PTSD Poll/Question Results for Have other people been scared of you or your PTSD symptoms?

The results are now in for our latest PTSD Poll/question on Have other people been scared of you or your PTSD symptoms.

Once again the Poll received a great response. This was an anonymous poll and I would like to thank everyone who took part :)

The results are as follows:

22.9% of those who took part said Yes, People have told me they have been scared OF me

22.9% of those who took part said Yes, People have told me they have been scared FOR me

20% of those who took part said I don't know for sure, but I think people have been scared OF me

20% of those who took part said I don't know for sure, but I think people have been scared FOR me

14.3% of those who took part said No, other people have never been scared OF me

2.9% of those who took part said, No, other people have never been scared FOR me

22.9% of those who took part said I dont know

Some people chose multiple answers.

Trauma survivors with PTSD may have trouble with their close family relationships or friendships. The symptoms of PTSD can cause problems with trust, closeness, both emotional and physical, communication, and problem solving. These problems may affect the way the survivor acts with others. In turn, the way a loved one responds to him or her affects the trauma survivor. A circular pattern can develop that may sometimes harm relationships.

Survivors of trauma living with PTSD may feel angry, detached, tense, anxious in their relationships with others.Survivors with PTSD may feel distant from others, numb and shut off. They may have less interest in social or sexual activities. Because survivors feel irritable, on guard, jumpy, worried, or nervous, they may not be able to relaxor feel at ease around others. They may also feel an increased need to protect their loved ones. They may come across as tense or demanding and suffocating.

Some trauma survivors may often have trauma memories or flashbacks and go to great lengths to avoid such memories. Survivors may avoid any activity that could trigger a memory. If the survivor has trouble sleeping or has nightmares.. Survivors often struggle with intense anger and impulses. In order to suppress angry feelings and actions, they may avoid closeness. They may push away or find fault with loved ones and friends. Also, drinking and drug problems, which can be an attempt to cope with PTSD, can destroy intimacy and friendships. Verbal or physical violence can occur.

In other cases, survivors may depend too much on their partners, family members, and friends. This could also include support persons such as health care providers or therapists.

Dealing with these symptoms can take up a lot of the survivor's attention and subsequently relationships with partners, family and friends can suffer.

How might loved ones react?

Partners, friends, or family members may feel hurt, cut off, or down because the survivor has not been able to get over the trauma or has not learnt to manage their PTSD symptoms. Loved ones may become angry or distant toward the survivor. They may feel pressured, tense, and controlled. The survivor's symptoms can make a loved one feel like he or she is living in a war zone or in constant threat of danger. Living with someone who has PTSD can sometimes lead the partner to have some of the same feelings of having been through trauma.
In sum, a person who goes through a trauma may have certain common reactions. These reactions affect the people around the survivor. Family, friends, and others then react to how the survivor is behaving. This in turn comes back to affect the person who went through the trauma.

For those supporting someone with PTSD

When someone you care about suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, not knowing for sure how to help or make things feel better for your loved one. The changes in your loved one can be worrying or even frightening. You may feel angry about whats happening to your family and relationship, or hurt by your loved ones distance and moodiness. But its important to know is that youre not helpless. Your support can make all the difference in your partner, friend, or family members recovery. With your help, your loved one can overcome PTSD and move on with his or her life.

PTSD can take a heavy toll on relationships. It can be hard to understand your loved ones behavior—why they are less affectionate and more volatile. You may feel like youre walking on eggshells or living with a stranger. You may have to take on a bigger share of household tasks, deal with the frustration of a loved one who wont open up, or even deal with anger or disturbing behavior. The symptoms of PTSD can also lead to job loss, substance abuse, and other problems that affect the whole family.

Its hard not to take the symptoms of PTSD personally, but its important to remember that a person with PTSD may not always have control over their behavior. Your loved ones nervous system is stuck in a state of constant alert, making them continually feel vulnerable and unsafe. This can lead to anger, irritability, depression, mistrust, and other PTSD symptoms that your loved one cant simply choose to turn off. With the right support from friends and family, though, your loved ones nervous system can become "unstuck" and he or she can finally move on from the traumatic event.

What you can do

Understand how PTSD affects relationships
Learn how to be a good listener
Discover how you can anticipate and manage your loved one's triggers
Find out how to cope with volatility and anger
Understand the importance of taking care of yourself
Learn more by reading the related articles

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