Complex trauma describes both children's exposure to multiple traumatic events—often of an invasive, interpersonal nature—and the wide-ranging, long-term effects of this exposure. These events are severe and pervasive, such as abuse or profound neglect.
Examples of complex trauma
sexual abuse or incest. ongoing physical or emotional abuse. chronic neglect or abandonment. medical abuse or medical trauma.
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.
Complex trauma outcomes involve significant difficulties with emotional, behavioral, somatic, and cognitive dysregulation. type II traumas tend to be repeated, long-standing events that may present with a range of symptoms including denial, dissociation, rage, self-destructive behavior, and unremitting sadness.
Complex PTSD is a condition that can occur after prolonged and repeated trauma, particularly due to child abuse or domestic violence. Trauma can cause problems with memory and disrupt the development of a person's identity and their ability to control emotions and form relationships with others.
The Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (the Guidelines) provide general and mental health practitioners, policy makers, industry, and people affected by trauma with access to recommendations reflecting current ...
The main difference is that PTSD is generally related to a single event or series of events within a short period of time, while complex PTSD is related to a series of events that repeatedly occurred over an extended period of time.
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.
The diagnostic criteria for C-PTSD include: Experiencing anxiety-producing visual or emotional flashbacks, and vivid memories of trauma in response to triggering events. Going to extreme lengths to avoid environments or situations that are believed likely to provoke flashbacks or unpleasant memories.
Individuals with complex PTSD often over-regulate emotions, using emotional numbing, withdrawing, or dissociation to cope with reminders of traumatic experiences. On the other hand, BPD is characterised by under-regulation of intense emotions, resulting in expressions of intense anger or self-harm.
Some of the symptoms of complex PTSD are very similar to those of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and not all professionals are aware of complex PTSD. As a result, some people are given a diagnosis of BPD or another personality disorder when complex PTSD fits their experiences more closely.
The risk of developing complex PTSD is greater if trauma or abuse is repetitive and prolonged, involves harm or abandonment by caregivers and if it occurs at a developmentally vulnerable age such as early childhood or adolescence, which are critical periods of brain development.
'Complex Trauma' describes a particular type of trauma that goes beyond a one-time incident. be repeated or ongoing; be difficult or impossible to escape from; occur within a personal relationship; begin in childhood, so that it affects a child's development; and be covered up, kept secret or denied.
Living with CPTSD. CPTSD is a serious mental health condition that can take some time to treat, and for many people, it's a lifelong condition. However, a combination of therapy and medication can help you manage your symptoms and significantly improve your quality of life.
Recovery from C-PTSD is a long slog, with survivors sometimes requiring more than ten years of psychotherapy for resolution. There are some C-PTSD programs offered through residential psychiatric programs that offer specialized treatment for this disorder and accompanying dissociative disorders.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is entirely treatable with the right combination of compassion, patience, and trust. Someone can work to disempower the trauma that cripples them and practice positive coping skills in the context of well-rounded support and guidance.
Complex trauma typically has a more significant impact on children and young people's mental health outcomes than non-complex forms of trauma. However, the outcomes following experiences of complex trauma vary significantly. Mental health disorders commonly associated with complex trauma include [4]: anxiety.
Complex PTSD triggers
For example, it could be something you picked up with one of your five senses when the trauma was taking place. Some common triggers include: specific physical sensations or pain. intense emotions like fear, sadness, or anger.
People can have PTSD even though they do not recall the experience that triggered the problem. As a result, such people may live with PTSD for years without realizing it.
Living with Complex PTSD can create intense emotional flashbacks that provide challenges in controlling emotions that may provoke severe depression, suicidal thoughts, or difficulty in managing anger. C-PTSD can also create dissociations, which can be a way the mind copes with intense trauma.
Often, complex PTSD can be misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder because the patient isn't sure of what symptoms they're actually experiencing that are related to their mental health issue, and therefore don't receive the proper treatment to mitigate their symptoms.
Complex trauma usually occurs as a result of repeated trauma experienced by a child or young person, although it can also occur as a result of experiences as an adult. Some people experience trauma across their lives.
Structural changes alter the volume or size of specific brain regions. Proven structural changes include enlargement of the amygdala, the alarm center of the brain, and shrinkage of the hippocampus, a brain area critical to remembering the story of what happened during a traumatic experience.