Living with PTSD: an interview with Elsie Iudicello
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Elsie Iudicello
PTSD can be overwhelming and complicated: panic attacks, uncertainty, and pain crop up suddenly.
How can you come alongside someone who is living with PTSD? On today’s episode, Elsie Iudicello shares about her PTSD following a medical accident that left her reeling, coping with pain, triggers and flashbacks. Elsie is an author, speaker, and the parent of four young boys.
You can find Handle with Care on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. You can also listen here:
Elsie and her boys
Here are three reflections from my conversation with Elsie
If you care for someone that is living with PTSD, choose carefully where you want to push them. There are concerns, fears, and reactions that will not make logical sense to you. As Elsie shared, love, listening and support is oftentimes what is needed most
In Elsie’s words, is your mouth full of advice or are you ready to listen? People who were quick to give answers were rarely comforting. Instead, bring a meal or a book by a favorite author. Play on the floor with children or just sit in silence. Laugh with them about old jokes, all of this can be much more meaningful than giving advice.
Elsie talked about how important it was that Jeff did not discount her, even though she was living within a mental struggle. When you interact with someone living with PTSD, be careful not to quickly write them off, minimizing their concerns with your words or actions. Remember, someone that is living with PTSD is still themselves, even if they are changed. What does it look like for you to live within the tension of the person being the same but different?
Elsie, conference speaker