Thankyou for another insightful post. My real fear is that we are running out of people like you you truly care. A question comes to mind. PTSD is a horror for people who experience it, so why are we taking the authority away from Iowa cities and counties for 4th of July fireworks regulation?
My wife suffered physical and sexual abuse as a child. It has affected her whole life and it has made it difficult to communicate with her at times. My sisters suffered sexual abuse and I've found out that I was a witness to it. My wife says some of my behavior shows signs of PTSD. I have tried hypnotherapy to recover memories. The Doctor said My breathing changed and my heart rate soared. But no details were recovered. The Doctor said some memories are best left buried. I don't see it really bothering me other than I wish I could remember. Thanks for the great reporting.
Secondary PTSD is often experienced by spouses and children. This overview from Wounded Warrior website:
“It is a common experience we hear. When a person is living with PTSD, we see families begin to adapt to the individual and take on compensatory behaviors, which, over time, takes a toll on the whole family,” said Erin Fletcher, Psy.D., director of Warrior Care Network® at WWP™. “For instance, if a warrior deals with PTSD triggers through avoidance, family members start isolating themselves, too.”
Dr. Fletcher added that it's not uncommon to hear family members say things like, “We need to keep our voices down because Mom or Dad doesn’t like loud noise.” Or “We can't attend this or that because Dad or Mom isn’t comfortable with crowds.”
Family members may feel extra stress trying to meet the veteran’s needs while not having their own needs met. Tempers become shorter, anxiety increases, and family members may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as eating too much or not enough and self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. Dr. Fletcher noted that physical symptoms, including stomachaches and headaches, are often common among children.
“Eventually, the entire family has difficulty communicating, trusting, and feeling safe, but with education, positive change is possible,” said Dr. Fletcher, noting that part of WWP’s mission is to increase awareness and bring attention to not only warriors managing PTSD but also support family members facing secondary trauma. “We encourage loved ones to seek treatment for themselves as they learn how to support their loved one’s recovery.”
Thankyou for another insightful post. My real fear is that we are running out of people like you you truly care. A question comes to mind. PTSD is a horror for people who experience it, so why are we taking the authority away from Iowa cities and counties for 4th of July fireworks regulation?
The loosening fireworks regulations leave me speechless...
My wife suffered physical and sexual abuse as a child. It has affected her whole life and it has made it difficult to communicate with her at times. My sisters suffered sexual abuse and I've found out that I was a witness to it. My wife says some of my behavior shows signs of PTSD. I have tried hypnotherapy to recover memories. The Doctor said My breathing changed and my heart rate soared. But no details were recovered. The Doctor said some memories are best left buried. I don't see it really bothering me other than I wish I could remember. Thanks for the great reporting.
And thank you, Keith, for sharing your experiences here. When we share we keep learning from each other and give voice to important lived experiences!
Secondary PTSD is often experienced by spouses and children. This overview from Wounded Warrior website:
“It is a common experience we hear. When a person is living with PTSD, we see families begin to adapt to the individual and take on compensatory behaviors, which, over time, takes a toll on the whole family,” said Erin Fletcher, Psy.D., director of Warrior Care Network® at WWP™. “For instance, if a warrior deals with PTSD triggers through avoidance, family members start isolating themselves, too.”
Dr. Fletcher added that it's not uncommon to hear family members say things like, “We need to keep our voices down because Mom or Dad doesn’t like loud noise.” Or “We can't attend this or that because Dad or Mom isn’t comfortable with crowds.”
Family members may feel extra stress trying to meet the veteran’s needs while not having their own needs met. Tempers become shorter, anxiety increases, and family members may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as eating too much or not enough and self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. Dr. Fletcher noted that physical symptoms, including stomachaches and headaches, are often common among children.
“Eventually, the entire family has difficulty communicating, trusting, and feeling safe, but with education, positive change is possible,” said Dr. Fletcher, noting that part of WWP’s mission is to increase awareness and bring attention to not only warriors managing PTSD but also support family members facing secondary trauma. “We encourage loved ones to seek treatment for themselves as they learn how to support their loved one’s recovery.”
Thank you for this, Heidi!
Thank you for adding this great info, Jane!