Couples facing challenges after a traumatic experience may need to work together to rebuild a safe and secure bond that has been disrupted due to the trauma. It is common for individuals who have experienced a trauma to feel threatened, fearful, and hypervigilant about their surroundings, which can be difficult to overcome without support from their partners. This can create difficulties within the relationship, including issues related to trust, communication, and emotional intimacy. In order to restore a sense of safety, couples must understand how trauma affects their partner's perception of threat, risk, and bodily vulnerability, and take steps to address these concerns. Here are some strategies that may help:
1. Education: Couples should seek education on how trauma affects the brain and body, as well as the impact it has on relationships. This will give them an understanding of what their partner is experiencing and help them provide appropriate support.
2. Communication: Couples should communicate openly and honestly about their feelings and needs, especially when it comes to sexual intimacy. They should avoid blaming or shaming each other, instead creating a safe space where they can share their concerns and find solutions together.
3. Consistency: Couples should strive for consistency in their behavior towards their partner, even if they don't fully understand why their partner is behaving in certain ways. This shows that they are there for their partner no matter what.
4. Reassurance: Couples should offer reassurance that they are not a source of danger, and that they are committed to keeping their partner safe. This could include physical touch, words of affirmation, or other actions that show love and care.
5. Reducing Triggers: Couples should work together to identify and reduce triggers that may cause anxiety or distress for their partner.
They might limit loud noises or bright lights, and avoid situations that remind their partner of the traumatic event.
6. Grounding Techniques: Couples can use grounding techniques such as deep breathing exercises, visualization, or self-soothing methods to help their partner feel more secure and relaxed. These strategies can be practiced individually or together.
7. Trauma Therapy: Seeking professional help from a qualified therapist who specializes in treating trauma can be beneficial for both partners. This can provide support, education, and tools to navigate challenges related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intimacy.
How do couples reconstruct a shared sense of safety when one partner experiences the world through a trauma-altered perception of threat, risk, and bodily vulnerability?
Couples who experience dissonance in their relationship due to the partner's post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may find it difficult to maintain a safe space. This is because PTSD can make a person feel constantly on edge and fearful, which can cause them to perceive everyday situations as threats. As a result, they may become hypervigilant and overly defensive, leading to increased anxiety and irritability.