Most people have heard the term post-traumatic stress disorder. The mental health condition is commonly abbreviated as PTSD. In fact, many people know someone who lives with the disorder. When most people hear the term, they often associate it with military veterans who have experienced combat, or with someone who may have experienced a violent physical or sexual attack.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an emotional response that occurs in people who have experienced a traumatic event and who are experiencing long-term effects of the trauma. PTSD is characterized by intense disturbance in the thoughts and feelings related to the trauma.
PTSD can lead to reliving traumatic memories, difficulties with emotional regulation like explosive anger, somatic symptoms like stomach aches, negative thought patterns, and chronic stress, as well as a myriad of additional symptoms. It is entirely possible to treat PTSD through professional help. A number of peer reviewed studies and other research have shown that the odds of being able to treat PTSD are high. There are many online resources, its important to not lose faith in seeking treatment. Some people find the wellness professionals online therapy can help them make progress in the face of PTSD.
PTSD is typically associated with exposure to one traumatic event. If the trauma is repeated or happens for a prolonged period of time, causing the person to feel there is no escape, they may develop a more severe form of post-traumatic stress disorder known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
Like PTSD, the repeated trauma and long term trauma of complex PTSD may be caused by experiencing childhood abuse, ongoing physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence or human trafficking, long-term homelessness or extreme poverty, or the enduring personality change of war living, as well as other risk factors and catastrophic experiences. This can severely inhibit a child’s development, and the effects can carry on into adulthood. While impairment of a child’s development is common for complex PTSD, events in adulthood are also a common time period for complex PTSD to begin developing. If you are experiencing domestic violence, a national center for domestic violence is available, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
The symptoms associated with complex PTSD vary in length and intensity. While they are like those associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, the repeated or prolonged exposure to trauma causes them to be more extreme in nature. In order to develop complex PTSD, there is normally a situation in which there are multiple traumas throughout daily life.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of PTSD or C-PTSD, it is important to seek help. In addition to all the symptoms of PTSD, Complex PTSD symptoms generally include:
Complex PTSD is generally considered to be more disabling than PTSD and requires careful treatment considerations. It often occurs as a comorbidity to other disorders, which means it may exist at the same time as other psychological conditions. Addiction, anxiety, depression and eating disorders are a few examples of possible comorbid diagnoses a person with complex post-traumatic stress disorder may experience.
Living with complex PTSD can be overwhelming. Some people describe feeling paralyzed by the fear of the trauma, even though many will never experience a similar event again. Common symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder include:
The symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder can cause people to feel as though they are trapped or living in a constant state of distress or danger. For some, symptoms may remain even after several years. It is not uncommon for people with complex PTSD to experience troubled relationships or loss of their jobs because of an inability to cope with stress. Some things that people with C-PTSD may experience include the following:
PTSD and C-PTSD are both caused by experiencing traumatic events. Post-traumatic stress disorder is the result of one traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, a car accident, or a physical attack on a person. C-PTSD, on the other hand, occurs as a result of repeated exposure to acts of abuse or violence.
Complex PTSD is different from PTSD because it often occurs in people who’ve experienced extreme violence and stress over an extended period of time. Although PTSD can make a person feel insecure or hopeless, those feelings are typically less extreme than what those with C-PTSD experience. C-PTSD leaves individuals feeling hopeless, as if there is no way to escape the trauma.
Those with both PTSD and C-PTSD may experience flashbacks. Those with “simple” PTSD may experience visual flashbacks or nightmares. A person with complex PTSD may additionally experience emotional responses to things that trigger the memory of trauma from childhood into adult life. At times, these responses may be in relation to something that happened to someone else. For example, a person who has been sexually assaulted may experience emotional flashbacks to their trauma after hearing of someone else who was assaulted.
Nightmares and difficulty sleeping may occur with both conditions. C-PTSD may also cause night terrors and chronic insomnia. Both also can come with different health conditions like chest pains or a disruption in the prefrontal cortex.
Hypervigilance is a reaction that many people who experience violent trauma often develop. The symptom is characterized by an increased awareness of surroundings and often an “over-the-top" sense of needing to protect oneself from another traumatic event.
Borderline personality disorder is a separate condition and a mental health disorder that affects the way a person thinks and feels about themselves and others. It may cause an intense fear of abandonment, mood swings, unstable or troubled relationships, and changes in self-image, such as shifting from a positive to a negative self image. Environmental factors, such as neglect or abuse, may contribute to the development of borderline personality disorder and cause symptoms similar to those that derive from PTSD and C-PTSD. But borderline personality disorder is not always caused by a traumatic event.
