Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after someone has undergone a shocking experience involving actual or threatened serious injury/near death (or death of another person) which caused him/her intense fear, helplessness or horror. The diagnosis is made by a health professional when the person has specific symptoms; if symptoms start and resolve within 4 weeks, which is common after a traumatic event, the diagnosis is Acute Stress Disorder; when they are of longer duration, eg up to 3 months, Acute PTSD, and longer than this, Chronic PTSD. 

Any such incident does not just affect the individual, but also his/her loved ones, typically a circle of approx 5 people, and to diminishing extent, other relationships, friends etc.  People often ask, therefore, how they can help, what should they say/not say etc to the person going through this difficult post traumatic experience.

Today, on BBC Radio Nottingham’s Morning Show hosted by Richard Spurr, standing in for Frances Finn, we discussed this; it was particularly relevant because of Fran’s recent horrific motorbike accident, for which she was undergoing surgery as we spoke.

Not everyone who experiences trauma automatically develops PTSD; it is thought that some people may be more prone, because of their core beliefs, for example, and/or what has happened to them in their lives, before this particular incident.

When someone is gripped by Post Traumatic Stress, he/she needs professional help, eg Cognitive-Behavioural therapy, other Psychotherapy or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). But loved ones, friends and workplace colleagues can back up this treatment; here are examples of what you might typically notice, with suggestions on the most helpful response:

1. Avoidance of thoughts/feelings/activities/places etc which bring back memories of the event – don’t challenge this, the person needs to make sense of it in his/her own time ‘joining up the dots’.  Meanwhile, there may be flashbacks, nightmares and other unwelcome recollection.

2. Diminished interest/participation in previously enjoyed activitities – offer gentle, moderated encouragement. Don’t cajole or insist you know what is good for them! 

3. Feeling of detachment from others, numbness – don’t take this personally! continue to be warm and be yourself (consistency is really important, when someone’s certainty, the world as it is supposed to be, has been rocked on its axis…)

4. Loss of interest in future planning/ a sense of a foreshortened future – frustrating, possibly, but again, offer gentle encouragement, and avoid overt challenging.

5. Sleep disturbance – professional help needed (eg GP), plus empathy and patience!

6. Irritablility – don’t take this personally, be patient, understanding, and consistently warm

7. Difficulty concentrating – avoid challenging, criticising, be understanding and encouraging

8. Hyper vigilance/exaggerated startle response (jumpy, wary, tense) – be understanding, not dismissive.

Many of the above symptoms are difficult to live for partners, family and close friends and colleagues to adjust to; but remember, that with treatment, PTSD usually passes within 3 months, and fortunately you were not the one to endure the original horrific event!