Supporting a loved one with complex trauma

Some thoughts about how to support someone you care about:

• Acknowledge Your Care
  First of all, thank you for the care and concern that you are carrying for this person in your life. It can be worrying and upsetting to see someone you love suffering.
  

• Educate and Empower Yourself
  A first step we recommend is to educate and empower yourself. Many of the symptoms of complex trauma are hard to understand without learning about the condition and its impacts.
  

• Tap into Resources for Learning
  Depending on your preferences, this might look like reading books on the topic of complex trauma, watching documentaries, or seeking your own counselling with a trauma-focused counsellor. You can find specific resources under this menu at the top of the page.
  

• Build an Understanding and Connection
  Having a solid understanding of the effects and impacts of complex trauma will help you to make sense of your loved one’s experiences, symptoms, and struggles. It will build a foundation on which you create a shared understanding with your loved one of their experiences and the impacts of these experiences.
  

• Navigate Relationship Challenges
  Complex trauma often involves trauma within trusted relationships, affecting the security of your bond. The person you care for may struggle with trust, boundaries, and this can lead to conflict. If it becomes difficult to manage and causes distress, consider seeking relationship counselling and support.
  

• Prioritise Your Wellbeing
  When supporting others, it is important to take care of yourself and your own general wellbeing. It is a sign that we need to stop and reassess if our care for the other person starts to cause us to neglect our own wellbeing. If you notice this happening for you, it would be important to find support for yourself.