PTSD symptoms and tips

   Below are some of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are tips for each one that you can follow or have your soldier read if they are willing. It is important to seek help from a licenced professional for this condition.  Medications can be used in some cases in the first phases of treatment which can contribute to success.
   Many men, especially servicemen are resistant to the idea of counseling or taking medication. If he will not seek help himself, then it can be helpful if you lead by example. Seeking counseling by yourself will help you to cope with the repercussions in your life, as well as know what to do from a professional prospective. This will also help him warm up to the idea of seeking counseling himself.
   Military One Source offers free counseling to soldiers and their families, check this out at http://www.militaryonesource.com/. It is extremely easy to apply and they help you schedule your first appointment.

Symptoms and Tips:

• Unwanted upsetting memories, images, thoughts, or nightmares
• remind the soldier that they are only memories and not the current reality
• remind him that it is normal to have memories of the event(s)
• encourage him to talk to someone he trusts, whether it is you or not
• remind him that memories can be overwhelming, often weaken over time
• Sudden feelings of anxiety or panic- heart pounding, lightheadedness, spacey feeling
• remember these reactions are not dangerous
• the inaccurate fear of these reactions heightens the feelings (feeling like they are having a heart attack or they are going to lose control)
• Encourage them to breath slowly
• Remember the sensations will pass soon
• Encourage them to have positive thinking, each time they have a positive outlook about the reactions they will be helping them to happen less and be less intense.
• Feeling like the trauma is happening again
• Tell him to keep his eyes open and notice where he is
• Talk to him or encourage him to talk to himself about where he is
• Remind him that the trauma happened in the past
• Ask him to get up and move around/ distract him (he can wash his hands, get some water, etc)
• Encourage him to talk to someone he trusts about it when it happens
• Remind him this reaction is normal
• Encourage him to talk to a councilor or doctor
• Nightmares or dreams
• If he awakens panicked remind him that it was a dream, that is why he is feeling panicked and not because he is in real danger now
• Encourage him to get up and orient himself
• Encourage him to do something to calm him down, like listen to calm music
• Ask him to talk about it if he wants
• Encourage him to talk to his doctor or councilor medications can be an option
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Help him engage in healthy sleep hygiene
• Encourage a regular bedtime routine, help with this by going to bed with him or not doing things he will miss out on while he sleeps
• Remind him to avoid work outs 2 hours before bedtime (if his PT schedule allows!)
• Ask him to limit caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco (yeah right, I know...but it will really help if he can)
• If he is lying in bed restless encourage him to get up and regroup by doing something relaxing.
• Irritability, anger, rage
• This one is hard to help him on!
• Ask him at a calm time to use a time out when he feels enraged
• DO NOT encourage the situation or give into his anger, this will not help nor solve the problem.
• Wait until he is calm to continue the conversation
• Encourage him to exercise daily if he is not already
• Encourage him to talk to a doctor or councilor
• If the rage feels threatening or turns violent seek help, do not put up with abuse for the sake of "helping" your soldier cope with PTSD. At that point it has crossed over from you helping to you being abused.
• Difficulty concentrating
• Give him time to slow down and re-focus. Even if this means stopping a conversation or plans. do not nag or make fun of him.
• Help him break down tasks into smaller chunks
• Help him plan a reasonable amount of tasks for a day, do not over load him with to-dos. As a rule of thumb- don't ask him to do things you can reasonably do for yourself! (we all know that we can do a hell of a lot because we do it all the time while they are gone!)
• Encourage him to talk to a doctor or councilor, this could be a sign of depression
• Difficulty feeling or expressing emotion: feeling numb
• This is common
• Do not make him feel guilty
• Remind him that it is not his fault he feels this way
• encourage him to participate in activities the he enjoys.

Keep following for more information on PTSD and other helpful topics!

Please tell us about your experiences with PTSD and if you/ he sought counceling how it worked for you.