If left untreated, complex PTSD can become life-threatening. It raises the risk of developing anxiety, depression, addictive behavior, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Chronic pain, fatigue, and changes in eating and sleeping patterns are all possible physical health problems.
Complex PTSD can make it difficult to trust others. Some people stay in unhealthy relationships because the situation is familiar. If their trauma involved abuse, their feelings about their abuser may be complicated. Or they may obsess about their abuser or focus on revenge.
According to recent studies, Emotional Trauma and PTSD do cause both brain and physical damage. Neuropathologists have seen overlapping effects of physical and emotional trauma upon the brain.
' In some cases, C-PTSD symptoms can have a cumulative effect and can get worse rather than better over time, which is why some C-PTSD sufferers 'manage' for such a long time without help, but they then worsen over time and eventually the symptoms become unmanageable.
Is PTSD a disability in Australia that is eligible for TPD insurance? Yes! PTSD is a disability that may entitle you claim your TPD insurance benefit.
Chronic feelings of guilt, shame and self-blame. Feelings of emptiness. Difficulty forming and maintaining close relationships. Feeling as through no one understands you or what you've been through.
When your brain is wired for fear and distrust, it's difficult to be comfortable with anyone. Living with complex PTSD can trigger intense emotional flashbacks, making it difficult to control emotions, leading to severe depression, suicidal thoughts, or difficulty managing anger.
There are four medications currently recommended as first-choice options to treat PTSD. Zoloft (sertraline) and Paxil (paroxetine) are FDA approved to treat PTSD. But Prozac (fluoxetine) and Effexor XR (venlafaxine) are also good first-choice options, even though they're not officially approved for PTSD.
A large genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified a collection of genes associated with PTSD, and these genes overlap with those identified as increasing the risk of developing schizophrenia.
What makes CPTSD so hard to recognize? Because it happens in the formative years, complex trauma impacts your ability to understand and maintain emotional stability. You may struggle to find a sense of safety and trust throughout your life, and therefore, it is difficult to regulate emotions in relationships.
Symptoms of complex PTSD
feelings of worthlessness, shame and guilt. problems controlling your emotions. finding it hard to feel connected with other people. relationship problems, like having trouble keeping friends and partners.
Living with PTSD brings intense emotional pain. Complex PTSD comes from many incidences of interpersonal trauma. This results in often unbearable hurt as you consider all of the people in your life who have let you down or abused you. Sometimes, it can feel as if it's a gaping wound in your soul that will never heal.
Those with cPTSD will “push” away from an intimate relationship to prevent feeling “unsafe”. People with cPTSD often prefer being alone and will avoid relationships, friendships, or family because they may trigger fears of threat.
It is generally related to a single traumatic event. Complex PTSD, on the other hand, is related to a series of traumatic events over time or one prolonged event. The symptoms of complex PTSD can be similar but more enduring and extreme than those of PTSD.
Dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma.
It should be no surprise to anyone that survivors living with the diagnosis of CPTSD would have physical reactions to triggers. Reliving what happened can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, and many more physical reactions.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (or C-PTSD) is a serious medical condition, which can be categorised as a lifelong illness. In some cases, employees diagnosed with C-PTSD silently suffer during their daily work-life.
NDIS covers PTSD when it is classified as a psychosocial disability. Those with a significant disability that is likely to be permanent, may qualify for NDIS support.
PTSD can be divided into four phases: the impact phase, the rescue phase, the intermediate recovery phase, and the long-term reconstruction phase. The impact phase encompasses initial reactions such as shock, fear, and guilt.
Treatment of PTSD and complex PTSD should occur under the care of a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist who gets to know the person over a period of time.
Complex PTSD and dissociative symptoms can arise as a result of repeated developmental trauma or neglect and the ongoing social stress such as bullying, discrimination, political violence, or the distress of being a refugee separated from family and country.
Flashbacks can last for just a few seconds, or continue for several hours or even days. You can read some tips on how to cope with flashbacks on our page on self-care for PTSD.