About 4 months ago I got in touch with an old friend from HS. In the process of getting reacquainted, he told me he was diagnosed with PTSD while serving in the military. We have gotten to be close friends over the months. This week he hit a low point and I am looking for more information on PTSD so I can understand what is going on and how to help him through it.

Welcome Iris - there is lots of information here, so have a good read around.
Also I have found everyone here to be helpful and supportive. I imagine that the 'carers' section will be helpful to you.

Good luck

Hello and welcome Iris.

This site is a great resource of information.

This link is elsewhere on here but this is also a good place to start, it's the National Center for PTSD's site. They have a lots of great info.
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/veterans/

Welcome Iris. Why don't you ask him what you can do and what he needs from you as support? He may not know, but at least you are demonstrating you care and willingness to listen. Also, if you get more information of where he is at we may be able to offer suggestions that we did at that place of healing that helped us. Or tell him about this site and let him hook up, at least he can read everything and get information if he wants to.

Cindy

Thanks for the welcome everybody. I've been reading in the different forums and gotten a wealth of information that has really helped me understand what's going on with him.

Moog--I actually started my search at the National Center for PTSD's site. I found information about PTSD but it didn't really help understand what he is going through when he is in a downward slide and what I as a friend could do to help him. Anthony's explanation made complete sense to me and really helped me understand PTSD particularly how vetrans are effected and what they go through. The Carer's section was exactly the type of information I have been trying to find.

Cindy--I hope to ask him once things with him even out. We really haven't talked about his PTSD very much. I know he was diagnosed years ago but don't know what treatment he got...if any. He is pretty open with me most of the time except when he is at a low point..then he withdraws and doesn't want to talk--which is where he is right now.