Professional support for partners and family members

Ongoing exposure to the distress of someone close, accounts of the traumatic experience, trauma-related reactions, or repeated crises can also affect family members. In some cases, secondary traumatic stress, sometimes called secondary traumatization, may develop.

It may involve fear, heightened alertness, sleep difficulties, intrusive thoughts or images connected with what the other person experienced, avoidance, emotional numbness, exhaustion, or a persistent feeling that something bad is about to happen.

This does not mean that every family member will develop secondary traumatic stress, nor does it place blame on the person with PTSD. It means that prolonged exposure to distress and a constant sense of responsibility can significantly affect other members of the family.

Children may be affected by the PTSD of a parent or another family member even when adults do not explain what is happening. They may notice tension, anger, withdrawal, instability, or changes in family routines and may feel frightened, confused, or responsible for the situation.

Children should not be responsible for an adult’s symptoms, for keeping the family stable, or for becoming their parents’ main source of emotional support. They need age-appropriate explanations, reassurance that the situation is not their fault, and opportunities to express their feelings.

Trauma may also affect the next generation when fear, hypervigilance, silence surrounding the trauma, or changes in family roles and relationships shape a child’s sense of safety. This does not mean that PTSD itself is inherited or that a child of a parent with PTSD will necessarily develop mental health difficulties.

Consider seeking professional support when coping with the situation begins to affect a family member’s health, functioning, relationships, or sense of safety.

This may be particularly important when:

• tension, fear, hypervigilance, or sleep difficulties continue over time
• responsibility for the person with PTSD becomes overwhelming or all-consuming
• it becomes difficult to rest, step away from the situation, or attend to personal needs
• family relationships become increasingly strained, harmful, or unsafe
• a child shows signs of distress or takes on responsibilities that are not appropriate for their age
• reactions associated with secondary traumatic stress begin to appear

Professional support can help family members understand how PTSD is affecting their lives, speak about their own experiences, establish boundaries, and consider how to offer support without assuming full responsibility for the other person’s wellbeing.

Depending on individual needs and available services, support may include individual, couples, or family therapy, education about PTSD, or a facilitated support group. Family members can seek help separately, even if the person with PTSD is not receiving treatment.

If there is immediate concern about self-harm or suicide, follow the guidance on the page “Urgent help: when immediate professional assessment is needed.”