Because of the strong overlap between all three disorders, it's especially important to meet with a professional who can arrive at the correct diagnosis. Each requires different treatment and a specific diagnosis, and it's critical to find the one that will be most effective for you. Start a conversation with a professional today.
Complex PTSD Treatment And Recovery
Treating Complex PTSD from the experienced trauma can be difficult because of the severity of symptoms an affected person may experience. However, with proper intervention, treating Complex PTSD is possible. In fact, with the right help and by learning ways to effectively cope with stress, people with C-PTSD can learn to live a happy and fulfilled life with few to no long-term effects.
Some treatment options for complex post-traumatic stress disorder include:
Psychotherapy is often referred to as talk therapy. The primary focus of psychotherapy is to stabilize the person experiencing complex PTSD so that they can express feelings, improve connections with other people, learn to effectively manage anxiety, and deal with memories of traumatic events. Research and personal stories both show that online therapy can be a powerful tool in treating symptoms of PTSD, trauma, and C-PTSD.
Exposure therapy, which can be an invaluable service, is a type of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) that focuses on reducing the emotional and physical distress a person feels when confronted with a distressing situation, thought, or memory. There are several types of exposure therapy, and a psychologist can help determine which is best for you. This can help you securely process your trauma.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that involves a therapist working directly with a client. A therapist will ask the client to recall a memory related to the trauma they experienced. While the client is recalling the memory, the therapist will move his finger from side to side and ask the client to follow the movement with his eyes. This process is believed to desensitize the person to the trauma by having their focus on what the therapist is doing, rather than on the memory. If EMDR is effective, the person should be able to eventually recall the memory of the traumatic event without experiencing a significant reaction.
Other examples of therapy include stress inoculation training which is another form of CBT that focuses on changing how individuals deal with the stress related to a traumatic event. It is one of the most common methods of CBT used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. It involves learning to relax and reduce stress by using muscle relaxation and deep breathing exercises. These sessions are aimed at helping clients learn necessary skills to help defend themselves against troubling or negative thoughts and reactions related to the trauma that may occur.
Medication may also be prescribed. People with post-traumatic stress disorder often process things related to possible threats differently. Their “fight or flight” response is easily triggered because of the past traumatic event(s). Being in a constant state of hyper-vigilance can lead to emotional shut down and physical illnesses. For some, prescription medication may be necessary. While there are currently no drugs that have been designed specifically for the treatment of PTSD or C-PTSD, there are medications that help manage the symptoms associated with the disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbances. A primary care provider or mental health professional can evaluate your symptoms and determine what medications, if any, are needed to help manage symptoms.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of psychotherapy used to treat PTSD and complex-PTSD that is trauma-focused. Cognitive processing therapy is designed to help individuals learn to challenge and modify unhealthy thoughts or beliefs about the trauma they experienced. By doing this, clients are able to create a new understanding of their past, thereby reducing the long-term negative effects on their life.
Any treatment option you choose will take some time to be effective. Remember, complex post-traumatic stress disorder didn’t develop overnight. Likewise, learning to cope with trauma and move forward with life does not happen quickly. However, by reaching out for help and using resources that are designed for people with complex post-traumatic stress disorder—like therapy—you can begin to heal.
you are experiencing symptoms related to complex PTSD, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent symptoms of PTSD from getting worse.
There are many options for mental health assistance. Whether you choose to talk to a mental health practitioner or join a support group, the important thing is to know that you are not alone.
Many online resources are available, and online counseling is increasingly becoming the most convenient choice to seek treatment for PTSD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered online has been shown to both alleviate the severity of baseline PTSD symptoms and reduce the instances of comorbid conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
If you would like to talk to someone, but are unsure of face-to-face encounters at this time, online counseling options are a great way to get professional help without the pressure of in-person appointments. Online counseling will allow you to manage settings to stay safe and secure. A licensed professional can offer specific tests for diagnosis, and will be able to deliver CBT or other treatments they deem appropriate. BetterHelp also helps in preventing fraud through safe, secure payments to certified mental health practitioners. Most online services, like those offered by BetterHelp, give users the option of talking by phone, video calls, text, or email. Whatever option you choose, remember you are not alone. You are worth the time and effort it takes to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Whatever difficulties you're going through, you don't have to go through them alone. You can find support in family, friends, and even a counselor. With the right tools, you can get back to living your best life.
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