Coming home can be terrifying and difficult for veterans with PTSD. Families face a great challenge in helping their veteran adjust to normal life and mange this disorder. With anger and abuse commonly associated with PTSD sufferers, this reunion can be concerning for the family.
The PEAS for Creating a Healthy PTSD Environment
PEAS is an acronym used by the Veteran’s Administration (VA). It is designed to prevent caregiver burnout in the home. The rising anger levels common in the PTSD patient combined with the heavy weight of responsibility shouldered by the caregiver may lead to increased tension in the home.
In order to alleviate tension, and make a calmer, more relaxing, more trusting, and safer home environment for the whole family, use PEAS:
- P – Participate in your service member’s health treatment.
- E – Educate yourself about PTSD, the medical facilities in which your service member receives treatment, and the routines of your service member.
- A – Attend to warning signs of potential relapses or suicide risk.
- S – Seek social support and engage in other positive self-care activities.
Tips for Alleviating the Effects of PTSD on the Family
- Exercise: exercising regularly can have an impact on both your physical and mental well-being and reduce anxiety and depression. Consider running, swimming, basketball, dancing, rock climbing, boxing, weight training, or martial arts. Find the right outlet that inspires you and keeps you motivated. If you enjoy running, challenge yourself to charity 5k runs. Not only will you help yourself, but you’ll have the satisfaction of helping others at the same time.
- Get outdoors: being out in nature can help to foster a sense of calm and balance while reducing stress levels. Many new green eco therapies have been established for veterans with PTSD and their families.
Here is a great explanation of eco therapies from GoodTherapy.org:
- Maintain a healthy diet: there are certain foods you can eat that will help relieve stress and reduce your anxiety levels. Carbohydrates and high-fiber foods like sweet potatoes are believed by scientists to produce more serotonin, a hormone that promotes relaxation, in the brain. If you’re feeling sluggish and run down, stress could be weakening your immune system. Incorporating more antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables like blackberries and strawberries can give your immune system a much needed boost. Looking for more information on antioxidant rich foods? Check out WebMD’s article: 10 Nutrient-Rich Super Foods.
- Manage your sleep: Seven to nine hours of sleep per night is optimal and common for most people. However, those dealing with higher levels of stress and anxiety can suffer from insomnia, which negatively impacts the quality and length of sleep. Insomnia and lack of sleep on its own can create stress creating a vicious cycle of increased stress and escalated insomnia. The key is to develop a series of stress management tools that can allow you to deal with the underlying cause of your insomnia. While you’re developing those tools, also remember to prioritize sleep. If you’re always used to getting a lot of important chores done in the wee early morning hours, don’t forget that you and your health are also important. None of those chores can get done if your run down, tired and feeling unwell.
- Educate yourself: learn about PTSD and its effects, familiarize yourself with your service member’s routine, and the medical facilities at which your service member receives treatment. Knowing these important details will help him or her feel like they are being supported and are not alone in dealing with the effects of PTSD. The better you understand the realities of a flashback, panic attack or nightmare, the more supportive you can be. There is no reason either of you should feel helpless. Support and understanding are the greatest gifts you can give during these difficult times. Don’t pressure the veteran to talk about past experiences, but let him open up on their own time. Be patient, understanding, and a good listener for when they are ready to talk.
Additional Resources:
https://blogs.extension.org/militaryfamilies/2016/08/26/caregivers-of-veterans-with-invisible-injuries/
https://www.army.mil/article/96120/PTSD_and_its_role_reversal_effect_on_family_caregivers
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/ptsd-in-veterans.htm