Nevertheless, sharing your PTSD diagnosis with the people closest to you is important. Loved ones can be an excellent source of social support, which has been found to be very beneficial for people with PTSD. Additionally, social support may speed up recovery from PTSD and help you overcome the effects of a traumatic event.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with PTSD and are thinking of sharing the news of your diagnosis with someone, here are some tips that may make the process a bit easier.

Learn About PTSD

Learn as much as you can about PTSD. PTSD is often misunderstood, and it is very likely that your loved ones will have many questions. Make sure you can address those questions or know where to go for more information.

Choose What to Disclose

You do not need to tell your loved ones everything; what to disclose is completely up to you. Give them enough information to understand the diagnosis and what they can do to help. If someone asks you a question that you do not want to answer, simply say “I’m sorry, but I’m not ready to talk about that yet.”

Set Aside a Time to Talk

Telling someone about your PTSD diagnosis can be stressful. It may be uncomfortable and/or anxiety-provoking for you. It can be an emotional experience for both people involved, so make sure that you give some thought to the best place and time to do so.

Find a Support Group

It may help to talk with other people with PTSD. They may be able to help guide you and you can learn from their experiences.

Remember that PTSD is never a sign of weakness, and it is never the fault of the person with the diagnosis. Surrounding yourself with people who understand, care for and support you, can greatly reduce the stigma around a PTSD diagnosis and aid in recovery. PTSD can be a difficult diagnosis to cope with. However, recovery is definitely possible.

If you think you may have PTSD, it’s vital that you see a mental health professional specifically trained to assess psychological problems for a formal PTSD evaluation.

For more information about your rights as a Jones Act maritime claimant—including recovering costs for medical or mental health treatments—contact the experienced offshore injury attorneys at Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P. for a FREE consultation today at 800-773-6770.

Observe the way that your work area is arranged. Give some consideration to modifying your work area layout so as to avoid repetitive tasks, thus reducing physical demands on your body. Any modification should be designed with the facilitation of good body posture and decreasing physical repetitions. Adjustable equipment for lifting loads might be of assistance, for example. For constant phone use, throughout the day, you may wish to employ a headset – since cradling your phone places stress on your neck and back muscles. Also, make sure your computer monitor is positioned properly which can help you avoid neck and back strain be maintaining an upright head position with a straight back line.

Adopt healthy work habits

Some steps that can be taken to increase comfort on the job and decrease back pain:

• Planning your moves will limit repetitive, high-risk body movements. Determine if you are using unnecessary twisting, reaching or bending in your work. Plan, in advance, on where you will place a heavy load and make sure that area is uncluttered.
• Pay attention to your body by changing your position periodically, if sitting or standing for long periods of time. Every 15-20 minutes, take a 30 second “time out” to relax and stretch. If you feel your back starting to ache, cease the aggravating activity for a bit.
• Minimize hazards that may cause you to fall and injure your back. Proper footwear is essential and if you work in an office, avoid wearing high heels. Remove items that may cause you to trip.
• Working on your coordination and balance can be as easy as walking regularly for exercise. There are also balance exercises that you can do, as well.
• Addressing any mental health issues, that relate to stress factors, will keep your muscles from becoming tense, which can lead to strain and injury. Also, increased stress will lower your threshold for pain. You can adopt coping mechanisms in order to deal with stress – both at work and at home. These can include deep-breathing exercises, walking around the block or confiding in a close friend or family member.

Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.

Back injuries can lead to difficulties in concentration on the job. If you’ve been injured and need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact personal injury lawyer Gary R. Jodat, in Sarasota, Florida.