Here are some tips on how to make it work from someone who has it. Make sure each of you feel comfortable enough to talk openly and freely to each other. Knowing will help you steer clear of accidentally triggering them, as well as let you understand them on a deeper level. Nothing is more invalidating than tiptoeing around a subject that just cannot be avoided.
It might be a difficult conversation for both of you, but it will benefit the relationship in the long run. Don’t be afraid to talk or ask questions about PTSD. On the other hand, if your partner is not comfortable with talking about PTSD, respect their wishes.
Things: Seeing an object that reminds you of the trauma can cue your PTSD symptoms. For instance, someone who survived a fire might become upset from the smoky smell of a barbecue.
Places: Returning to the scene of a trauma is often a trigger.
Or a type of place, like a dark hallway, may be enough to bring on a reaction.
TV shows, news reports, and movies: Seeing a similar trauma often sets off symptoms.
While there are some people who are genuinely happiest on their own, for the vast majority, successful relationships are essential to long-term happiness and life satisfaction.
The difficulty that sufferers from C-PTSD face in maintaining stable relationships, is, in fact, one of the major obstacles to their overcoming the legacy of their earlier traumatic experiences.
While triggers themselves are usually harmless, they cause your body to react as if you’re in danger. Some of the most common include: People: Seeing a person related to the trauma may set off a PTSD reaction.
Or someone may have a physical trait that’s a reminder.
Anniversaries: It’s often hard to go through a date marked by trauma without remembering it, as is the case for many survivors of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In fact, you may not realize something is a trigger until you have a reaction.
Words: Reading or hearing certain words could cue your PTSD. It may seem like your PTSD symptoms come out of the blue. Feeling as if you’re in danger is a sign that you’ve experienced a PTSD trigger.
Making it a well-known conversation topic will take away the awkwardness and any misunderstanding.