Complex PTSD - What is it and how do we cope?

[Just Sara]

'Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD; also known as complex trauma disorder) is a psychological disorder thought to occur as a result of repetitive, prolonged trauma involving sustained abuse or abandonment by a caregiver or other interpersonal relationships with an uneven power dynamic.' Wikipedia description..

I think this pretty much sums it up yeah?

I wish I could underline; '..relationships with an uneven power dynamic'. In my own case, C-PTSD was triggered by bullying in my workplace from 2008 until 2014. I developed symptoms such as Anxiety/Panic that grew in severity until a tragic breakdown in 2014. I was forced to medically retire.

Although my history of multiple trauma's and childhood abuse caused specific responses in me from an early age, I thought I was normal and everyone was the same. In fact, a lot of people in my inner circle were.

Decades later, I find out those friends/family members/acquaintances had gone thru their own traumatic situations. So why wouldn't I feel normal around them?

Today, as opposed to the 70's/80's (my adolescence/young adulthood) where abuse wasn't discussed, people have resources to out their pain and confusion in spaces like BB forum or with psychologists, social workers, medico's, psychiatrists and even friends/family.

Treatment has become the 'norm' instead of going it alone which is what many of us here had to do until society caught up with this 'pandemic' (IMO) of psychological disorders.

So, why create a thread dedicated to C-PTSD? Well, stigma and misconception around it's still rife in our society, and people suffering with this horrible disorder and not realising it is a constant.

Your views are absolutely welcome! We really do need to talk about it as consequences of C-PTSD and the benefits of therapy are worthy and an important part of recovery.

Newcomers and current members alike are encouraged to post; old, young, male or female.

Let's pick each other's brain and see where it leads...

Kind thoughts;

Sez

[demonblaster]

Hi Rosie808 and everyone ☺
Welcome aboard hun. As you can see here's incredible. A safe non judgemental space with a lot of lovely people supporting eachother.

You poor love, so young and so much you girls and Mum have been through.

Your achievements I honestly didnt think at all sounded like bragging not that you don't have reason to, awesome you go girl 👍
Darls do you know or have ideas why the therapies haven't worked? Only answer what you're comfortable with hun.
I wonder if because your traumas been so severe. It might be hard for you to open up as I imagine a pretty solid wall would have developed for survival.

I'm learning here there are so many techniques with counselling and also other ways of us finding the light which possibly most has been covered with your therapies. Just wondering have you covered mindfulness? It's a major in catching down thoughts before they get hold and keep us there. Basically being aware of the now. There's a very good thread by a lovely bloke Paul (Blondguy) called "mindfulness what is it" I thinks enough on a search.

I Feel sorry for you that so much hasn't had any affect. It seems which is awesome that you haven't given up. Good girl that's how we win.

I'm starting to get to a point where I'm learning ways of dealing with pain. I'll pop it up here sometime soon because it applies to all pain including cptsd.

We know the minds a very powerful relatively untapped at this point marvel.
What can be achieved is phenomenal.
Once we learn how to control and have the drivers seat not depression I believe most of us can untangle at least a lot of pain. At the very least manage it. Not overnight of course but often it's taken many yrs to get to this point

You have a nice positivity about you Rosie which is lovely ☺ I wish you well hun

Thanks too for your excellent input. You're a survivor and inspiration.

Take care everyone. We can do this especially with belief.

🌱new beginnings

[naturalremedy29]

Hello Everyone

I am brand new here & just want to pop by now & then to chat with people who may understand what I'm going through. I hope everyone has an easy & peaceful weekend 🙂

[Mary2105]

Hi, I've just joined. Searching for some answers to ongoing mental health issues.

I've been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, OCD and BPD queried recently by psych.

I don't have a problem with the labels, I just wonder if they fit? A friend recently suggested I look up C-PTSD and to me, it seems a much better fit.

I fit the background of trauma in childhood, sexual attacks as an adolescent and ongoing workplace bullying as an adult.

I'm struggling a bit trying to find more information and assessing whether I fit this criteria. Mostly for the sake of accuracy and getting the right sort of help.

If anyone can point me in the right direction it would be very much appreciated.

Thank you 🙂

[demonblaster]

Hi everyone. Welcome Natural Remedy and Mary to this amazing community. Great people sharing their experiences and supporting eachother.

It's very hard having this isn't it.
I'm learning and just starting to make some headway.

Mary in reply to your question. I was told by a good source it's a good idea if you can check info on Australian sites. I'll give you somewhere to check out I was given by a lovely member here that you hopefully can get more info. It doesn't specifically at a glance say for PTSD but there is info with ruminating thoughts and a variety of other help.

