Negative Coping and PTSD
If you have the symptoms of PTSD, you
may try to deal with problems in ways that cause more harm
than good. This is called negative coping. Negative coping
means you use quick fixes that may make a situation worse
in the long run.
Here
are some examples of negative coping that you should avoid:
Substance abuse
Taking
a lot of drugs or alcohol to feel better is called substance
abuse. You may try and use drugs or alcohol to escape your
problems, help you sleep, or make your symptoms go away.
Substance
abuse can cause serious problems. Drinking or using drugs
can put your relationships, your job, and your health at risk.
You may become more likely to be mean or violent. When under
the influence of alcohol or drugs, people often make bad decisions.
Avoiding others
Certain
social situations may cause you stress, make you angry, or
remind you of bad memories. Because of this, you may try to
avoid doing things with other people. You may even avoid your
friends and family.
Avoiding
others can make you feel isolated. Isolation is when you tend
to be alone a lot, rather than spending time around other
people. Yet social support is critical to healthy coping.
When
you distance yourself from others, your problems may seem
to build up. You may have more negative thoughts and feelings
like sadness and fear. You may feel like you're facing life
all alone.
Take
part in social activities even if you don't feel like it.
It will increase the chances you have to feel good and have
fun.
Staying always on guard
After
going through a trauma, it may seem reasonable to try to stay
extra alert. You may be on the lookout for danger at all times.
However, this way of coping doesn't work. You end up feeling
stressed, fearful, and worn out.
Avoiding reminders of the trauma
Trying
to avoid bad memories or trying to shut out feelings may seem
reasonable. However, they don't work because trauma controls
your life if you run from it. If you avoid thinking about
the trauma or if you avoid seeking help, you may keep distress
at bay for a time, but at a cost. This behavior also prevents
you from making progress in how you cope with trauma and its
consequences.
Anger and violent behavior
You
may feel a lot of anger at times. Your anger may cause you
to lose your temper and do reckless things. You may distance
yourself from people who want to help.
This
is understandable. It's natural to feel angry after going
through something traumatic. But anger and violent behavior
can cause problems in your life and make it harder for you
to recover.
Dangerous behavior
You
also may cope by doing things that are risky or dangerous.
For example, you may drive too fast or be quick to start a
fight when someone upsets you. You may end up hurting yourself
or someone else.
Certain
ways of dealing with stress can be dangerous. If you start
smoking or smoke more, you put your health in danger. Eating
to relieve stress also can be dangerous if you gain too much
weight.
Working too much
Work
is a good thing. You learn new things, interact with others,
and gain confidence. But working too much can be a form of
avoidance. You may be working to avoid memories or to help
yourself forget about the trauma. This is negative because:
You may not seek help for your PTSD
You're not spending time with your family and friends. Being
with them and getting their support may help you recover and
deal better with PTSD
You may work so much that you get little sleep and don't eat
right. This can hurt your health, so you're more likely to
get sick.
What
are more positive ways to cope?
Learning how to cope with PTSD is part of your recovery.
You can read about positive ways to cope with traumatic stress
in our Self-Care and Coping section.
You will also find information there about lifestyle changes
that can help you cope with PTSD.
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