Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become too familiar within society because of an increased number of soldiers who deploy to war zones and experience combat each year. Although it is advantageous for PTSD to be so well researched and therefore readily treated, it is unfortunate that there is such an increased need for treatment because of the many individuals suffering from it.
One aspect of PTSD that has been kept in the closet is called Secondary PTSD. Secondary PTSD is not a psychological disorder recognized within the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders as of edition four. This is not to negate from the legitimacy of Secondary PTSD or how it affects one’s life.
Secondary PTSD affects the individual living with or caring for the person suffering from PTSD. When living with a war veteran who has PTSD, a caregiver role is formed (either knowingly or unknowingly). In some situations this means that the caregiver is trying to keep the soldier’s emotional outbursts at bay, trying to make everything “perfect” to ensure that the soldier is comfortable physically and emotionally within the environment. Despite the caregiver’s best efforts there will still be occasions in which the soldier may become aggressive or lose control of his or her emotions.
In other situations the caregiver constantly will be looking for “triggers” that may cause his or her soldier to have an episode and looking for ways to avoid it. Episodes may include high levels of anxiety, anger, sadness, irritability, paranoia, or panic attacks. These episodes may happen anywhere in which the soldier feels uncomfortable or out of control of the situation. One very common environment in which a soldier suffering from PTSD may have an episode is in a public crowded area.
For the person living with the soldier suffering from PTSD (caregiver), he or she may notice themselves beginning to adopt many of the same symptoms or character traits of PTSD. Many of the same emotions are present, such as anger, confusion, depression, frustration, and anxiety. It is believed that when a person is living with/caring for someone with PTSD much of the daily tasks are primarily performed by the caregiver (e.g., finances, cleaning, cooking, etc--). On top of this, the caregiver is also a sounding board for the person suffering from PTSD to let all of his or her emotions out on. The caregiver is expected to help the person with PTSD cope with the trauma and the entire emotional burden that comes with it. Because of the many roles and responsibilities that the caregiver has, it is not uncommon that he or she begins to experience similar anxieties, anger, and emotionally outbursts.
Since the levels of severity for PTSD varies from person to person, the same applies to Secondary PTSD. Not every person living with or caring for someone with PTSD will experience Secondary PTSD; however, it is a disorder to be aware of because of the current presence that it has had in society.
Treatment for those suffering from Secondary PTSD is similar to that of someone with PTSD. Locating a counselor (preferably one with a concentration in trauma) to seek therapy from is a great starting point. Therapy is also a substantial preventative measure because one must first take care of themselves before trying to take care of others. If looking for a counselor seems overwhelming, a much easier starting point is talking with the family’s Primary Care Physician and he or she can refer a reliable counselor.
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Secondary PTSD. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.lestweforgetptsdsupport.org/Secondary-PTSD.html
Resources for military families-