Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

47,612Members
1,358,869Posts
1,400,000Visitors

Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Unknown userMember18 Jan 2018, 11:19 am AEDT

Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

This Topic Tuesday we'll be focusing on supporting someone experiencing PTSD. Our special guest @DeanYates will be talking from his own first hand experience of PTSD - how it developed, his symptoms, what helped and what didn't.

Dean Yates, 49, has been a journalist, bureau chief and editor for Reuters, the international news service, for 25 years. He has reported extensively on war, conflict and natural disasters in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. While the Reuters bureau chief in Baghdad in 2007, three of Dean’s Iraqi staff were killed, two by a U.S. Apache helicopter.

Dean was diagnosed with PTSD in March 2016. He spent five weeks in the Ward 17 psychiatric unit at Melbourne’s Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Aug-Sept 2016. He was readmitted for three weeks in July 2017. Besides PTSD, Dean has moral injury.

Since May 2017, Dean has been head of journalist mental health and wellbeing strategy at Reuters, a newly created position for the company’s 2,600 staff around the world.

Below are some of the articles published about Dean's experience. Please be aware that some of the content in the links below could be triggering as they talk in detail about the distressing experiences Dean had during his time as a journalist.

In November 2016, Reuters published Dean’s account of his battle with PTSD. Click here

The ABC did this story on Dean in July 2017.

Columbia Journalism Review did a profile on Dean in this November 2017 story.

Join us from 7pm AEDT, Tuesday 27 Feb.

Hit the 'Like' button below to get an email reminder on the night.

115 replies

61 - 70 of 115

1...6 7 8...12

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

DeanYatesSenior Contributor27 Feb 2018, 8:08 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Thanks @Soozasaur -- by visual triggers, do you mean flashbacks?

I understand about the isolation. Are you guys members of any online support groups?

I'm part of a closed Facebook group of patients who have been admitted to the Ward 17 PTSD unit at the Heidelberg Repat Hospital in Melb.

We all share our experiences. We talk about how we're feeling. It's very validating to be able to share your experiences with someone who knows what your going through.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

AdgeSenior Contributor27 Feb 2018, 8:09 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

I haven't really got the hang of Mindfulness yet either @Former-Member Despite trying to for years.

I do 2 yoga classes per week (for the past 6 years), which helps.

Thanks @DeanYates Your wife's caring letter was very insightful & helpful.

Adge

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

DeanYatesSenior Contributor27 Feb 2018, 8:10 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Hmm. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I would have thought EMDR would be especially good for people with complex PTSD. I would suggest @Adge that you call Phoenix Australia in Melb. http://phoenixaustralia.org/

These guys are at the cutting edge of post traumatic mental health.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

HillsyContributor27 Feb 2018, 8:10 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Can I ask how you were once you left Ward 17 @DeanYates? Reason is my husband was there for 3 weeks prior to Christmas - found the actual stay very beneficial but has really struggled since leaving. He is the worst he has been since he was first diagnosed. I'm hoping there will be a light at the end of the tunnel but its tough right now

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

DeanYatesSenior Contributor27 Feb 2018, 8:12 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Thanks @Former-Member
Without Mary, I am not sure where I would be to be honest

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

DeanYatesSenior Contributor27 Feb 2018, 8:13 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

I understand @Hillsy
Your energy needs to be directed where it will have a positive impact

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

AdgeSenior Contributor27 Feb 2018, 8:13 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Well that's the case in WA generally @DeanYates

EMDR is refused for people with Complex PTSD.

I've asked many times, & the reason given were the reasons that I mentioned.

Adge

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Unknown userMember27 Feb 2018, 8:14 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

@DeanYates

Yes - nephew has Dx - was abused sexually
BiL was in services - he is aware of drinking issues.

Both live interstate (hence the texting).
My policy is to keep in touch where others haven't, ensure they know I care esp nephew who I think has very little family support.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Unknown userMember27 Feb 2018, 8:15 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

@DeanYates. Do you really think it helps to share your experiences? I know my husband does with his former military mates, and I think finds it pretty helpful. Me on the other hand. I dont share with anyone. I've always kept it to myself. Nobody in my real life knows. Do you think this could contribute to not 'healing' and moving on? I sometimes think I never will. Sometimes I just feel so bitter, angry, distrustful, downright scared of life and everyone in it. If I didnt bottle it up, would I be better off? I have only ever disclosed what happened to my psych. My GP only knows that I have PTSD, not why.

Am I preventing recovery by not being more open about it all?

Sherry

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

DeanYatesSenior Contributor27 Feb 2018, 8:15 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Supporting someone dealing with PTSD // Tues. 27 Feb. 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Thanks @Hillsy. At first, Mary didn't want to show me the letter. She didn't want to hurt me. I agreed with every single word she wrote. Our marriage now is actually stronger than it has ever been. The key has been honest, frequent communication.

61 - 70 of 115

1...6 7 8...12