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Caring for Someone with PTSD

According to the National Center for PTSD, around 60% of men and 50% of women will experience at least one traumatic event in their life. In any given year, up to 8% of these, or eight million people, will acquire PTSD. Giving care to someone with PTSD has its own set of obstacles, but more understanding and awareness can help reduce the strain while providing the best care possible. Here is a closer look at PTSD, as well as five caregiver-friendly suggestions.

 

About PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop as a result of witnessing or experiencing a distressing or dangerous incident. Accidents, assaults, abuse, conflict, disasters, and/or witnessing any of these occurrences are all common traumas.

 

After experiencing war and participating in life-threatening operations, many members of the military suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD has also been linked with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury in veterans who have been exposed to blast waves from explosions.

 

PTSD can affect anybody, anywhere, at any age, despite its prevalence among those who have served in the military.  Substance abuse, depression, and other anxiety disorders are common among those who suffer from PTSD.

 

According to the Mayo Clinic, some symptoms of PTSD are:

  • Nightmares or unwelcome flashbacks of the trauma
  • Avoidance of situations that trigger memories of the trauma
  • Heightened reactions
  • Anxiety or depression

 

In terms of severity and length, these symptoms vary from person to person. They can also be triggered by general stress or specific reminders, such as a sound or a news story, and they can grow in intensity over time. Fear of these triggers might make it difficult to engage in daily activities and live a normal life.

 

Caring for a Person with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Understanding PTSD is crucial to assisting someone in managing the disorder and moving toward recovery. Caregivers can apply the following five methods of support:

 

  1. Listen.

While discussing feelings and experiences might be beneficial, it must be done on the patient’s own terms. So, what can you do while you wait? Be a listener who is available, and nonjudgmental.

 

  1. Be there.

Due to emotions of guilt, fear, and embarrassment, many PTSD patients avoid spending time with friends and family. Unfortunately, oftentimes this leads to social isolation. Your presence alone may be a priceless source of comfort for them. Encourage visits with family and friends but remember that your aging loved one’s comfort comes first, so follow their lead.

 

  1. Create a safe space.

Trauma victims may perceive the world around them as scary and unpredictable. Providing a secure, stable, and well-structured atmosphere might help them feel more secure.

 

  1. Be aware of potential triggers.

People who suffer from PTSD can be brought right back to their original traumatic experience in certain settings. Help them avoid triggers as you become aware of them, such as locations, images, scents, noises, etc.

 

  1. Have a plan.

Outbursts may still occur despite your best attempts. Remaining calm while assuring them that they are safe, as well as directly asking what they need and how you can assist them, can help ease the situation.

 

One more point to consider:

Caregivers of patients with PTSD are likely to experience secondary trauma, especially if they are overwhelmed, stressed, or isolated. What’s the takeaway? When caring for someone with PTSD, maintaining your own health and wellness is especially important. Develop your own support system and ask for help when you need it.

 

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Advantages of In-Home Care During the Warmer Seasons

Spring and summertime are some of the best seasons to enjoy time outside. After spending most of your time indoors during winter it feels good to get out and take in some sunlight. For some seniors it can be hard to get outside, thus in-home care can be helpful. Here are a few of the benefits of in-home care during the warmer months.

 

Senior Health

Getting outdoors is a great thing for anyone’s health and having a professional home caregiver helps seniors to do so. Sunlight offers a great source of vitamin D that can improve brain function, help lower blood pressure, strengthen bones, and boost the immune system. Walking and moving around outside can help blood circulation and give older ones a nice cardio exercise.

While it is great to get out and enjoy the sun, it can be harmful if you are not careful. Caregivers make sure that their patients apply sunscreen when going outdoors to protect them from harmful UV rays. They also do well to make sure their patients are not out when the temperatures are too high and always have a good amount of water with them for proper hydration.

 

Support for Family Caregivers

During the warmer months, many people tend to travel or go out more. This can be difficult if you have a loved one to look after. You may feel like you are not able to have some downtime or vacation. With professional home care services, you will not need to worry. You can hire a caregiver to help care for your loved one. This will make it so that you can a little more flexibility and take the time off that you need.

 

Maintaining a Comfortable Indoor Temperature

With the temperatures rising outside, your indoor temperatures will increase as well. Some older ones can become forgetful, especially while living alone, and may not notice the lack of proper air conditioning. This can be dangerous and even fatal. Having home care services will help with making sure that the house remains at a comfortable and safe temperature.

Consider whether in-home services are a good option for your loved one.

 

Thank you for reading, please follow us!

Instagram: @helphomecarecorp

Facebook: @8334HHCNOW

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Bringing Awareness: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a diagnosable mental illness that is a form of major depression related to changes in seasons. In most cases, Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms appear around late fall or early winter and fade away during the warmer days of spring and summer. Symptoms may start mild and become more severe as the season progresses. About 5% of Americans experience SAD each year.

Here are some signs you could have Seasonal Affective Disorder:

1.     You struggle with an irregular sleep pattern. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is caused by changes in our circadian rhythms, melatonin, and serotonin. With daylight savings, it gets darker earlier. The faster it gets dark outside, the more it can disrupt our internal clock, which will cause our body to produce too much melatonin and lower our serotonin, making us feel drowsy too early in the day. This can mess with our sleep pattern. Both melatonin and serotonin governor sleep and wake cycles so when the levels alternate it can make a good night’s sleep virtually impossible. We recommend taking a warm bath before you get into bed or light up some lavender candles to help your mind and body calm down after a long day. The more relaxed you feel the sooner you will fall asleep.

2.     You are experiencing a change in appetite and weight.

With the cold weather, it is tempting to cuddle up in front of the TV and binge on junk food. It is important to eat foods high in nutritional value. If you have a craving for foods high in carbohydrates, we suggest you eat whole grains and add some bananas to your oatmeal. This will boost your serotonin levels. Foods such as fish, walnuts, and soybeans, can also help to improve your mood.

3.     You no longer enjoy your usual hobbies.

Some days you just don’t want to do anything after you get home from school or work but if this starts to become consistent it might be SAD kicking in. Losing energy or motivation to do your favorite activities is a clear sign of this condition. Go outside for some sunlight! Getting your vitamin D is essential. If you are not getting enough vitamin D you can experience fatigue and body aches. If possible, we suggest going out in the morning, This way you can start your day off right with some fresh air. 

4.     You have regular mood swings. This is something I struggle with a lot. the waterworks are no joke and when they happen sometimes, they come out of nowhere. It’s okay to cry but we hope if you’re in the same boat please don’t hesitate to reach out to loved ones. 

5.     You withdraw from others. It’s natural to cancel plans when a snowstorm is coming, but if you are uninterested in socializing 24/7 this is a concern. Come out from your covers and give your friends and family a call. They want to be there for you. They will understand when you bring up SAD.

6.     You get suicidal thoughts. It might feel like a dead-end is approaching when winter is lingering, but please remember that spring is right around the corner. If you need to talk to a professional, we have provided some suicide hotlines. We care about your well-being and want to remind you that you have people to lean onto. 

Suicide Hotline:

Call: 1-800-784-2433 OR Text: 1-800-799-4889

Suicide Hotline in Spanish: 1-800-273-8255 (Press 2)

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