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Utilities/Sitemap

If you copy and paste this to address bar. At present links don't work from here.

Also there might be a few specific sites for managing PTSD on the net.

A good bit of advice esp in the particularly hard times. When you have a negative thought and relive the pain each time assuming that happens to others too..

• Try not to shut it down. The ideas to let it flow through or challenge the thought.

• Hear it...I'm trying to habit at least a couple of nice deep breaths..

• Acknowledge.. be aware of staying calm. The breathing helps.

• Nice and calmly tell yourself I'll deal with it later then let it flow through

Our minds think very fast so in no time there'll be another thought.

• On occasion I'm starting to remember to talk to the thoughts, looking for any positives in the situation which can be tricky but if you find something it can counteract the pain a negative with a positive.

• I've also been is yes that hurt then, I'm not allowing it to hurt anymore. Which won't necessarily stop thoughts but taking the pain attached away.

• Then to learn how to handle and come to terms with them. (Bbl

There are techniques to help manage ptsd which is good to hear.
Well worthwhile putting the time in with practice, repetition being a great teacher esp if it's leading us to a more peaceful existence.

When we have a negative thought our emotional reaction determines how we'll feel about it.

Being mindful with practice esp hard in tiredness but can be done helps catch thoughts either before or during our down reactions.

When you realise your getting down or upset by thinking about why your upset without feeling it, sort of looking from outside in can stop the following thoughts of pain.

Thanks for your posts everyone ☺

[Mummakins]

Hello Sez

my Ex husband of 26 years but 30 years in total that we were in a relationship. I never realised how much I was controlled by him until about 6 months after the separation. I thought I was the cause of him ruining the relationship and causing him to have an affair. I attended multiple self improvement courses.

My psychologist suggested that our relationship was of Parent /child instead of 2 adults. Nothing I did was right and criticised for “mistakes” but when he made the same “mistake” it was okay.

I now know that deep down I sensed something was not right as time went on.

We have been divorced for 5 years and his voice is not as loud but still there. Just Wednesday an incident happened and I immediately went that my ex would blame me and I was in trouble and had a panic attack but much later thought I didn’t do anything wrong and the incident was not caused by me. Even though it calms me a little I still fear what he thinks if he found out.

When in labour with our 3rd child we delayed going to hospital because he said we will have to sit around and wait ( while in the midst of me in labour) I agreed and did that ( now I wonder why ) the midwife asked me why I didn’t come earlier as labour was now quite advanced, I remember just turning to my husband because I had no answer. And yet at that time didn’t see anything wrong.

From driving myself to hospital due to a miscarriage and him not coming because he had to go to work. I am sure that his boss would of understood as they were nice people.

what I am looking forward to following this thread is to gain some insight to move forward. Tired of feeling stuck and unmotivated.

what I now think as ironic, is that after the journey I traveled self improvement courses, in hospital therapy,GP, Psychiatric and psychologist and self books that I have insight that he never will

[Bear1922]

Hi Just Sara,

I'm curious, where is C-PTSD listed as a psychiatric disorder?

I know the DSM V doesn't list it as a disorder - in spite of lobbying from the American VA.

Cheers 🐻

[demonblaster]

Hi Bear1922 and all ☺

Welcome to bb ☺

Our lovely Sarah isn't on the forums anymore but she sometimes pops in. I'm unsure where it fits in but hopefully someone might know. I'll be interested.

I thought it was a MI- mental Illness but think now its not. Could be wrong. I'll google and correct if I am.

Hope you find here helpful, so much wisdom experiences and knowledge floating around. Lovely people too.

Best of luck ☺ cya

[PamelaR]

Hi Bear 1922 and warm welcome

You are right the DSM -V does not list Complex PTSD in it's manual. However, this is partly due to it being only a relatively recent concept. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) identifies complex PTSD as a separate condition. If you want to read more about the distinction - have a look at

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322886.php

Hope this helps. Feel free to share more of your story - if you want. No pressure.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Bear1922]

Hi Sez,

C-PTSD is new to me. I was diagnosed with PTSD after 5 months in psychiatric hospitals (mostly private) in 1992.

This year has seen the resurgence of my PTSD - flashbacks, anxiety, OCD & depression have marred my year.

My psychologist has described my abuser as potentially a Psychopath & evil.

My biological father abused me from the age of 2 to 12 years of age. The flashbacks of my sexual abuse have been harrowing and crazy-making. The depravity of my sexual abuse has left me with a marked psychiatric frailty that I have to manage and mitigate for the balance of my life. The statistics for victims of C-PTSD / PTSD make for very sobering reading.

Warm Regards,

🐻

[Bear1922]

Thanks for letting me know demonblaster.