When Someone You Love Suffers from Posttraumatic Stress: What to Expect and What You Can Do PDF
Preview When Someone You Love Suffers from Posttraumatic Stress: What to Expect and What You Can Do
Praise for When Someone You Love Suffers from Posttraumatic Stress “Being in a relationship with someone with PTSD [posttraumatic stress disor- der] is extremely hard. I was constantly wondering what I was doing wrong and why my fiancé was upset. This informative book helped me understand exactly what PTSD is, why it isn’t always me that is causing the problem, and why I can’t just ‘fix it.’ It is a great resource for those looking for help in understanding their loved ones. I learned how I not only can help my fiancé, but also can help myself.” —B. M. “An easy-to-read, comprehensive, research-based resource. This book is filled with practical advice.” —Andrew Christensen, PhD, coauthor of Reconcilable Differences “Finally, a resource for all sufferers of PTSD and their families and friends. As the wife of a veteran and an advocate who works with families dealing with combat trauma, I have been searching for a book like this. It provides up-to- date information that is relevant for readers worldwide. This book will save many relationships. It’s not a book to borrow; it’s one you have to own!” —Donna Reggett, Head Advocate, Ipswich District Veterans’ Support Centre, Australia “I only wish that I had had this book when my husband and I were dealing with the full force of his PTSD last year. My husband is heading to Afghani- stan for his third tour any day, and after reading this book, I feel more pre- pared to handle any symptoms that may re-emerge when he returns. The book helped me understand what he was going through and give voice to my own feelings and struggles. The authors provide actual strategies for dealing with the symptoms and making sure that everyone’s needs are met, not just the survivor. Just fabulous!” —M. C. “Zayfert and DeViva are to be applauded for recognizing the ripple effects of trauma on loved ones, and their important role in the recovery process. . . . Anyone who cares about someone who has been traumatized will be grateful for this book.” —Candice M. Monson, PhD, Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada When Someone You Love Suffers from Posttraumatic Stress When Someone You Love Suffers from Posttraumatic Stress What to Expect and What You Can Do Claudia Zayfert, PhD Jason C. DeViva, PhD THE GUILFORD PRESS New York London © 2011 The Guilford Press A Division of Guilford Publications, Inc. 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012 www.guilford.com All rights reserved The information in this volume is not intended as a substitute for consultation with healthcare professionals. Each individual’s health concerns should be evaluated by a qualified professional. Except as indicated, no part of this book may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America This book is printed on acid-free paper. Last digit is print number: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Zayfert, Claudia. When someone you love suffers from posttraumatic stress : what to expect and what you can do / Claudia Zayfert, Jason C. DeViva. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-60918-196-3 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-1-60918-065-2 (pbk.) 1. Post-traumatic stress disorder—Popular works. I. DeViva, Jason C. II. Title. RC552.P67Z39 2011 616.85′21—dc22 2011000368 To my mother, Ada, for being there through this —C. Z. To my parents, for always believing in me; to my wife, for her unquestioning support; and to the wives and partners of the CT NG AVCRAD, for telling me how things really are instead of listening quietly —J. C. D. Acknowledgments We would like to acknowledge all the people who contributed to the writing of this book. First and foremost, we thank our patients and those who love them and support them during treatment for having the courage to trust us with their stories and their recovery. Without the work that patients and their loved ones have been willing to do, we simply would not have been able to write this book. We are immensely grateful to our editors at The Guilford Press: Kitty Moore, whose vision made this book possible, and Christine Benton, whose insightful and meticulous editing helped us bring it to life. Their inspiration, guid- ance, and diligent feedback helped shape our ideas and experiences and sharpen our focus on the needs of the loved ones who stand, quiet and steadfast, beside trauma survivors everywhere. Many mentors and colleagues have influenced our thinking on trauma and its effects on those around the survivor, and contrib- uted to our professional development over the years. We would like to acknowledge Dharm Bains, Carolyn Black Becker, Bill Bloem, Scott Driesenga, Candace Monson, Jacqueline Persons, Paula Schnurr, Kelly Bemis Vitousek, and VA Connecticut’s OEF/OIF Outreach and Clinical Team. We are also grateful to all the trauma survivors, veterans, family members, and clinicians who have given us feedback in our clinical practice and at the various workshops and outreach talks we have pre- sented over the years. Finally, we express our deepest gratitude to our loved ones, Chris Wilcox and Kimberly DeViva, for supporting us as we labored on this book. vii
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