I used to think encouraging phrases like “try not to think about it” would help someone with PTSD, but my friend told me it actually made them feel invalidated. That stuck with me, because I truly want to be supportive. Could you explain what the worst thing to say to someone with PTSD is, so I can avoid making things worse?
I ran into the same problem with my brother who has PTSD. I thought I was being supportive when I told him things like “just focus on the positives,” but later he admitted it only made him feel like I didn’t get what he was going through. That really opened my eyes. I ended up looking for better guidance and came across this piece: the worst thing to do to someone with complex PTSD . It lays out clearly what not to say and why, which helped me shift the way I talk to him.