C-PTSD is a mental health condition. It comes from prolonged exposure to trauma, often over months or years. It typically affects individuals who have endured repeated abuse, violence, or emotional neglect. C-PTSD is different from regular PTSD. It comes from long-term trauma, not a single event. This makes it more complex and multifaceted.
Psychotherapy treats mental health issues through talking with a provider. JCV Behavioral Health offers CBT and EMDR. It also provides medication and support from mental health professionals.
We will explore what are the 17 symptoms of complex PTSD. They are emotional, physical, and behavioral signs.
Identifying What Are The 17 Symptoms of Complex PTSD
Knowing complex PTSD signs is crucial. It leads to proper support and treatment. If you or someone else shows PTSD symptoms, consult a mental health professional. They offer diagnosis and treatment. Early action significantly improves symptom control and life quality.
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Emotional Instability
Mood imbalance is a hallmark of complex PTSD. It can cause intense mood swings and emotional instability. It may also heighten sensitivity to perceived threats or triggers.
Some may feel shame, guilt, or worthlessness. They may also have chronic anxiety, depression, or numbness.
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Struggle to Communicate Feelings
PTSD can cause emotional dysregulation. It makes it hard to keep stable relationships and navigate daily life. They may have sudden, angry outbursts. They may find it difficult to express their emotions healthily.
Therapy can teach coping and emotion regulation skills. They are vital for managing these symptoms.
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Intrusive Thoughts
A common symptom of complex PTSD is intrusive thoughts. They are distressing, traumatic memories. These intrusive thoughts can be hard to control. They are often persistent and recurring. They can trigger strong emotions and disrupt daily life.
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Complex PTSD Flashbacks
In CPTSD, nightmares and intrusive memories may be flashbacks (a critical sign). Flashbacks make people feel they are reliving the trauma. Nightmares create an intense recreation of it.
They can be very distressing. They may cause anxiety, fear, and hypervigilance. A person with a history of domestic abuse may have flashbacks, even in healthy relationships, when reminded of the past.
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Avoidance
People with complex PTSD often avoid triggers from their trauma.
They may avoid people, places, or situations linked to the trauma. This can cause social isolation and make it hard to maintain relationships.
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Detachment and Apathy
C-PTSD often causes detachment and emotional numbness. People might feel numb or struggle to be happy, especially after trauma. This detachment makes it hard to build close relationships and enjoy activities.
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Negative Self-Concept
Complex PTSD can significantly alter an individual’s self-concept and worldview. They may develop a negative self-image. They may believe that they are flawed, unlovable, or unworthy. This negative view of self can lower self-esteem and cause shame.
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Negative World View
Also, those with PTSD may see the world as dangerous and untrustworthy. They may feel hopeless. They may believe their situation won’t improve or that they can’t heal. Therapy can help challenge negative beliefs. It is key to recovering from trauma.
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Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal is a state of high alertness. It is a common PTSD symptom. Individuals may have a fast heart rate, rapid breathing, and tense muscles. They may have trouble sleeping. They may also startle easily at unexpected stimuli.
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Reactivity and Outbursts
This increased reactivity can hinder emotional control in people with PTSD. They may struggle to manage intense emotions such as anger or fear. This can lead to emotional outbursts. They may struggle to control their reactions to stress. This is especially true for reminders of a traumatic event that caused their PTSD.
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Complex PTSD Somatic Symptoms and Physical Symptoms
CPTSD physical symptoms can cause body issues. People might suffer from chronic pain, headaches, stomach issues, or other unexplained problems.
These PTSD symptoms can come from prolonged stress and trauma. They affect the nervous system.
It’s vital to treat both the mind and body in complex PTSD. This is key for effective treatment. Healthcare providers may recommend a mix of treatments for PTSD. This should include medical care, therapy, and stress-reduction techniques. It should also address any co-occurring mental disorders.
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Dissociation
Dissociation is a common symptom of complex PTSD. It can make people feel detached from their surroundings, emotions, or sense of self. They may feel depersonalization as if they are outside their body. Or, they may feel derealization, perceiving the world as unreal or dreamlike.
