When working with a client with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experiences frequent flashbacks, what intervention should the nurse include?

Choice A reason: Encouraging repression is harmful. Suppressing traumatic memories can worsen symptoms and hinder recovery. Effective therapy involves safe processing, not avoidance. Choice B reason: Teaching relaxation techniques helps the client manage physiological arousal during flashbacks. Techniques such as deep breathing, grounding, and progressive muscle relaxation reduce anxiety and promote coping. Choice C reason: Telling the client the event has no meaning invalidates their experience. Trauma has profound psychological impact, and dismissing it undermines trust and healing. Choice D reason: Physical symptoms are often directly related to psychological states in PTSD. Explaining they are unrelated is inaccurate and misleading.