Have you been seeing or hearing the term ‘complex post-traumatic stress disorder’ come about in conversations lately, whether in private, in a close-knit group, or online?
In the past, many people might have only known about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a diagnosis specifically for veterans coming back from war. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) became an official diagnostic term, and even now, it’s only recently gained recognition among many mental health professionals.
Despite this, a lot of people still don’t fully understand these disorders, which can lead to confusion when we talk about them. That’s why we decided it’s a good idea to clarify what C-PTSD is in today’s article.
When discussing trauma, it’s crucial to address both PTSD and C-PTSD. Many individuals use these terms interchangeably, and the symptoms of both can often appear similar. Nevertheless, they represent distinct diagnoses that arise from different kinds of traumatic experiences.
What is the Difference Between PTSD and C-PTSD?
Complex PTSD is an anxiety disorder that shares many symptoms with PTSD, however it also includes additional signs. Initially identified as a condition impacting war veterans, PTSD can arise from various traumatic experiences, including car accidents, natural disasters, near-death situations, or other similar acts of violence or abuse.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – is triggered by a singular incident; it can arise from trauma encountered at any stage of life and is typically less severe than complex PTSD.
Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) – this condition is triggered by prolonged and repeated trauma and is more intense than PTSD. It often stems from experiences in childhood. Individuals who have faced racism and oppression frequently experience C-PTSD.
What Does C-PTSD Look Like?
Alongside common signs of PTSD, C-PTSD can typically look like the following:
Challenges in managing emotions
Individuals dealing with C-PTSD often struggle to regulate their feelings, which may result in outbursts of anger, ongoing sadness, emotional numbness, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
A negative self-perception
C-PTSD can lead individuals to see themselves unfavourably. They might experience feelings of helplessness, guilt, or shame, and often feel emotionally detached from others.
Struggles in relationships
Trust issues and a poor self-image can negatively impact relationships. Someone with C-PTSD might shy away from forming connections with others, or may find themselves in unhealthy relationships, as that is what they have experienced before.
Dissociation from the trauma
A person may experience dissociation from their current reality—the sensation of being in a dream or feeling detached from one’s body or environment. This can also include depersonalization (a sense of detachment from themselves) and derealization (a sense of detachment from their surroundings). In some cases, they may even forget the traumatic events.
Loss of a meaningful framework
This can involve losing fundamental beliefs, values, religious faith, or hope in the world and in others.
All these issues can significantly alter one’s life and lead to considerable difficulties in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other fundamental aspects of life.
What Causes C-PTSD?
Complex PTSD can arise from any form of prolonged and unaddressed trauma. It typically involves circumstances where the individual feels powerless in their situation and unable to escape. The impact of prolonged trauma differs from person to person.
C-PTSD also tends to stem from prolonged and intense abuse experienced repeatedly over time. This abuse typically happens during critical periods in a person’s life, such as early childhood or adolescence, and can lead to enduring difficulties later in life.
Traumatic stress can impact the brain in various ways. Studies indicate that trauma is linked to enduring alterations in important regions of the brain, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
Experiencing repeated trauma can create a sense of insecurity around others. This can hinder one’s ability to trust and communicate with other people effectively. This is particularly significant if the trauma takes place during childhood, as it can interfere with the development of crucial emotional skills, social skills, and behaviours.
For example, a child might believe that the trauma is their fault, which can adopt a lasting sense of shame. A child raised in an abusive environment may miss out on learning how to manage emotions in a healthy manner.
Compared to regular memories, traumatic memories are processed differently in the brain. This can result in unexplained distress along with various emotional and physical symptoms.
Seeking Help and Support for C-PTSD
Psychotherapy sessions for C-PTSD focus on recognizing traumatic memories and harmful thought patterns, substituting them with more realistic and encouraging alternatives, and developing healthier coping strategies for dealing with the effects of trauma. This approach can assist you in managing symptoms and traumatic memories effectively. Additionally, it can help you rebuild trust in others and cultivate healthy relationships.
One specific form of psychotherapy your therapist may suggest, which is used for both PTSD and C-PTSD, is called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR for trauma involves your therapist directing eye movements to assist in processing and reshaping traumatic memories. Over time, this technique is intended to lessen the effect of the negative emotions that are tied to those traumatic memories.
At Hopewoods, we aim to ensure that anyone seeking mental health support knows they are not alone; that there is help, and hope. Anyone who needs support and healing from the trauma and symptoms of C-PTSD is encouraged to pursue individual therapy. We provide a private, non-judgmental, and safe environment for you to explore your thoughts and emotions.
If you have any questions regarding C-PTSD, our assessments, or our services, 立即联系我们 或 预约 30 分钟免费咨询.
