PTSD is usually thought as of a condition that only affects those who goes to war or have a traumatic event happen to them, but that is not the case. New studies and accounts from families have revealed that the symptoms of PTSD can spread to the victim’s family members. PTSD already puts an incredible strain on a veteran’s family, and Secondary PTSD only adds to that. Secondary PTSD is a major problem that should get more attention and should have more resources dedicated to helping with it.

I hope to shed light on this issue, since not many people have heard of it nor would ever think that PTSD can affect family members who have not experienced war. I also plan to find out what causes Secondary PTSD, and what is being done to help these PTSD victims and their families who suffer from the secondary effects of PTSD.

1. Is PTSD Contagious?

Background: This Mother Jones article by Mac McClelland tells us of the PTSD-stricken Vines family. Husband Caleb Vines served two tours in Iraq before returning home in 2006. He suffers from a traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Since his return home, his wife and daughter have started to show signs of Secondary PTSD. Wife Brannan has hyper-awareness, hyper-vigilance and many other symptoms those with PTSD have. Daughter Katie is only six-years-old, and suffers from a short temper and overacting, something she gets from her dad’s outbreaks and reactions to flashbacks. Daily life in the Vines household is quiet and solemn, and Brannan has taken it upon herself to reach out and help other families in the same situation, since there is little to no help from other sources.

Intended Use: This article will allow for an inside look at a family that suffers from Secondary PTSD. It provides a look at the Vines’ actions, daily life, and what they are doing to get help. It is one of the few articles that provide such a detailed look at a family that is stricken by Secondary PTSD, so it will be helpful in providing information that can be related to by readers.

2. Effects of PTSD on Family

Background: This article from the government’s PTSD website informs us of how PTSD affects the family of someone who suffers from it. PTSD makes a family member very hard to live with; victims suffer from a wide range of hurtful symptoms that all take a toll on the family. Outbursts, anger, and violence put wives on edge and make children scared of their father. Guilt, avoidance, and depression make wives question if their husband still loves them and if the family will ever return to normal, while children wonder why Dad doesn’t play with them anymore or why he is constantly crying.

Intended Use: This will be helpful in explaining exactly what family members of PTSD victims feel and how they may react to a loved one having PTSD. In order to understand what Secondary PTSD is and how it is caused we need to understand PTSD.

3.  Relationships and PTSD

Background: This government article explains that during the first few months after returning from war, PTSD victims’ anger and detachment strain their family relationships. Sleeplessness, paranoia, and countless other symptoms interfere with their ability to re-connect with their spouses and children. The article also offers solutions to help, like a spouse offering social support to the PTSD victim and sticking in the relationship to ease depression and guilt on the victim.

Intended Use: This article will be helpful in showing how PTSD victims may feel and react when they are home from war, and how the family may react towards the victim. It will also be helpful in providing solutions for the family to overcome PTSD and Secondary PTSD.

4. Secondary PTSD in Children

Background: This article explains the signs and symptoms of Secondary PTSD in a child and how to combat it. Children are affected differently by PTSD than adults. Flashbacks cause confusion and fear, while a withdrawn and depressed parent makes children think they are doing something wrong to make their parent that way. Children may also start to seem numb and emotionless, and may try to avoid their parents. The best thing parents can do is talk to the child about what PTSD is, what it does, and how it affects the family. Shielding younger children from symptoms is also something parents can do to prevent a child from beginning to form Secondary PTSD.

Intended Use: Secondary PTSD in children is a big problem when their parents suffer from PTSD. Since children act differently and are younger than adults, their symptoms and reactions may be different. While the other articles explain Secondary PTSD in adults, this article will be helpful in explaining what symptoms to look for in children, how to prevent Secondary PTSD in children, and how to combat it if the child already suffers from it.

5.  Secondary Traumatization of Wives of War Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Background: This is a document on a study conducted to determine if wives of war veterans suffer from Secondary PTSD. Using 56 wives of war veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD, researchers discovered that 53 of the 56 women in the study showed a varying number of symptoms of Secondary PTSD. When asked if they had sought professional psychological help, only four of the 56 wives said they had, while 36 thought they needed professional help. The study also looked at demographics, as well as how long the wife and veteran have been in a relationship, to see if there are unique factors that make a veteran’s wife more prone to falling victim to Secondary PTSD.

Intended Use: This study will be very useful in providing facts and data to aid in my paper, and may reveal if there are specific factors in people that make them more prone to suffering from Secondary PTSD.