation, especially if sudden, may be stressful for a young child. Physical and sexual abuse may also lead to traumatic symptoms in children and adolescents.

Children with PTSD may experience distressing thoughts. Memories of the trauma may occur without warning. Children may also have trouble falling and staying asleep and have nightmares. They may try to avoid people or objects that serve as reminders of the event and they may act more irritable, have angry outbursts or be easily startled. They may exhibit behaviors more typical of younger children, such as bedwetting or baby talk, and they may experience physical symptoms, including headaches and stomachaches. The symptoms can be upsetting and can impact how a child functions in school and relates to family members and peers.

Helping a child with PTSD generally involves assisting the child, parents and caregivers, creating a feeling of safety, helping the child speak about his or her feelings and experiences directly or through art and play, and teaching the child relaxation and coping skills.

For more information on understanding and helping children of all ages heal from traumatic events visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Tip : Rebuild Trust And Safety

Trauma alters the way a person sees the world, making it seem like a perpetually dangerous and frightening place. It also damages people’s ability to trust others and themselves. If there’s any way you can rebuild your loved one’s sense of security, it will contribute to their recovery.

Express your commitment to the relationship. Let your loved one know that you’re here for the long haul so they feel loved and supported.

Create routines. Structure and predictable schedules can restore a sense of stability and security to people with PTSD, both adults and children. Creating routines could involve getting your loved one to help with groceries or housework, for example, maintaining regular times for meals, or simply being there for the person.

Minimize stress at home. Try to make sure your loved one has space and time for rest and relaxation.

Speak of the future and make plans. This can help counteract the common feeling among people with PTSD that their future is limited.

Keep your promises. Help rebuild trust by showing that you’re trustworthy. Be consistent and follow through on what you say you’re going to do.

Emphasize your loved one’s strengths. Tell your loved one you believe they’re capable of recovery and point out all of their positive qualities and successes.

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Tip : Reach Out To Others For Support

PTSD can make you feel disconnected from others. You may be tempted to withdraw from social activities and your loved ones. But it’s important to stay connected to life and the people who care about you. You don’t have to talk about the trauma if you don’t want to, but the caring support and companionship of others is vital to your recovery. Reach out to someone you can connect with for an uninterrupted period of time, someone who will listen when you want to talk without judging, criticizing, or continually getting distracted. That person may be your significant other, a family member, a friend, or a professional therapist. Or you could try:

Volunteering your time or reaching out to a friend in need. This is not only a great way to connect to others, but can also help you reclaim your sense of control.

Joining a PTSD support group. This can help you feel less isolated and alone and also provide invaluable information on how to cope with symptoms and work towards recovery.

Tip : Be A Good Listener

While you shouldn’t push a person with PTSD to talk, if they do choose to share, try to listen without expectations or judgments. Make it clear that you’re interested and that you care, but don’t worry about giving advice. It’s the act of listening attentively that is helpful to your loved one, not what you say.

A person with PTSD may need to talk about the traumatic event over and over again. This is part of the healing process, so avoid the temptation to tell your loved one to stop rehashing the past and move on. Instead, offer to talk as many times as they need.

Some of the things your loved one tells you might be very hard to listen to. Its okay to dislike what you hear, but its important to respect their feelings and reactions. If you come across as disapproving, horrified, or judgmental, they are unlikely to open up to you again.

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Ptsd Vs A Normal Response To Traumatic Events

Following a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, traffic accident, terrorist attack, or assault, almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD. When your sense of safety and trust are shattered, its normal to feel unbalanced, disconnected, or numb. Its very common to have bad dreams, feel fearful, and find it difficult to stop thinking about what happened. These are normal reactions to abnormal events.

For most people, however, these symptoms are short-lived. They may last for several days or even weeks, but they gradually lift. But if you have post-traumatic stress disorder, the symptoms dont decrease and you dont feel a little better each day. In fact, you may start to feel worse.

How Can I Deal With Anger Or Violent Behavior

Your family member may feel angry about many things. Anger is a normal reaction to trauma, but it can hurt relationships and make it hard to think clearly. Anger also can be frightening.

