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Originally Posted by Open Eyes Here it explains "complex PTSD" from the link I posted. It's widely accepted that PTSD can result from a single, major, life-threatening event, as defined in DSM-IV. Now there is growing awareness that PTSD can also result from an accumulation of many small, individually non-life-threatening incidents. To differentiate the cause, the term "Complex PTSD" is used.

I question their use of the phrase "many small individual non-life-threatening incidents" -- not only because it does not describe my own experience (neither the "small" nor the "non-life-threatening"), but because besides its not being the definition, it seems to be an unfortunate perception held by many, that those with CPTSD as the result of trauma that happened to occur in childhood are somehow having an overreaction to "smaller" events. If only. I can't speak for everyone. But if that's true, then I guess I don't fit into any construct, as my symptoms are not the result of a single incident, nor the result of small/non-life-threatening incidents.

It's okay, I don't need a label. But I'm not particularly impressed that the DSM folks couldn't even get it together to agree on the significance of existing data in order for it to have had some kind of entry in the last edition, leaving it and its sufferers to flounder for understanding amid the confusion created by their omission. It's just irresponsible.