Post-traumatic stress disorder is not an uncommon term. Many people have a basic understanding of what this disorder is and where it comes from.
When you live through a single traumatic event, if you don’t properly process the situation (thoughts, memories, feelings), it can live in your subconscious and cause PTSD. But what about C-PTSD? This acronym is less commonly known.
Here we’ll explore C-PTSD and how it can be treated.
What is C-PTSD?
Complex PTSD, otherwise known as C-PTSD, is a variant of the traditional post-traumatic stress disorder. This particular type most often develops during childhood, however, can occur in later years. This is due in part to the fact that children often suppress things they don’t understand. As children, there is minimal understanding about processing emotions associated with complex traumas. It isn’t until we’re older that something triggers those emotions to re-emerge.
C-PTSD develops when there is repeated or continuous trauma occurring over multiple events. Such experiences may include ongoing physical abuse, neglect, domestic violence, sexual violence, kidnapping, bullying, slavery, or living in a war zone.
As with any trauma, the mind and body will commonly respond with one of four main trauma responses, including fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. They’re common defense mechanisms to keep you safe and protected during an adverse event. In addition to the trauma being long-term as opposed to one singular occurrence, where C-PTSD differs from PTSD is in the symptoms.
Symptoms of C-PTSD
Trauma is a very personal experience and the symptoms you may face can vary from those of others. Many of the symptoms will overlap with those of PTSD. These may include:
Flashbacks
Worry
Nightmares
Negative thought patterns
Irritability
Being easily startled
Difficulty concentrating
Avoidant behavior
Those who are suffering from C-PTSD also experience additional symptoms that are not shared with PTSD. C-PTSD can extend to:
Hopelessness
Loss of beliefs and values
Change in worldview
Detachment
Difficulty with emotional regulation
Poor self-esteem
Interpersonal relationship troubles
The source of your trauma greatly dictates the direction of your symptom presentation. Chronic exposure can lead to deeply rooted issues that don’t disappear overnight. They become a part of your normal way of thinking and behavior patterns.
Treatment Options for C-PTSD
As with many other mental health conditions, there isn’t one right or wrong method of treatment. For instance, with C-PTSD, it isn’t a matter of getting over the events you’ve experienced. The goal is to rewire areas of the brain that have been affected by prolonged exposure to trauma.
Psychotherapy
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is one common avenue for treatment. This is a specialized form of CBT that is geared towards individuals who have experienced trauma. It offers a structured approach to exploring healthy coping mechanisms.
Another approach is through EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This has been proven to be effective with C-PTSD and utilizes bilateral stimulation to help correctly process negative memories from the traumatic event.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy aims to address how your body is connected with your mind. This can be a helpful approach for C-PTSD to release trauma that has been stored in the body. Through this approach, you may be able to tap into different areas of the brain that aren’t as easily reached under other methods.
Support Groups
Additionally, peer support groups can be an effective supplement to therapy methods. It can be helpful to learn from the experiences of others who are going through something similar.
Whether your symptoms of C-PTSD are new or you’ve been dealing with them for some time now, there isn’t a wrong time to start exploring treatment. The first step to finding healing and recovery is recognizing that it could be C-PTSD. Working with a therapist can help you process past trauma and develop coping strategies. Don’t hesitate to book a consultation with us today.
