“What would be the best way to get someone to get help?”
We all deal with the stress and the memories differently. For example, my brother-in-law just wouldn’t talk to anyone for 20 years, until my wife brought me home to meet the family. So sometimes getting together with other vets can help, even if you don’t talk about the war (we didn’t).
A large part of it is because in a therapist/client situation, the client HAS to feel that the therapist is empathic or truly knows how the client is feeling. This is really impossible for someone who has not been in combat for 7-20 months! Also, it is that relationship of trust and empathy that creates the healing situation.
If this understanding is so important, and all counselors know that it IS, I think there should be a new type of counseling for PTS, the counselor, the sufferer, and the partner veteran. Just like in group therapy, the counselor guides or however they want to do their “thing”, but this partner veteran should be with the sufferer 24/7. Chosen by the sufferer.
Just an idea and didn’t get much sleep...