Loving Someone with PTSD

A Practical Guide to Understanding and Connecting with Your Partner After Trauma

By: Aphrodite T. Matsakis PhD

Narrated by: Rosemary Benson

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can present with a number of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and trouble sleeping. If your partner has PTSD, you may want to help, but find yourself at a loss.

The simple truth is that PTSD can be extremely debilitating - not just for the person who has experienced trauma firsthand, but for their partners, as well. And while there are many books written for those suffering from PTSD, there are few written for the people who love them. In Loving Someone with PTSD, renowned trauma expert Aphrodite Matsakis presents concrete skills and strategies for the partners of those with PTSD.

With this informative and practical book, you will increase your understanding of the signs and symptoms of PTSD, improve your communication skills with your loved one, set realistic expectations, and work to create a healthy environment for the both of you. In addition, you will learn to manage your own grief, helplessness, and fear regarding your partner's condition.

PTSD is a manageable disability. While it isn't your responsibility to rescue your partner or act as his or her therapist, this book will help you be supportive and implement strategies for lessening the negative impact of PTSD - not just for your partner, but for your relationship, and, importantly, for yourself.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Aphrodite Matsakis (P)2021 Tantor

Content feels dated

I was really only able to get a few minutes into the book and it seemed to be focusing exclusively on media's portrayal of a male soldier's PTSD. The author also struggles with writing to "someone with PTSD" and writes it as though you are the partner to a man as opposed to having any other relationship. This book might be helpful to someone, but it felt like false advertising to me.

Insightful and Validating

Very helpful book, at times extremely frustrating, depending on your own experiences, but overall, a definite must read for anyone who has a spouse with PTSD. - Wife of a Combat Veteran

All around good over view

It dips into a little bit of every aspect I could imagine as a possible necessity. I also appreciated the way the author bounces back and forth between using “he” and “she” pronouns. It’s important to remember that Both sexes are vulnerable to ptsd symptoms after trauma.

Helpful and engaging

I originally wanted to read(listen) to this book to help my partner understand my PTSD, and how they may help when they don't know what to do or how to help me when I get triggered. I also now have skills I may use if they ever have triggers themselves.

Good listen and lessons learned.

substitute "partner" for anyone you live with

I bought this book to see if it could offer help to my mother. She has taken on my sister and her three children and we've fought mys sister's strange behaviors for years now. My sister is the battered wife escaping a domestic violence situation with her husband. The survival of that abuse has developed into PTSD and we dont know how to help her. This book really opens up some understanding on what's going on with her and how she may learn to cope with her PTSD while still being in our lives on a daily. Seek professional help. Communication is key, but you have to be aware that there are many triggers out there as she is trying to get her life back to normal, when it may never be normal again. Definitely recommend if you dont know where to start....