WHAT IS C-PTSD?

So, my new counselor just confirmed something that I have been suspecting for a long time. Based on my life experiences and side effects of those experiences, I have been living with C-PTSD. It is really comforting to know what I have been dealing with. Now begins the process of defining all of the puzzle pieces and putting any of them together that are displaced. After consistently healing for four years now, I am pretty good at this process. Enough about me though…I thought it was important to cast some light on what C-PTSD is and why it is different from PTSD.  

C-PTSD, or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is first and foremost an anxiety condition. This anxiety is caused by underlying, ongoing/repeated (from months to possibly years), and very intense trauma. Both C-PTSD and PTSD can have things such as insomnia, flashbacks, and nightmares associated with it. The major difference between the two is that, with PTSD, a singular traumatic event can have occurred at virtually any period in an individual’s life, whereas with C-PTSD, this condition is as a result of childhood trauma. Because the origin of C-PTSD happens during a time when a person is experiencing extreme and ongoing growth and development (psychological, mental, verbal, etc.), the impacts of it are severe, long-lasting, and wide-ranging. In other words, when trauma occurs in the developmental years of a child, this can almost guarantee life-long consequences. When a child is raised in an environment of domestic violence, for instance, that influence is catastrophic. Then, living in the oppressive type of society that we all are a part of further compounds trauma experienced earlier in life.

My question now is: if someone experienced trauma as a child or adolescent and, as a result, has C-PTSD, and they experience a certain type of traumatic event as an adult, can they now be grappling with C-PTSD and PTSD? I’m guessing that it would depend on what the latter traumatic event was and the make-up of the individual and his/her circumstances. I don’t know the answer to this question but I am certainly going to find out.

If you or someone you know has experienced trauma and thinks they might be experiencing PTSD or C-PTSD, please find help for yourself or encourage them to do so. With help, either condition is manageable along with a wonderful and thriving life. Help, love, and support is out there. 

Next blog...Causes of C-PTSD.