Strategies for dealing with people with PTSD?

[smilingcat]

I've only experienced someone with PTSD from a distant. It was back in college, mid 70s. He was a floor counselor at a dorm. He was a Viet Nam Vet as a medic.

On one rare occasion when the guys were playing poker with him, he drifted off without a warning and into his own world, back into the combat zone. The guys who were playing poker said it was really eerie seeing him drift off without warning then snapping out of the "trance". The trigger was noise of rain drops hitting the window during a heavy thunderstorm. He said the sound reminded him of...

Then I also think of people with phobias and I see similarities. Both PTSD and phobia seems to be "out of control" of the individual. You can reason through it, but when the trigger hits, its there. Knew a really smart engineer with one of the worst flying phobias ever. Only way we could get him to fly was he needed an escort or two and some understanding from the flight crew...

I will also admit that I have bit of phobia of being alone where there are no one around. It's okay if I have one of our dogs with me or if there is a stranger nearby. It's just uncomfortable when I'm all alone whether this is in my own house when my animals were still at the other house, or when I'm in the garden or when I'm out in the wild. I have this irrational fear. but I manage. So in this regard, I have a vague understanding of not being able to control it.

Is there a way to find out what triggers his PTSD reaction? Like Beth was saying about a 30 year vet with the incoming rocket kind of thing.

From my little experience, it seems that one way to deal with the "events" are to redirect him away from the trigger.

I hope his anger doesn't escalate into physical violence.

And remember too that there are times when it's just beyond our means to help. It's over our head.

Be safe,

[mmouwse]

wow. I am in awe of all of you who have replied to Wahine's post, sharing your experience, knowledge and compassion to help her and her patient. Many of you demonstrated sincere compassion and understanding for both the patient and Wahine. I am heartened that you had the courage and compassion, Wahine, to reach out for help for you and your patient. Your patient is blessed to have you in their life. You are rare. It only takes 1 caring compassionate person to make a difference in someone's life... to help someone heal and recover; to save someone's life. Thank you for being that person.

[Wahine]

wow. I am in awe of all of you who have replied to Wahine's post, sharing your experience, knowledge and compassion to help her and her patient. Many of you demonstrated sincere compassion and understanding for both the patient and Wahine. I am heartened that you had the courage and compassion, Wahine, to reach out for help for you and your patient. Your patient is blessed to have you in their life. You are rare. It only takes 1 caring compassionate person to make a difference in someone's life... to help someone heal and recover; to save someone's life. Thank you for being that person.

Wow. Thank you. You just made my morning.

[Biciclista]

Wahine, you are awesome! You show a lot of courage. Good luck.

[Wahine]

Thank you Biciclista.

There's a fascinating story about how this fella came into my life but it's a very long story. Definitely interesting, but perhaps too long for TE. The Cole's version is I never used to be able to tolerate people who demonstrated self destructive behavior or people couldn't take action when action was needed. When dealing with these patients, I would get very frustrated to the point of it being unhealthy for me. Over the last 6 years, I have worked very hard to understand that some people are just not wired like I am. That their drive is different and that I needed to be more compassionate with those individuals for my own good. I did better but it was still a struggle for me to understand.

The day before this fella came into my life I was involved in a group role playing/problem solving session that went down a very strange path. A path that I thought had nothing to do with my current life circumstances. It ended up dealing with PTSD. The very next day, this man comes into my clinic for an evaluation. He ranted for 30 min at the get go and I sat and listened. I didn't get frustrated, I just let him go. Eventually, we got through it and got on to the business of PT. I was able to help him.

I came out of that appointment knowing that there was a very important life lesson for me in my relationship with this person. So, I've tried to keep that my focus through all of this.

I really appreciate everyone's input and kind words. It is very helpful because I do still struggle with it. Even though I know that when it's all over I will have learned something from it all that will result in a happier and healthier me. So really, it is all about me.