How Do I Help Someone During an episode?

[Panic57]

My mom has a friend who was in the Vietnam War. He has some bad PTSD episodes where he's there in the battlefield and not there with us. We've minimized his triggers as much as is humanly possible but I still feel so helpless to help him when he as an episode. All the advice I've looked up seems more to do with giving love and support after the fact but not really how I can help him. I really just want to help him through his episode so that he doesn't accidentally hurt himself or anyone else. Is there anything I can do to help besides waiting it out?

 

[explorerX7]

Given the gravity of the situation, I don't believe that all you can do is to try the best you can to help him through the episode. It seems that it's very little the professionals can do to ease the type of situation and if they can't solve this type of situation then I don't believe you will be able to rather than giving love and soothing support. The devastation that these human beings had to face during that war has really sent many of them into a bad space. I hope that in these episodes he will be a danger to himself or those around him.

 

[fuzyon]

Unfortunately there's not that much you can do to stop a person that's having an episode, they'll get back to reality after a while. I know they're pretty scary, but the best thing you can do is to not touch that person at all and get out of their way as much as possible. Try to move stuff out of the way like mirrors, glass or other things that he may harm himself with accidentally, that's what a lot of people told me to do.

 

[Panic57]

Unfortunately there's not that much you can do to stop a person that's having an episode' date=' they'll get back to reality after a while. I know they're pretty scary, but the best thing you can do is to not touch that person at all and get out of their way as much as possible. Try to move stuff out of the way like mirrors, glass or other things that he may harm himself with accidentally, that's what a lot of people told me to do.[/quote']
Yeah, I know, I just feel so bad and helpless. His episodes are shortening over the last couple years and he doesn't seem to have them as often, I was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with it and had tricks to minimize the damage. You also have to be careful with sharp corner because they don't see them so if they run into them they can end up with massive bruises. If you can, you need to open doors so they run into them. It's like a strange dance where you're both blind to what the other sees. Though there are some reoccurring patterns. Have you ever noticed that? Like they're relieving that one event or seeing the same people?

 

[HappyKoi]

It's hard to see a loved one suffering something and not feel like you can do anything. I'm glad that they seem to be getting better with time. The reoccurring patterns thing is normal- usually there is one major event or a few events that create that initial stressor. PTSD can also be caused by severe, ongoing trauma, but often there are a few major events that really stand out. The reason that it is so stressful is that their body and mind reacts to the event as though it is happening right then for the first time. It's like a re-occurring nightmare that is frightening every time. Part of therapy is taking people back to resolve their emotions and the event so they can emotionally cope with it instead of reacting to it over and over again.

 

[fuzyon]

Yeah, I know, I just feel so bad and helpless. His episodes are shortening over the last couple years and he doesn't seem to have them as often, I was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with it and had tricks to minimize the damage. You also have to be careful with sharp corner because they don't see them so if they run into them they can end up with massive bruises. If you can, you need to open doors so they run into them. It's like a strange dance where you're both blind to what the other sees. Though there are some reoccurring patterns. Have you ever noticed that? Like they're relieving that one event or seeing the same people?

Yeah, I've dealt with people that had PTSD before and it's not a good experience at all. I agree with you, most of the time they're relieving the same event over and over but even when they experience something new the "characters" are always recurring. Unfortunately one of my acquaintances ran head first into a sharp corner and he needed stitches ASAP, it could've been bad if we weren't there to transport him to a hospital.

 

[janemariesayed]

It totally depends on how the outbursts pan out. Everyone is different and reacts differently to similar experiences. I think what someone needs when they are going through an attack is solid comfort and understanding.
Just tell them that you know and say it's okay. Or say, it's alright. Give them a cup of tea, be there for them but never ever disagree. Say your sorry that they are suffering.
It is so difficult to know what to do in these situations, all you can really do is let them know that you love them and are there for them, no matter what.

 

[DDNatureLover]

Is he in or has he been in therapy? If so, perhaps he's already got the information needed, but isn't able to communicate it during his episodes. Have you tried asking him when he's not experiencing an episode what you could do to attempt to ease the situation during one? It does sound as if he's having pretty severe symptoms, but it is positive that they're decreasing in frequency over time.