The diagnosis of Complex PTSD or C-PTSD has been widely accepted for a long time. Even so, there is some disagreement as to whether it is fully discrete from PTSD. The American Psychiatric Association says no. The World Health Organization says yes. While the experts debate about this, it’s important for individuals to understand where the distinctions lie.
Perhaps the most important factor to consider relates to duration. In general, PTSD arises from a specific traumatic event. We’ll get more into the causes of C-PTSD below. For now, it is seen as the outcome of repetitive and sustained abuse. Quite often, this ongoing traumatic abuse occurs during childhood.
Symptoms of Complex PTSD/Trauma
It should come as no surprise that some PTSD and C-PTSD overlap. To follow are some of the signs and symptoms more unique to C-PTSD:
A Feeling of Being Different
You see yourself as permanently damaged. No one, you believe, could possibly understand what you’ve endured. Hence, you have difficulty creating and maintaining friendships and relationships. You might just avoid them entirely.
Detachment
You are plagued by feelings of hopelessness. Self-worth does not exist. This may leave you empty and prone to dissociation. Also, your detachment could include forgetting details of the trauma. More abstractly, the C-PTSD sufferer often undergoes a loss of faith in previously held beliefs.
Obsession With Your Abuser
Whether the abuser is still present in your life or not, you may find yourself focused on two parallel tracks. Firstly, you dream of revenge. Conversely, you may also make excuses for them. It’s not unusual for someone with C-PTSD to idealize their abuser or abusers.
What Causes Complex PTSD/Trauma?
As mentioned above, forms of sustained trauma are believed to be the source. Such long-term experiences may include:
Living in a war-torn area
Becoming a prisoner of war
Childhood sexual abuse
Human trafficking
Slavery
Torture
Chronic neglect and/or abandonment as a child
How Does This Lead to C-PTSD?
Current research leads to a theory about how long-term traumatic stress impacts the brain. In particular, the:
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Prefrontal cortex
Each of these areas impacts both how we remember events and how we react to stress. Traumatic stress that occurs over a long time period is believed to negatively change how our brains function. One outcome of these changes just might be C-PTSD.
C-PTSD Treatment
Good news: C-PTSD is manageable and treatable. Personal self-care and self-help are crucial but it’s complimentary. Professional help is required. Working regularly with a therapist can guide the C-PTSD sufferer to outcomes like:
Overwriting distorted thought patterns and perceptions
Connecting to oneself on a deep level
Short-circuiting an obsession with your abusers
Developing new social patterns to combat withdrawal and isolation
Reimagining your ability to cultivate healthy relationships and friendships
If you or someone you know fits the description of Complex PTSD/Trauma, it is absolutely essential to get support from a skilled specialist. If you’re interested in reading more about Trauma ad PTSD treatment click here. I invite you to reach out at your earliest convenience to set up a free and confidential consultation.