If anger leads to violent behavior or abuse, it’s dangerous. Go to a safe place and call for help right away. Make sure children are in a safe place as well.

Set a time-out system

It’s hard to talk to someone who is angry. One thing you can do is set up a time-out system. This helps you find a way to talk even while angry. Here are some tips on how to do this:

• Agree that either of you can call a time-out at any time.
• Agree that when someone calls a time-out, the discussion must stop right then.
• Agree to tell each other where you will be and what you will be doing during the time-out. Tell each other what time you will come back.

While you are taking a time-out, don’t focus on how angry you feel. Instead, think calmly about how you will talk things over and solve the problem.

After a time-out

• Take turns talking about solutions to the problem. Listen without interrupting.
• Use statements starting with “I,” such as “I think” or “I feel.” Using “you” statements can sound accusing.
• Be open to each other’s ideas. Don’t criticize each other.
• Focus on things you both think will work. It’s likely you will both have good ideas.
• Together, agree which solutions you will use.

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Work On Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques can be extremely helpful in dealing with PTSD triggers. These techniques can help to lower your stress levels and make it easier to deal with your triggers when they do occur. Some relaxation techniques that you may want to try include:

• Progressive muscle relaxation

These relaxation techniques can be extremely helpful in dealing with your PTSD triggers. However, it is important to find the ones that work best for you. And practice them regularly so that you can get the most benefit from them.

Who Does It Affect

It’s estimated that around 9% of Canadian adults will experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime. Trauma can affect anyone, and anyone can experience PTSD, but some groups are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD:

• Refugees who settle in Canada experience high rates of PTSD, often due to experiences like war, torture, forced labour, or family separation.

• Studies have found 39% or more of refugees in Canada experience PTSD at some point.

• Research suggests that women may be twice as likely to experience PTSD as men.

• Studies have found that 12% to 23% of first responders police, firefighters, paramedics, and search and rescue professionalsexperience PTSD at some point in their lives, depending on the specific profession and where they are located.

• Military personnel are also more likely to experience PTSD. In a national survey, about 11% of Canadian Armed Forces members experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

• Indigenous people who attended residential schools or experienced other forms of discrimination report experiences of post-traumatic stress disorder.

• People who work with others who have experienced trauma, such as medical and mental health professionals, may also experience PTSD.

Researchers aren’t exactly sure why some people develop PTSD and others do not, though there are factors that may increase the risk of developing PTSD:

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Are There Physical Problems That Are Commonly Associated With Ptsd

People with PTSD may also experience physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, fatigue, muscle tension, nausea, joint pain, headaches, back pain or other types of pain. The person in pain may not realize the connection between their pain and a traumatic event. For people with chronic pain, the pain may actually serve as a reminder of the traumatic event, which in turn may intensify PTSD symptoms. Some people who develop PTSD and chronic pain also experience depression and alcohol and prescription medication misuse. Chronic PTSD has been shown to increase the risk of having a variety of health issues and decreased life expectancy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the perception of the lethal threat of the virus has been associated with stress and trauma-related somatic symptoms.

What Does Ptsd Look Like

Symptoms of PTSD include:

• Distressing or frightening thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares about the event

• Anxiety and fear, especially when confronted with events or situations that remind you of the trauma

• Avoiding things that remind you of the traumatic event

• Feeling “on guard” or excessively vigilant

• Being startled very easily

• Problems with memory, concentration, or sleep

• Feeling anger, guilt, shame, or other strong negative emotions

• Blaming yourself for the event or believing that everything must be very dangerous

• Emotional numbness or withdrawal, feeling nothing, finding it difficult to connect with other people

• Low mood, despair, or hopelessness

To be diagnosed with PTSD, symptoms have to be present for at least a month after the trauma. People who experience these symptoms soon after the trauma may be diagnosed with acute stress disorder first and then diagnosed with PTSD if they continue to experience these systems after one month. However, others may not experience PTSD symptoms until several months have passed since the traumatic situation or event happened.

Trauma is not always a single event. Some traumatic experiences, like abuse that happens over a long period of time, can have a very broad impact on a persons life. Some call this complex post-traumatic stress disorder or C-PTSD. Complex PTSD is more likely to affect people who experience trauma in childhood, such as ongoing abuse or neglect, though it may not be diagnosed until adulthood.

