What is complex trauma or CPTSD?
When a person experiences neglect, anxiety, or danger repeatedly in a close relationship, that person often develops a belief that they are not okay. Psychology has a name for the long-term, consistent type of trauma that leaves a person feeling insecure, overwhelmed and unsafe in the world: complex post-traumatic stress disorder, or CPTSD.
Traditional PTSD will affect nearly 7% of people in the United States at some point in their lives. Symptoms may result from changes in regions of the brain that deal with emotion, memory, and reasoning. Affected areas may include the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex.
Typical PTSD can arise after a traumatic episode, such as a car collision, an earthquake, or a sexual assault. It can arise after a single traumatic event.
Complex PTSD, on the other hand, is related to a series of traumatic events over time or one prolonged event. The symptoms of complex PTSD can be similar but more enduring and extreme than those of PTSD. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD or CPTSD) is a condition where you experience some symptoms of PTSD along with some additional symptoms, such as: difficulty controlling your emotions, feeling very angry or distrustful towards the world.
Common symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD include:
- avoiding situations that remind a person of the trauma
- dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma
- hyper-arousal, which means being in a continual state of high alert
- the belief that the world is a dangerous place
- a loss of trust in the self or others
- difficulty sleeping or concentrating
People who have PTSD or complex PTSD can react to life situations as if they are reliving their trauma. The particular situation that triggers a person can be random and varies depending on their specific trauma history. A person can be triggered by situations, images, smells, conversations with others, and more.
Since complex trauma is prolonged, it can often begin in early childhood. Traumatic childhood experiences, also known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), can include:
- childhood exposure to violence, abuse, or neglect
- a death by suicide in the family
- substance dependence in the family
- mental health disorders in the family
- having incarcerated family members
- chronic poverty or neglect
- housing instability
- growing up in an unsafe or crime-heavy environment
About 61% of adults surveyed in 25 U.S. states report having experienced at least one ACE in their childhoods. One in 6 said they had experienced four or more ACEs.
Living with complex PTSD
Having complex PTSD can be frightening. It can cause feelings of alienation and isolation. Complex PTSD may affect a person’s trust in others. It may help to attend a support group, either in person or online, to connect with others who have had similar experiences.
Trying to engage in everyday activities can be a key step for people working toward leading healthy, balanced lives. However, those with complex PTSD may sometimes have difficulty completing daily tasks and activities. Setting achievable goals in these areas may improve overall mood and lessen the severity and frequency of symptoms.
Recovery and outlook
Recovering from complex PTSD takes time. For some people, the condition may pose lifelong challenges. However, research shows that prolonged trauma-focused treatment can help significantly decrease symptoms.
One goal of treatment is to attempt to develop or recapture feelings of trust in others and the world. This can take time, but participating in healthy relationships is a positive step. With the right therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes, people can manage or reduce their symptoms and improve their overall wellness.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5862650/
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