Amy Smyth Miller

What is Complex PTSD or C-PTSD?

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition that is caused by a single traumatic event. C-PTSD is a mental health condition caused by repeatedly witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event over time. Examples of the causes of C-PTSD include: childhood abuse or neglect, chronic sexual, physical or psychological abuse, experiencing or witnessing ongoing domestic violence, slavery, being held as a prisoner of war, or living in an area impacted by war for a length of time.

Complex PTSD is not currently recognized as a formal diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Individuals are generally diagnosed as having PTSD or one of the other mental health conditions). However, this more severe form of PTSD is being recognized by professions in the trauma field and is included in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases.

For many people, C-PTSD is a lifelong condition. Symptoms can be managed through prolonged trauma-focused treatment.

Symptoms of C-PTSD

• Emotional Flashbacks – sudden intense and uncontrollable emotional reactions triggered by past trauma
• Toxic Shame – a feeling of loathing and self-worthlessness
• Self Abandonment – a destructive pattern of ignoring/rejecting one’s thoughts, needs and feelings
• Social Anxiety – intense fear and anxiety in social situations
• Difficulty Controlling Emotions – rage, depression, panic, and feelings of hopelessness
• Loss of a Value System – losing ones values, convictions, religious faith, or optimism for the future
• Difficulty Trusting Others – resulting in self-isolation and a lack of healthy relationships and friendships
• Dissociation – disconnecting from thoughts, feelings, memories, or a sense of identify