Understanding and accessing support are keys to caring for Veterans with PTSD

“It’s tough when someone is lashing out, even if it’s not necessarily directed at you,” Robbin Chappell says in the video. “But if you don’t understand what’s going on with it, you know, it’s hard.”

In the spot for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Chappell is describing her experience as the partner of a Veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We know that prevalence of PTSD among Veterans is higher than among the general population — studies estimate that anywhere between 13.5% to 30% of Veterans could have symptoms.

But PTSD can also have cascading repercussions for “everyone involved,” Chappell says in the video story, available among many others at VA’s National Center for PTSD. “I think that education and understanding are really the biggest key(s) to having a relationship with someone with PTSD or any kind of panic or mental disability.”

If you’re a spouse, family member or friend who cares for a Veteran loved one with PTSD — an illness that may co-occur with diagnoses of depression, substance use disorder and/or chronic pain — stave off isolation and despair by learning more about PTSD and the care that’s available. (If you are a Veteran in crisis, or are concerned about one, call the Veteran Crisis Line at [login to see] and press 1 or connect with counselors via http://www.veteranscrisisline.net.)

Take a moment on or around PTSD Awareness Day, which is June 27, to review and tap into the following resources:

Recognize PTSD symptoms

Spot the signs of PTSD. How do you know if the Veteran you love or care for has undiagnosed PTSD? Start by recognizing some signs and symptoms. They may manifest in physical, mental or even social ways, according to VA’s Caregiver Support program “Caregiving Tips — PTSD” webpage. Physical changes could be when the Veteran is unable to sleep or starts to avoid certain places that remind her of trauma. The Veteran could suddenly lack concentration or avoid socializing in crowds.

Know the impacts of PTSD on you. As the partner, spouse or loved one, you are likely being affected by PTSD. You may feel insulated if your partner can no longer mingle with friends. You may feel the burn of social stigma if peers don’t understand the gravity of the issues you face at home. And as it becomes difficult communicating with the Veteran experiencing symptoms of PTSD, your relationship may become even more strained.

Access support, counseling and other services

Support is available for you as a caregiver and for your Veteran loved one living with PTSD (and other health issues). Some resources include:

VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP). Every VA medical center is now staffed with caregiver support coordinators, who can connect you with the services you need.

“We encourage caregivers providing care to Veterans across the care continuum to reach out to their CSP team for more information and to enroll,” Leah Christensen, CSP clinical program coordinator, said during a question-and-answer event hosted by RallyPoint in May.

You can get coaching, skills training, one-on-one support and education, and access to support groups and peer mentoring. You undergo a brief intake process but no application is required.

Caregiver Text Support. Living with someone experiencing symptoms of PTSD can result in chaotic situations, for you and the Veteran you love. During these periods, it can be hard to remember to take moments to de-stress and care for yourselves. The Annie Caregiver Text Support service does that for you and your partner. If you’re enrolled in VA health care, sign up to receive these stress-management text messages three times a week.

Caregiver Support By Phone and Online. VA also offers caregivers licensed professional phone support from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET through the National Caregiver Support Line at [login to see] . You can also listen in to monthly group sessions hosted by the support line or access audio and transcripts of these presentations. Recent topics covered finding calm in chaos and body scan, mindfulness, relationship and visualization meditation.

Details: More information is at https://www.caregiver.va.gov/Care_Caregivers.asp and https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support-line/presentations.asp.

Explore these resources as well:

Start a conversation. The National Center for PTSD (http://www.ptsd.va.gov) has myriad resources in print, on video and in other formats to help you better understand PTSD, start conversations about treatment options, view stories similar to your own, find health care providers, conduct research and do much more. Details: Start at these pages: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/family/how_help_veteran.asp, https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/aboutface.asp and https://www.ptsd.va.gov/family/effects_ptsd.asp. Locate more information at the left-hand navigation bar.

Visit a Vet Center. Located at 300 community-based locations or virtually, Vet Centers provide a wide range of counseling and psychological services to family members of Veterans. Details: Find a Vet Center near you at https://www.va.gov/find-locations and read more about available services in “Vet Centers Provide Counseling and Care by Phone, Video and In Person” at https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/vet-centers-provide-counseling-and-care-by-phone-video-and-in-person.

Access health care. Stay healthy and well by getting insured. Options include:

Civilian Health and Medical Program at VA (CHAMPVA): This health care program is offered to you as a spouse if your Veteran loved one is 100% service-disabled. It is also available to surviving family members when a Veteran’s death is attributed to their military service. CHAMPVA covers community health care and medication, and may cover outpatient mental health services for eligible individuals. Details: https://www.va.gov/health-care/family-caregiver-benefits/champva and https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/programs/dependents/champva/champva_eligibility.asp.

Affordable Care Act: You may also be able to sign up for insurance under the Affordable Care Act, whose enrollment deadline was extended until Aug. 15, 2021. Details: https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines.

Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program: You may be able to get you and your dependents covered through these programs, and do it through your state. Details: https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip.

Learn more

Get more PTSD Awareness Month resources: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/index.asp.

Locate a VA facility near you: https://www.vetcenter.va.gov.

Locate a PTSD treatment program near you: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/PTSD.asp.

Read the study, “PTSD Treatment for Veterans: What’s Working, What’s New, and What’s Next”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5047000.

Watch Robbin Chappell’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uublAFPnUks.