Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch
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By: Janelle Schlueter, MS, LPC, CCTP Do you love someone that is experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD? Relationships can often be hard to navigate. When you love someone that struggles with PTSD, “relationship issues” can often take on a whole new meaning. Three Tips On How To Help Your Loved One […]
Do you love someone that is experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD? Relationships can often be hard to navigate. When you love someone that struggles with PTSD, “relationship issues” can often take on a whole new meaning.
One way to help your partner is to learn how PTSD impacts them. Although there are general criteria for PTSD, the symptoms that an individual experiences is very unique. If your loved one can identify their triggers and make you aware, then that is great. However, sometimes those suffering with PTSD are not aware of triggers or what they experience when triggered. When you help identify triggers or experiences, it not only makes you aware as well, but allows you both to communicate about issues that may arise. Asking questions can be very useful.
What are some specific triggers they can identify?
What do they experience physically and mentally when they are triggered? How could you recognize this as their loved one (would you see them shaking, rocking, excessively sweating…)?
How can you help them when they get triggered? Do they need medication, to breathe or practice a grounding technique or be left alone?
Is there something that would decrease their level of anxiety on a daily basis?
Effective CommunicationCommunication is important in any relationship. However, when you are in a relationship with someone diagnosed with PTSD, communication can be crucial. Extra consideration must be paid to tone, volume, and other unintentionally harmful ways of speaking which may be triggering.
It is also important that you choose an appropriate time to have a serious discussion. Let your partner know that you need to have a discussion and set a time that works for you both. It is best to wait until your loved one is not highly anxious or coping with a trigger before trying to accomplish serious concerns. Identifying when you or your partner are flooded and needing a break in communication is also helpful.
A person suffering from PTSD rarely feels safe. Most people can say they feel safe at home, but that is not always the case for someone with PTSD. For your loved one, it is important that they have a “safe” space. “Safe” means no physical danger, but it also means emotionally safe. Take time with your partner to identify where or what they need to feel safe. For example, some people can feel more safe as long as their backs are not to the door in a social setting. For others, they may need new locks or the room re-painted. Again, every individual experiencing PTSD is different and their needs will be unique to their trauma.
Furthermore, feeling “safe” is also creating some predictability or routines. When things are predictable, they are not as likely to cause an increase in stress.
When you love and care for someone with PTSD the stress can be overwhelming for you as well. A counselor can help you with identifying and implementing healthy boundaries, effective communication, and self-care strategies.
Sometimes loving someone with PTSD can be a struggle. There are support groups for those who love people with PTSD which may help in reassuring you that you are not alone.
Hopefully your loved one has seen or is currently seeing a counselor who specializes in PTSD. If not, encourage them to seek help as well. If the relationship between you and your loved one is struggling due to what you believe is a factor of PTSD, seek a couples counselor.
Above all, treat yourself and your loved one with love and respect.
If you are ready to learn how to help you or your loved one suffering from PTSD, the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide therapy to people of all ages. To begin counseling in Katy, TX, follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch we offer treatment for trauma for adults, teens, and kids. We also offer counseling services in other areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to regularly post blogs with helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Janelle Schlueter, MS, LPC Intern, CCTP If you have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) you are probably already aware that PTSD results in severe and even debilitating anxiety. What many people don’t know is that with PTSD there is an underlying feeling of uncertainty and fear. This uncertainty and fear results in […]
If you have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) you are probably already aware that PTSD results in severe and even debilitating anxiety. What many people don’t know is that with PTSD there is an underlying feeling of uncertainty and fear. This uncertainty and fear results in being in a constant state of alert and experiencing an exaggerated startle response (easily scared). Part of Trauma Informed Therapy involves finding “self-care” strategies that can address the fear and uncertainty as well as the anxiety. 
Keep in mind that those with PTSD typically feel a heightened level of worry at all times. It is one of the goals of Trauma Informed Therapy that we take steps to lessen the overall level of uncertainty.
If you have PTSD, routines will be your new favorite thing! Creating a routine that you follow will help your brain and body learn that basic needs will be met. For example, you can go to bed at the same time each night, wake up at the same time each morning and eat around the same time each day. The body and brain begin to relax because it knows that these basic needs are being consistently met. Fear and uncertainty regarding the body’s basic needs is something that happens subconsciously, meaning you most likely do not know you are even experiencing this fear – but your brain and body show the effects that you are (the increase in PTSD symptoms). Most clients feel a significant decrease in PTSD symptoms in a few days to a couple weeks.
Tidy Up“If you see clutter, you feel clutter.”
If your home is cluttered, it is too much for the brain to absorb when you are simply looking around. Your brain is trying to recognize all the different colors, patterns, shapes, and so forth. It is difficult to find the energy to clean and organize so take it step by step, room by room, and begin with the rooms you spend most of your time. The goal is to limit the amount of things you see.
When you have a constant heightened level of fear, exposure to social media and news sources can make it worse. Social media allows you to connect with friends, see humorous postings and follow topics that interests you. However, it also increases unhealthy thinking, such as comparing yourself to others and seeing political or news comments that cause you to become angry or sad. This results in feeling helpless and can increase symptoms of anxiety. Try a several day social media and news cleanse and see if your PTSD symptoms improve.
See a Counselor Who Specializes in PTSDPTSD can be treated through counseling. It is important you find a therapist you are comfortable with and who has experience in treating PTSD. A counselor can help you find tips like those in this blog and tailor them to your needs, help you communicate with your loved ones, find coping skills, do exposure therapy, and process traumatic memories. To learn more about what a trauma/PTSD trained counselor can do for you, contact Janelle today!
If you are ready to improve your life, the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide PTSD counseling as well as cater to specific needs for men and women that have experienced trauma. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch we offer counseling services for people of all ages including: eating disorder treatment, depression treatment, women’s issues, treatment for anxiety, couples and marriage counseling, counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, family therapy, men’s issues, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to regularly post blogs with helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!