PTSD and Hypervigilance: Maintain Safety

PTSD has three categories of symptoms: hyperarousal, reexperiencing, and numbing. All three categories can exist at the same time, or they can be experienced in stages.

For this blog entry, I'll focus on one part of the hyperarousal category: hypervigilance. This is the feeling of intense alert to perceived danger. It's important to note that the danger doesn't have to be there; it can just be perceived. However, to the survivor, it is there. The survivor may feel a threat when in fact there is none. Therefore, it is important for the partner not to dismiss the survivor's sense of danger, but rather, validate it and concentrate on maintaining a safe environment.

I know I stress safety a lot in these posts. Remember, PTSD always comes from a set of circumstances outside the survivor's control, and they are always put in a position of danger—that is, not safe. When helping your survivor, safety is always of the utmost concern. It is the single greatest thing you can do as the partner to help your survivor get through whatever set of symptoms are plaguing your survivor.

Is It ADHD or PTSD?

I feel as of late that I have spent a lot of time researching PTSD and blogging about it, but I haven't given enough time to ADHD. My wife has both.

Sometimes, the lines of these two acronyms are so blurred that it can be extremely difficult to tell which is which. Is a lack of motivation because your partner is in flashback mode, relapse mode, or depression, or is it that they don't know where to start, or that they feel overwhelmed by the day's tasks?

It can be especially difficult if the trauma brings about hypersensitivity that runs over into daily routines.

The result is looking at a Venn diagram with a very blurry middle. As you might expect, this is a largely loaded subject. There are overlaps of co-morbidities and symptoms. Both PTSD and ADHD require constructive coping techniques. Both require lots of attention and self-awareness.

Let's talk about some constructive ways to keep grounded and maintain self-awareness. This list is by no means inclusive, but it should provide some ways to help manage symptoms.


Make an interest box or closet to combat idleness and possible dark moods
Any time you or your partner comes across something that the survivor feels would be interesting but don't want to get into it at the present moment, put it into an interest box. This could be anything from magazines, CDs, arts or crafts projects, what have you. The idea is that this box will provide stimulation and creativity when things seem to be at a lull. 

Practice constructive coping techniques [exercise, meditation, art]The interest box is a constructive coping technique itself, but it's also the gateway to other constructive coping techniques. When your survivor is bored, bring out something to do from the interest box. Make some suggestions. Go jogging with your partner to get the blood flowing. Meditate wherever it feels comfortable. Meditation is a great activity that stimulates and focuses the brain.

Break bigger problems down into smaller ones
The idea of a big project can seem overwhelming to anyone (I know it does to me). But, if I think of the big project in terms of many little projects, things seem smaller. If I pace myself, or come up with a schedule equally spreading the work load (or as equal as possible), things get even easier.

What constructive coping techniques do you keep in your arsenal?