PTSD struggles the focus of video

TRAUMA ALSO EXTENDS TO CAREGIVERS AS LOCAL WOMAN’S EXPERIENCE SHOWS

Alocal woman whose struggles with PTSD from helping her husband deal with his own PTSD is the subject of a video filmed for an online health platform dedicated to promoting health for caregivers.

When her husband was discharged from the military back in 2008 for a back injury, Tara Collins started noticing he had some “bizarre” behaviour in terms of angry outbursts and nightmares and triggering behaviour.

“It’s definitely had an impact on my life and the children’s lives as well,” she said.

In 2010, he was diagnosed with PTSD. He had served in Bosnia, Croatia, and Afghanistan twice, and had experienced many traumatic situations over the years.

After attempting to deal with the issue himself, eventually he suffered a serious “meltdown” that threatened to break up their family. At the same time, she was dealing with her own trauma issues.

Identifying that dealing with his suffering was having a detrimental affect on the rest of his family led to the realization that the impacts of PTSD stretch beyond the person who suffered the primary trauma but also to their caregivers.

“Secondary trauma is basically when (her husband) exhibits trauma,” she said. “I’m there trying to support him. At the same time, I’m also becoming traumatized.”

She said these secondary trauma can result in PTSD as a result of the stressors of dealing with the stress caused by her husband as he deals with his own PTSD.

Tara is now pursuing a PhD and the issue of PTSD affecting people caring for military veterans who are themselves suffering with PTSD has become the focus of her studies.

“I know there is a huge gap in services there,” she said.

She said there are only a few serviced for her to take part in with her husband, but there even less supports available for the children of military members with PTSD.

“It’s not only about providing education, but also providing services and recognizing the importance of providing services and helping those families as well,” she said.

Collin’s story was filmed for Stories for Caregivers and will be screened today at the University of Calgary in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

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