PTSD or Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur due to experiencing a traumatic or very stressful event. PTSD can cause flashbacks, nightmares, and bad memories. PTSD inevitably alters our brain’s structure due to experiencing the trauma. This disorder can cause intense anxiety. With PTSD, symptoms occur shortly after the trauma and do not just go away. PTSD can cause heart disease, general pain, stomach problems, depression, and much more. It is important to learn our triggers when experiencing or trying to cope with PTSD symptoms.

When nightmares or flashbacks occur this can cause us to avoid certain situations, places, or things that remind us of the trauma. There are also physical reactions to PTSD, such as trouble sleeping, alcohol intake, or fearing certain noises. Some people may show more emotional symptoms and hold in what they are feeling and have experienced, while others may show more physical symptoms.

Here are 5 tips to help cope with your PTSD

• Mindfulness or being in the present

This helps us to get out of our heads and not worry so much by being more aware of all that is happening right now. We cannot change the past, but we can be aware of and handle the present.

• Deep beathing

When we do not breathe properly, we can cause ourselves extra unnecessary stress and anxiety. Most people do not know how to breathe properly with our stomach and chest, causing shorter breathes and more stress on the body. Breathing exercises can help to reduce panic attacks or stress in traumatic moments.

• Support from others

Overcoming a traumatic event can be hard but social support can help us talk to someone we trust about how we are feeling. Family and friends can be a great sense of support. Support groups can help us talk to those who can relate to our situation and have experienced similar events. If there was someone with you when you experienced your traumatic event, this person can also help overcome PTSD symptoms by talking about what happened and how you both are feeling and doing now. Seek out to talk to your counselor or therapist to help navigate choppy waters in your life.

• Relaxation exercises

Relaxation exercises can help us understand how to relax certain muscles. Over time with practice of these exercises, this can help show our bodies that when we tense, we should actually relax.

• Writing or journaling

Writing can help us express our thoughts and/or emotions, as well as find meaning to what our traumatic even has taught us. Writing our thoughts and emotions can be easier than telling someone else how we feel. This helps us better understand ourselves. If you feel fearful of talking to others about your experience, try writing first and then move to talking to people. This gives us the space to grow and reduce our symptoms of PTSD. This can also be beneficial when seeing a trained professional so that when you have difficulty telling them your emotions or remembering things, you can refer to your journal.

Here are a few tips to try when experiencing flashbacks:

• Hold an object that can remind you of the present.
• Use your breathing techniques.
• Use a blanket, safe space, loved one, or pet to comfort you.

It is important to know that PTSD is serious and cannot be managed alone. You must receive proper treatment for your PTSD. These tools are to help you cope with PTSD symptoms, while also speaking to a trauma trained mental health therapist. Use positive activities to help lift your mood and distract you from your symptoms. Trying to cope with PTSD can be overwhelming. We are not all the same after a traumatic event and that is okay. Be kind to yourself during these times and know that you are not alone. If you are having a hard time with your PTSD symptoms, reach out to a trained professional for support. A therapist, counselor, or social worker can help tremendously when trying to manage your PTSD symptoms.