Coping with PTSD
By Matthew Tull, PhD, About.com Guide
PTSD-Specific Coping Strategies
The symptoms of PTSD can be very difficult to cope with, and they can have a tremendous negative impact on a person's life. Fortunately, there are some healthy things that you can do to target different symptoms of PTSD.
- Coping with Flashbacks and Dissociation
- Are Your PTSD Symptoms Getting Worse?
- Developing A Safety Plan: Be Prepared to Cope with PTSD Symptoms
- Coping with a Slip: Getting Back on the Road to Recovery from PTSD
- Coping with Sleep Problems in PTSD
- How to Identify and Cope with Your PTSD Triggers
- Coping with Natural Disasters
- Coping with PTSD at Work
General Coping Strategies
A number of healthy coping strategies have been found to be useful in managing the symptoms of PTSD. Try out some of these healthy ways of coping with your PTSD symptoms.
- Overview of Healthy Coping Strategies
- Getting in Touch with the Present Moment
- Seeking Social Support
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- Improving Awareness of Your Thoughts
- Making the Decision to Change a Behavior
- Doing a Chain Analysis to Change Problem Behaviors
- Getting More Active in Your Life
- Managing Impulsive Behaviors
- Coping with Thoughts of Suicide
- Catching and Changing Negative Thoughts
- Scheduling Positive Events
- Recognize Your Daily Accomplishments
- Improve Your Self-Esteem Through Self-Supportive Statements
- Setting and Managing Goals
Mindfulness Skills
Practicing mindfulness can be an excellent way of getting in touch with your present moment experience, as well as managing anxiety and stress. Learn some different mindfulness exercises in the articles below.
- Mindfulness Exercises
- Mindfulness of Everday Activities
- Mindfulness of Physical Sensations
- Mindfulness of Emotions
Coping With Your Emotions
People with PTSD often experience intense emotions and have frequent changes in mood. Fortunately, a number of coping strategies are designed to help you cope with these emotional experiences.
- The Purpose of Emotions
- Improving Emotional Awareness
- Identifying Your Emotions
- Monitoring Your Emotions
- Using Deep Breathing to Cope with Anxiety
- Expressing Your Emotions Through Writing
- Self-Soothing Coping Strategies
- Ways of Coping with Anger
- Taking a Time Out From Anger
- Using Distraction to Cope with Strong Emotions
- Managing Negative Beliefs about Emotions
- Having Emotional Reactions to Your Emotions
- Practicing Self-Care to Improve Your Emotional Health
Coping During the Holidays
The holidays can be challenging for the person with PTSD. As a result, it is important for the person with PTSD to learn specialized coping strategies designed to manage stress during the holiday season.
- Coping with PTSD During the Holidays
- Managing Your Alcohol Intake Over the Holidays
- Making Positive Changes in the New Year
- Coping with Large Crowds During the Holiday Season
- Coping with Stress and the Holidays
Coping with a Family Member's PTSD
PTSD not only impacts the person with the diagnosis, but also that person's family. Learn how to better cope with a family member's PTSD diagnosis.
- Understanding a Loved One's PTSD
- Coping with the Stress of Caring for Someone with PTSD
- Coping with a Loved One's PTSD During the Holidays
PTSD Resources
A number of resources are available for people with PTSD, as well as their loved ones. Find help for you or your loved one's PTSD by checking out some of the resources listed here.
- About.com PTSD Forum
- Choosing the Right Self-Help Book for You
- When and How to Practice Your New Coping Skills
- Webcasts on PTSD
- A Workbook for People with PTSD
- The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide
- A Self-Help Book for Deliberate Self-Harm
- A Workbook for Motor Vehicle Accident Survivors
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook
- The National Center for PTSD
- The Anxiety Disorder Association of America
- Helpful Books on PTSD
- The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- Gift From Within
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- National Institutes of Mental Health
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
- The Wounded Warriors Project
