5 Ways to Cope With PTSD Stigma
“PTSD is really a disorder of failed recovery, and the reason that it occurs is because of a lack of support,” Schwartz says. “With sufficient support, most people are resilient and can work through the effects of post-traumatic stress. Seeking support is not something to be ashamed of. It’s something that all humans need.”
The following techniques can help to improve knowledge, connect people who have PTSD with treatment, and empower individuals living with the disorder.
1. Be Open About Your PTSD
Kumar recommends the following steps for creating a dialogue with your family, understanding their position, and building their knowledge around the condition:
- Open up space for conversation if others are willing to discuss your health with you. This can help to create a platform for discussing PTSD and defusing the stigmas.
- Knowledge is a powerful tool for destigmatizing PTSD, but painting a picture of your own experience can also help. Send others information on PTSD, or tell them what you understand about PTSD and how it is affecting you. However, Kumar maintains that a person with PTSD doesn’t need to do all the work when it comes to discussing the condition. You can also send people to respectable sites, such as the VA PTSD center, where they can educate themselves.
- The family conversation around PTSD needs to be a two-way street. Try to understand their perspective and how your PTSD symptoms might be affecting them. For example, if you have difficulty getting out in public, maybe your family member has to do more grocery shopping and work around the home.
- Make a plan for how to communicate your symptoms with your family member. Many times, you have symptoms that other people cannot see. By telling them more about what you are going through, they may be able to help you or change their response. For example, if you are having flashbacks, you could use a code word to tell them you need support and make a plan for this beforehand. You may also engage your family member to help document your symptoms. This can be helpful when working with a clinician or peer about ways to work through them.
- Reassurance is also crucial, as some family members may feel uncomfortable about discussing PTSD or not know when to check in. If you’re able, let them know you can answer any questions they have. Let them know that this is something many people go through, not just veterans, and that PTSD has to do with the brain and body. Remind them that many PTSD symptoms are not in your control.
2. Connect With Community Resources Around Work and Employment
- Job skills training, which equips people with the tools to complete interviews, create a résumé, and other occupational skills
- On-the-job training placements, which can help people with PTSD build up work experience
- Unpaid work experience, which might include volunteer work or other placements to build a person’s résumé
- Special employer incentive placements, which reward an employer for hiring vulnerable workers
3. Seek Therapies That Directly Target Self-Stigma
Challenging PTSD stigma isn’t only about reducing the negative perceptions of others. Challenging self-stigma is also crucial for reducing isolation and improving self-esteem.
One example is Ending Self-Stigma for PTSD (ESS-P). This is a group therapy that helps veterans with PTSD reject society’s stereotypes and strengthen parts of their identities that don’t relate to their diagnosis. In research, ESS-P significantly reduced depression and self-stigma. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is another possible option for reducing self-stigma that uses the same social cognitive theory to challenge negative beliefs around PTSD. However, more research is necessary to measure its effects.
- Learn more about PTSD. “Putting a name on what you’re going through can be really helpful,” suggests Kumar.
- Avoid comparing yourself to others with the disorder. “We can’t compare ourselves to others,” Kumar affirms. “We don’t know what one person is going through just because they seem okay. We also can’t say what their traumas are or compare them. People get PTSD for many reasons, with genetics, stressors, and life experiences all playing a part.”
- Know that seeking help requires focusing on the condition. “PTSD is complex, and it’s challenging to get better without focusing on it,” advises Kumar. “Many people try to ‘tough it out.’ However, because there are so many physical, psychological, and often unconscious symptoms that go along with PTSD, it’s really important to work with either a peer, a professional, or both to get the support you need. Seeking help doesn’t make you any less than anyone else.”
4. Give Yourself Time for Treatment, but Expect a Total Return to Society
However, Kumar says that people should participate to the fullest extent, which may require particular support from employers. “Some people may need to take leave or disability for a time while they are undergoing treatment. Once they have finished intensive treatment, they should expect to participate to the fullest possible extent,” she maintains. “It may take time; the natural tendency is to avoid distressing things. This is where support comes in, particularly therapy or peer support, to support a person in reintegrating into their daily activities.”
As every individual’s PTSD journey is different, making specific recommendations isn’t possible. So Kumar recommends that workplaces offer the following support measures for people who are returning to work after PTSD treatment:
- Therapy
- Flexible work arrangements
- The ability to take leave when necessary
- Offering methods for people to communicate when they’re experiencing an uptick in symptoms
- The ability to take regular breaks
- Facilities to accommodate support animals or individuals
5. If You Support Someone With PTSD, Start by Looking at Your Language
- Addict
- Crazy
- Dramatic
- Hysterical
- Junkie
- Lazy
- Nuts
- Schizo
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