PTSD vs CPTSD
In recent years, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) has gotten lots of attention in the mental health space, with some advocating for the diagnosis to be added to the DSM, the diagnostic manual used by counseling professionals. What’s this new diagnosis all about, and how does it differ from classic PTSD? Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between the two conditions.
Firstly, it’s important to note that all cases of post-traumatic distress are complex. Distinguishing a case as “regular” or “complex” does not diminish the gravity or need for treatment for either condition, as both can seriously impact your life. The main difference between the two diagnoses is that PTSD typically results from a single traumatic event such as childbirth or a terrible accident, whereas CPTSD is the result of chronic trauma such as intimate partner violence or child abuse. If the chronic trauma was suffered at a young age or at the hands of someone the victim thought they could trust, like a family member, CPTSD is more likely to manifest, although anyone who has experienced repeated trauma can develop the condition. Both forms of post-traumatic stress share these core traits:
Re-experiencing: experiencing intrusive thoughts or memories, flashbacks, and/or nightmares about the trauma.
Avoidance: trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event; avoiding people, places, and thoughts that are reminiscent of the trauma.
Changes in mood and thinking: feeling detached or numb, difficulty maintaining relationships and/or feeling happiness, memory problems, and hopelessness for the future.
Changes in reactions: exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, irritability, trouble sleeping, and trouble concentrating.
In CPTSD, however, counseling professionals distinguish another three categories of symptoms:
Difficulties with emotional regulation.
Impaired sense of self-worth.
Interpersonal difficulties.
The repeated nature of complex trauma causes ingrained negative beliefs about self and the world outside. This disruption of normal development and core beliefs is what makes CPTSD complex. The great news is both PTSD and CPTSD are treatable. Therapies like EMDR, trauma-informed therapy, exposure therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy have been proven to be effective against these persistent disorders. Psychiatric medication may help, too. Hope and help is available, no matter what you went through. Need a trauma-informed specialist in Shelby Township, MI? Call us today at (248) 413 - 5865 to book an appointment with an EMDR provider.
References
PTSD and C-PTSD: The similarities and the differences – PTSD UK. (n.d.). https://www.ptsduk.org/ptsd-and-c-ptsd-the-similarities-and-the-differences/
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (2022, December 13). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
