What Can I Do for My Loved One?
- Become informed about trauma and its effects
- Validate your loved ones feelings, whatever they may be
- Practice patience, understanding and compassion – for your loved one and yourself
- Never place blame on the person who has been traumatized
- I appropriate, encourage your loved one to connect with a therapist
- Plan for crisis situations – get help if the person is suicidal
- Accept that there may be changes in your relationship as they heal
- Respect the time and space it takes to heal
- Avoid forcing cheerfulness on them
- Do not force forgiveness of others on them
- If your loved one was abused, it is normal for you to feel anger but try not to overwhelm them with it
- Do not patronize – acknowledge your loved one’s strengths and ability to survive and heal
"Everyone has a right to have a present and future that are not completely dominated and dictated by the past" - Karen Saakvitne