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Altered Perceptions
PTSD can alter perceptions, causing a warped sense of time and memory gaps. These dissociative experiences can be distressing and disorienting. They make it hard to stay in the present and can return the person to a traumatic event. Therapy can help people. It can teach them grounding techniques and coping strategies to manage dissociative symptoms.
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Difficulty with Trust
Complex PTSD can harm an individual’s ability to form and keep healthy relationships. Due to past trauma and abuse, they may fear betrayal or abandonment. This may cause trust issues. These thoughts can cause a pattern of avoiding all relationships.
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Struggles Setting Boundaries
PTSD may cause problems with boundaries, assertiveness, and communication. They may swing between intense attachment and emotional withdrawal. This makes it hard to form stable, supportive relationships. Therapy can help people build healthy relationships and trust.
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Impaired Self-Regulation
People with complex PTSD often struggle with self-regulation and coping. They have suffered emotional trauma. They may struggle to manage stress, emotions, and coping strategies.
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Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
They might resort to harmful behaviors, such as substance abuse, self-harm, or risky activities. They do this to numb or escape their distress.
Developing coping skills and self-regulation techniques is vital for treating complex trauma. Therapy can help individuals. It can teach them to identify triggers and learn relaxation techniques. It can also develop a toolkit of healthy coping strategies. These can manage symptoms and improve overall functioning.
The Complex PTSD Recovery Stages
Recovering from PTSD has many stages. A licensed therapist or psychologist can guide you through them. A critical factor in choosing your therapist is their experience with trauma victims.
Trauma recovery can be a long, tough road. It may strain you, your loved ones, and your therapist if they aren’t prepared. A skilled, experienced therapist can guide you through this process. They will complete it without risk and achieve their goals.
Self-Acknowledgment and Diagnosis
The first steps of recovery begin before treatment has even started.
Self-acknowledgement is recognizing symptoms in yourself. This leads you to seek a diagnosis. This can be difficult if many of your symptoms have become a regular part of your day-to-day life. Talking to friends or family may help. They can help you spot which traits are standard and worth mentioning to your doctor.
The next step is receiving a diagnosis. Your trusted doctor will discuss your symptoms with you. Then, they will make a treatment plan. Once treatment begins, there are three main stages of a recovery plan:
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Establishment of Safety
This process takes time, so stay positive. Everyone is different and moves at their speed.
It starts by creating safety within your body. Many trauma survivors struggle to feel relaxed and in control.
For example, this could manifest in a fear of sleep because of nightmares. Environmental input matters, too. Sometimes, we must remove unsafe input. This is to ensure the best chance of recovery.
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Remembrance and Mourning
The next step is to share your trauma story in a manner that ensures safety and clarity. It’s challenging and sensitive but necessary. You can only start this after the first stage. It might be scary and upsetting, yet it can also be empowering and healing.
During this process, it’s crucial to accept feelings of grief. This might be for lost childhood, trust in others, or even in yourself. Remember, this stage is temporary. It’s vital for moving forward.
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Reconnection to Ordinary Life
The last stage of recovery is to reconnect with the world after processing your trauma.
This may involve:
- Reconnecting with friends and family
- Being more open with them
- Starting or resuming a romantic relationship
- Engaging in social action
Social action may or may not relate to your trauma. It can help you feel motivated.
In Conclusion
Complex PTSD is a severe condition. It results from prolonged trauma and affects health emotional, mental, and physical. Recognizing the symptoms and looking for professional help is crucial for recovery. With the right therapy and support, people can heal. They can reconnect with their daily lives.
FAQs
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How to deal with flashbacks of abuse?
Techniques like deep breathing can help manage flashbacks. They focus on the present moment. A therapist and mindfulness can help with trauma memories. They provide effective coping strategies.
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What are the CPTSD physical symptoms?
C-PTSD may cause chronic pain, headaches, stomach issues, fatigue, and muscle tension. They are often caused by prolonged stress and trauma affecting the body.
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What are common complex PTSD triggers?
Triggers can include complex PTSD flashbacks of past trauma. These include specific places, people, smells, or sounds. Trauma-related emotional states, like fear or anger, can trigger those with C-PTSD. So can physical sensations linked to the trauma.
