Do you have C-PTSD?
You have most likely heard the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – also known as PTSD many times in the past. It is used to describe the mental and emotional anguish suffered by those who have experienced sudden trauma, and we often associate it with military members. While PTSD is often experienced by soldiers, it is also experienced by those who have been victims of rape and other crimes, and even victims of house fires, car accidents and natural disasters.
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) or more broadly, complex trauma, describes a condition that presents very much like PTSD. The difference in these two classifications is that with C-PTSD the sufferer experienced prolonged periods of severe stress, abuse or neglect. This could happen during childhood by way of caregivers and other adults or could entail abuse suffered at the hands of a narcissistic partner. The defining feature is that life has been more than you feel can be safely handled for a long time.
Diagnosing C-PTSD
Diagnosing C-PTSD can be complicated because the symptoms as a whole are not necessarily unique. While someone who is suffering from C-PTSD may be experiencing anxiety and lethargy, these symptoms also match other mental health issues which can interfere with timely identification and intervention of the true issue.
Despite these diagnostic difficulties it is extremely important to accurately diagnose C-PTSD so that it can be appropriately treated by the right therapist using the right approach. An important distinction involved with C-PTSD and other mental health issues that arise from trauma is that they develop as a result of things that were done TO an individual, and not an intrinsic problem as we are often so quick to assume. In other words, someone suffers from C-PTSD because of abuse and neglect at the hands of another and not because of genetically determined brain chemistry.
In order to correctly identify C-PTSD, a therapist must gather an accurate history to understand whether:
The individual has experienced multiple prolonged traumas that have lasted for months (or even years)
The traumas were caused by someone the individual had a deep interpersonal relationship with, attachment to, and/or someone who was part of their primary care network (often a parent, caregiver or romantic partner)
These traumas were experienced and viewed as permanent features of life, often resulting in the individual feeling they were unable to see any end in sight
The individual had no control or power over the person traumatizing them
Symptoms of C-PTSD
As previously discussed, the outward symptoms of C-PTSD may match other mental health disorders, and in fact could result in an individual being given a diagnosis that actually has the potential to improve considerably or even resolve once the trauma has been identified and appropriately addressed. Those symptoms include:
Flashbacks and nightmares in which the trauma is relived.
Avoiding people, places, and situations that remind them of the trauma.
Dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma.
Hyperarousal. This is a state of high alert and one they often lived in.
A belief that the world is a dangerous place.
A loss of trust in self or others.
Difficulty sleeping and concentrating.
Being startled by loud noises.
Ruminating or looping thoughts.
Difficulty regulating emotions.
Phobias or compulsions.
Social withdrawal or the avoidance of meaningful connection.
Conversely, an intense desire for constant connection with another person.
Treatment for C-PTSD
There are a few different treatment options for people suffering from C-PTSD:
Psychotherapy
Therapy can take place on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting. The focus is generally on addressing feelings, improving connections with others, and dealing with anxiety and flashbacks. Many therapists have had success using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helping people cope with the symptoms of C-PTSD.
EMDR
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This is a process that uses eye movement to help a person desensitize their reactions to a specific traumatic event. The result is the person can eventually recall the memory but have a less intense emotional reaction to it.
Both of the above approaches involve determining what your life experiences have taught you to believe about yourself and the world around you and how those beliefs affect your ability to thrive in the present day.
If you believe you are suffering from C-PTSD or have experienced complex trauma and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out. I’d be happy to discuss how I may be able to help.