Post: Relationships and PTSD: What to know

Effects

PTSD symptoms

Helping a partner

PTSD treatments

Summary

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after trauma, such as assault or military combat. The symptoms of PTSD can affect a person’s well-being and relationships.

People with PTSD may relive their trauma, have intense anxiety, avoid things that remind them of their trauma, and experience overwhelming emotions.

These emotions can affect the way people relate to others, potentially damaging their relationships or adding extra challenges.

PTSD may also change how loved ones interact with someone who has experienced trauma.Learn more about how PTSD affects relationships in this article. Share on Pinterest Adrian Rodd/Stocksy PTSD may add extra challenges to relationships in different ways, including: experiencing a loss of emotional regulation losing interest in family activities having no interest in sexual activity retraumatization during sexual activity feeling an increased dependency on a partner experiencing excess anger , which may come out as being distant or critical having a reduced ability to problem solve, if the person with PTSD experiences anxiety or feels overwhelmed even in small conflicts making the partner without PTSD feel as though they have to be a caregiver reducing the support that couples get from family members who do not understand the trauma or appreciate the severity of PTSD Some people with PTSD do not seek treatment or get the right diagnosis. Therefore, couples need to consider that PTSD can affect a relationship even when neither person has a formal diagnosis. PTSD and abuse While most individuals with PTSD are not violent, the condition has links to an increased risk of violence.An older 2013 study of veterans found an association between PTSD and relationships with more hostility and psychological abuse and less acceptance and humor in both veterans and their romantic partners.Additionally, an older study from 2010 of military veterans with PTSD found more parenting conflicts, less confidence in their relationships, more negative communication, and less marital satisfaction.A 2018 study focusing on nonveterans notes that increased anger after trauma and alcohol use has links to abusive behavior in people with PTSD.However, mental health conditions , such […]

Relationships and PTSD: What to know