Shock Waves: A Practical Guide to Living with a Loved One's PTSD

Shock Waves: A Practical Guide to Living with a Loved One's PTSD

Cynthia Orange

Language: English

Pages: 204

ISBN: 1592858562

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


In the United States, about 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience, witness, or are affected by a traumatic event in their lifetimes. Many of them (8 percent of men and 20 percent of women) may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)--a life-altering anxiety disorder. Once connected mainly with veterans of war, PTSD is now being diagnosed in many situations that cause extreme trauma such as rape, physical attacks or abuse, accidents, terrorist incidents, or natural disasters. The millions of family members of those who have PTSD also suffer, not knowing how to help their loved one recover from the pain.

Shock Waves is a practical, user-friendly guide for those who love someone suffering from this often debilitating anxiety disorder, whether that person is a survivor of war or of another harrowing situation or event. Through her own experience, extensive research, advice from mental health professionals, and interviews with those working through PTSD and their families, Cynthia Orange shows readers how to identify what PTSD symptoms look like in real life, respond to substance abuse and other co-occurring disorders, manage their reactions to a loved one's violence and rage, find effective professional help, and prevent their children from experiencing secondary trauma.

Each section of Shock Waves includes questions and exercises to help readers incorporate the book's lessons into their daily lives and interactions with their traumatized loved ones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what I need and want to get done? How will I allow room for flexibility? This sort of tracking makes us aware of the fragility or strength of our commitments. We can see how we set out to do something and how we let ourselves get pulled aside. As we observe the ebb and flow of our thoughts and actions, we realize how others are living with similar shifts and changes. Compassion grows. We learn to assess our decisions, to redirect and forgive ourselves and others for not being perfect.

a host of possible reasons—one being that your story brings up painful memories of their own. We need to take care of ourselves so we can compassionately care for others without getting emotionally and physically depleted. Learning how to share deep feelings with others helps us listen more empathetically to our own inner voice and to others’—including our loved ones’. My best friend knows me better than anyone and has always listened to me with an open heart and mind. I can talk about how my

and love that will be there when we need it. Chapter 3, “What about Me? The Importance of Self-Care,” offers ways in which readers can balance personal needs and care-giving responsibilities. One of the goals of this book is to help readers expand their ;circles of support. When we seek help, we model for children that such an action is healthy and positive, giving them permission to ask for guidance. Chapter 4, “Self-Care II: Toward Healthy Interdependence and Dialogue,” discusses the

If you want, you can even make it official by signing a copy. A Credo for My Relationships with Others You and I are in a relationship which I value and want to keep. We are also two separate persons with our own individual values and needs. So that we will better know and understand what each of us values and needs, let us always be open and honest in our communication. When you are experiencing a problem in your life, I will try to listen with genuine acceptance and understanding in

(or more) of the following symptoms are present: Difficulty falling or staying asleep (which could be due to nightmares about the trauma) Irritability or outbursts of anger Difficulty concentrating on or completing tasks Hypervigilance (which is an extreme sense of caution that may sometimes resemble paranoia) Exaggerated startle response Acute, Chronic, and Delayed Onset PTSD DSM-IV refers to three distinctions under the PTSD umbrella that specify onset and duration of the symptoms:

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