PTSD - A GUIDE FOR FAMILY & LOVED ONES
Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect far more than memories. Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance, dissociation, anger, emotional numbing, shame and changes in intimacy can affect the person experiencing PTSD and the people who love them.
This detailed Space to Breathe Therapy guide explains what PTSD may feel like from the inside and what family members may notice. It includes practical guidance for responding to flashbacks, grounding, asking before touch, handling triggers, sleep and nightmares, anger, intimacy, children and family relationships.
The treatment section explains professional assessment, trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, medication considerations, recovery and how relatives can support treatment without becoming the therapist.
A substantial section focuses on the supporter: walking on eggshells, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, boundaries, support versus rescue, physical/emotional/financial safeguarding, protecting children and recognising when family support is no longer enough.
The guide also contains six practical family coaching tools, including a trigger map, grounding card, relationship-needs exercise, boundary plan, reclaiming-life plan and supporter recovery plan. It finishes with recommended reading, UK resources, clinical notes and a personal message from Maggie.
The central message is that trauma deserves understanding, but recovery should create more life for both people - not make the whole family permanently organised around fear.