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Emotional Support And Service Animals

Animals have a unique way of bringing unconditional love and comfort. Just being in their presence can ease anxiety and stress.

For someone struggling with PTSD symptoms, they may be able to get a trained service dog to help support them. Service dogs are trained to recognize when symptoms are acting up and can gently try to redirect their owner.

Pets, in general, have a calming presence that can be extremely comforting for someone dealing with PTSD.

One thing to be aware of is that there are service animals and emotional support animals. Service animals require special training. Emotional support animals, on the other hand, are not necessarily trained or certified in any way.

In fact, if you already have a pet, you already have an emotional support animal!

If youre considering getting one, a letter from your doctor or therapist helps. You wont have to pay additional fees or be subject to breed restrictions if you rent your home.

What Are The Different Types Of Triggers

It is believed that there are various types of triggers. Anything that is responsible to remind you of your traumatic event can be termed as a trigger. It can be an object, a place, a sound, a smell, a taste, a touch, or even a thought. These triggers can bring back memories of the event and make you feel like you are reliving it.

This can cause you to feel scared, anxious, or even panicked. You may also experience physical symptoms like racing your heart, sweating, or shaking. Some of the types of triggers include:

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Do You Need More Help

Contact a community organization like the Canadian Mental Health Association to learn more about support and resources in your area.

Founded in 1918, The Canadian Mental Health Association is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness.

Ptsd Care For Veterans Military And Their Families

• See Help for Veterans with PTSD to learn how to enroll for VA health care and get an assessment.
• All VA Medical Centers provide PTSD care, as well as many VA clinics.
• Some VA’s have programs specializing in PTSD treatment. Use the VA PTSD Program Locator to find a PTSD program.
• If you are a war Veteran, find a Vet Center to help with the transition from military to civilian life.
• Call the 24/7 Veteran Combat Call Center 1-877-WAR-VETS to talk to another combat Veteran.

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Arousal And Reactivity Symptoms Include:

• Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or on edge
• Having difficulty sleeping
• Having angry outbursts

Arousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic events. These symptoms can make the person feel stressed and angry. They may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

What Causes Ptsd

When you experience a stressful event, your nervous system reacts with the fight-or-flight response. Your heart pounds faster, your blood pressure rises, and your muscles tighten, increasing your strength and reaction speed. Once the danger has passed, your nervous system calms your body, lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, and winds back down to its normal state.

PTSD occurs when you experience too much stress in a situation. Even though the danger has passed, your nervous system is stuck, unable to return to its normal state of balance and youre unable to move on from the event. Recovering from PTSD involves helping your nervous system become unstuck so you can heal and move on from the trauma.

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How Can I Help

You may feel helpless, but there are many things you can do. Nobody expects you to have all the answers.

Here are ways you can help:

• Learn as much as you can about PTSD. Knowing how PTSD affects people may help you understand what your family member is going through. The more you know, the better you and your family can handle PTSD.
• Offer to go to doctor visits with your family member. You can help keep track of medicine and therapy, and you can be there for support.
• Tell your loved one you want to listen and that you also understand if it’s not the right time to talk.
• Plan family activities together, like having dinner or going to a movie.
• Take a walk, go for a bike ride, or do some other physical activity together. Exercise is important for health and helps clear your mind.
• Encourage contact with family and close friends. A support system will help your loved one get through difficult changes and stressful times.

Your family member may not want your help. If this happens, keep in mind that withdrawal or pulling away can be a symptom of PTSD. A person who withdraws may not feel like talking, taking part in group activities, or being around other people. Give your loved one space, but also say that you will be ready to help at another time.

Common Internal Ptsd Triggers

• Physical discomfort, such as hunger, thirst, fatigue, sickness, and sexual frustration.
• Any bodily sensation that recalls the trauma, including pain, old wounds and scars, or a similar injury.
• Strong emotions, especially feeling helpless, out of control, or trapped.
• Feelings toward family members, including mixed feelings of love, vulnerability, and resentment.

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