When something traumatic happens in your life, there’s a chance that you should have post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the events that have taken place. While many people think of PTSD happening most commonly with military veterans, a person can develop PTSD from basically an event that they perceive to be traumatic in their life.
Because of this, it’s important that everyone knows what to do if you ever have PTSD. To help you know how you can manage this disorder if you now have or ever get PTSD, here are three tips that can help you in living with and overcoming PTSD.
Find Support
One of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re trying to deal with PTSD is to find support. Regardless of what it was that happened to you or spurred on this onset of PTSD, there are likely other people out there who’ve experienced a similar thing and can help you get through it, too.
According to Dr. Matthew Tull, a contributor to Very Well Mind, getting social support through groups or individual people can help you work through what happened and find a way to peace. Especially if you’re able to connect with someone who you trust and can understand you, that support system could be just what you need to work through your anxieties and come out on the other side.
Try A Mindfulness or Meditation Practice
When you start to feel like your PTSD is getting the best of your, one strategy you can try is to practice mindfulness or meditation.
Maria Cohut, a contributor to Medical News Today, shares that there are multiple types of mindfulness practices that can help someone dealing with PTSD. Things like mindfulness stress reduction, mindfulness cognitive therapy, mindfulness exposure therapy, and various forms or relaxation or repetition can be very helpful in guiding you through a PTSD episode or helping you avoid one if you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed.
Find Ways To Stay Active
A great way to stay in control of your body and give yourself a positive outlet when you’re feeling pent up aggression or agitation as a result of your PTSD is to be active.
When you’re physically moving your body, HelpGuide.org shares that you’re able to burn off some of your adrenaline, release some endorphins into your brain, and begin feeling a boost in your mood. Additionally, being able to physically move your body can often help you move your thoughts or emotions into a different headspace as well, which can be very helpful if your PTSD has you feeling stuck or trapped.
If you have PTSD from an event that’s happened in your life, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find help, hope, and peace.