This section adapted from the Expert Consensus Guidelines.

It can be very painful for friends and family members to watch a loved one suffer after a severe trauma. Our natural instincts are to encourage them to forget about the incident, try not to relive it and just "get on with life." Unfortunately, this seemingly reasonable advice is usually not helpful in this situation and is likely to make things worse. So what can you do? Plenty. Family and loved ones are critical in this delicate and painful time. Here are some tips that can help you help a loved one recover.