Veteran Caregiver Series: Caring for a Veteran with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Many years later, I still get anxious and jump when I hear loud noises. Watching fireworks at the happiest place on earth can unexpectedly bring tears to my eyes. Not because the fireworks are beautiful, but because those sounds bring back memories that I thought were long-ago contained and controlled. It seems ridiculous and you tell yourself to stop it, calm down, but to no avail. Sometimes, you just can’t control the timing or circumstance when the combat Veteran will experience PTSD symptoms.

If you are caring for a Veteran with PTSD, it may be difficult to understand how this disorder affects you and your loved one. You may not understand what they are going through and the best way that you can support them and their care.

June is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month

In this blog, we will discuss PTSD, what it is and how to support and care for your loved one diagnosed with this disorder.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing a traumatic, life-threatening event. This event could either be one that was experienced directly or an event they saw happen to someone else. The resulting response from the event involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

Types of Events that may cause PTSD include:

Combat or other military experiences
Sexual or physical assault
Child sexual or physical abuse
Learning about the violent or accidental death or injury of a loved one
Natural disasters, like fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake
Terrorist attacks

PTSD Symptoms

PTSD symptoms may occur soon after the traumatic event but may not be experienced until months or years later.

PTSD has four distinct symptoms which may be experienced differently by each individual:

Reliving or re-experiencing the event. Your loved one:

May experience nightmares.
May relive the event- this is called having a flashback.
May see, hear or smell something that causes your loved one to relive the event- this is called a trauma reminder.

Avoiding situations that remind you of the event. Your loved one:

May avoid situations or people that remind you of the trauma event.
May avoid talking or thinking about the event.

Having increased number of negative thoughts and feelings than before the event happened. Your loved one:

May feel negative about themselves or others.
May feel numb and lose interest in things they once enjoyed.
May forget parts of the traumatic event.
May not be able to talk about the event.
May think no one can be trusted.
May feel guilt or shame about the traumatic event.

Feeling on alert or on the lookout for danger. Your loved one:

May be jittery, on the alert and have difficulty sleeping, concentrating.
May be startled by loud noises.
May cope in unhealthy ways through smoking, abusing drugs or alcohol, driving aggressively.

How PTSD Can Affect You?

With PTSD, you or your loved one may experience a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional changes. Each event may be different, and each person may react in their own way to a specific trauma. Some changes in behavior after a traumatic event may include:

Physical Changes That May Occur From PTSD:

Sleep disturbances: difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Irritability or outbursts of anger
Physical reactions: sweating, increased heartrate, and breathing fast when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event
Intense distress when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event
Avoidance: avoiding any activities, places, or people that remind the Veteran of the trauma they experienced

Mental Changes That May Occur From PTSD:

Recurring or intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event
Acting or feeling like the traumatic event was recurring
Being unable to recall all important aspects of the trauma
Difficulty concentrating
Avoidance: efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the traumatic event

Emotional Changes That May Occur From PTSD:

Intense distress when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event such as certain sounds or smells
Lack of interest or participation in important events
Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
Limited ability or inability to show love or affection
Feelings of a limited future-career or family related and shortened lifespan
Exaggerated response when startled
On edge, alert or on guard

What Can Trigger PTSD Trauma?

PTSD Trauma Reminders

Trauma Anniversaries: on an anniversary of the traumatic event, your Veteran may have an increase in distress.
Trauma Fireworks: can remind those who served in combat or went through a fire, explosion, or gun violence.
Trauma Triggers: your Veteran may be more likely to be affected and respond to other traumatic events with feelings of concern, anger, fear, or helplessness.

What To Expect When Caring For Someone with PTSD

Supporting your Veteran with PTSD will take time and patience. As a caregiver, you may experience personal changes in your life that you didn’t anticipate.

You may find that socially, the Veteran with PTSD is uncomfortable in large crowds or unfamiliar places. This may lead to isolation, and loss of support networks.
You may experience changes in your personal relationship with the Veteran.
It may be more difficult to talk with the Veteran.
The Veteran may be emotionally unavailable to you.
If the Veteran is a spouse, you may find a decreased interest in intimacy.

Care for the Caregiver

To care for the Veteran with PTSD, you must stay as healthy as possible by caring for yourself.

Get sleep, exercise, and proper nutrition.
See your doctor as scheduled.
Take your medications as prescribed.
Keep doing the things you like and maintain your identity and support system, friends.
Set limits and be realistic on how much you can do and when you need a break or to ask for help.
Communicate your feelings and what you’re going through with close family or friends.
Consider seeking help to deal with emotions through a counselor, therapist, or the VA Caregivers Support Coordinator.

Tips for PTSD Caregiving

It is important to learn as much as you can about PTSD. This knowledge will help you have a better understanding of the nature of the disorder.

Encourage mental health treatment. Treatment works to help manage symptoms and improve the Veteran’s quality of life. Remember treatment takes time and the Veteran will have good and bad days. Be patient and supportive.
If the decision is made to seek treatment, encourage, and support the decision to seek help. Request to be a part of the Veteran’s treatment plan.
Acknowledge that the Veteran’s social and emotional withdrawal is not your fault. Continue to support and foster relationships with family and friends to maintain connections.
Encourage family members to share their feelings, worries, and fears.
Seek out personal help to learn coping skills to help support your Veteran.
If the Veteran wants to talk, be a good and attentive listener without judgement or interruptions.
Be open with your communication and share your feelings with your Veteran. Try not to blame the Veteran or their PTSD for your feelings.
Make a crisis plan together. Talk to your Veteran about what to do during a flashback, nightmare, or trigger. Planning and discussing what has worked in the past can help prevent a crisis from occurring.
Pay attention to warning signs that symptoms are worsening or other behavioral changes. Keep key numbers accessible for a therapist, the VA Crisis Line, or local emergency numbers.
Encourage the Veteran to continue taking all prescribed medications to help in treatment and recovery. The Visory Health Prescription Saving Card is one resource you can use to save money on prescription medications.
If the Veteran talks about suicide, take it seriously and seek help immediately. Dial 988- prompt 1 or call 911 for emergency assistance.

As we focus on the month of June to bring National Awareness to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Visory Health wants you to know – You’re Not Alone, We See You and We Hear You!

We understand that PTSD affects the Veteran and our greater Visory Veteran Community.

Visory Health wants to help by providing information and resources to assist our Visory Veteran Community get the care and support needed to begin healing from traumatic events.

One Team, One Fight, Always!