[Nike007]

Sorry that this may sound like a bad question. Please don't judge. Sorry .

I have basically looked everywhere for an answer and nothing has come up about it. So what is the criteria for C-PTSD? What is the difference between PTSD and C-PTSD? I am just wondering.

Note: I don't have PTSD or C-PTSD.

Thanks for your answers.

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[Crazy Hitch]

I found these blogs here on PsychCentral that you may wish to have a read through.

This one outlines the story of a person with C-PTSD:

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Psych Central

This blog outlines the symptoms and diagnosis of PTSD:

Symptoms & Diagnosis of PTSD | Psych Central

[Nike007]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

I found these blogs here on PsychCentral that you may wish to have a read through.

This one outlines the story of a person with C-PTSD:

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Psych Central

This blog outlines the symptoms and diagnosis of PTSD:

Symptoms & Diagnosis of PTSD | Psych Central

Thanks for the links .

I don't really understand the difference at the moment though.

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[RisuNeko]

The first one was kind of helpful. Is it just pointing out that there can be many sources of trauma throughout a life and it needn't be like one event?

[Raindropvampire]

The shrink that diagnosed me told me PTSD can be from a single solitary event. C-PTSD comes from prolonged trauma, disempowerment, captivity or entrapment, without a viable escape route.

She said think soldier seeing a bomb go off for PTSD
Then she said think prisoner of war being in captivity for months to years for C-PTSD

[Nike007]

Originally Posted by Raindropvampire

The shrink that diagnosed me told me PTSD can be from a single solitary event. C-PTSD comes from prolonged trauma, disempowerment, captivity or entrapment, without a viable escape route.

She said think soldier seeing a bomb go off for PTSD
Then she said think prisoner of war being in captivity for months to years for C-PTSD

Okay, that makes sense. Thank you for your answer. I just wonder why the people who write the DSM haven't added this in their criteria thingy.

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Originally Posted by Nike007

Okay, that makes sense. Thank you for your answer. I just wonder why the people who write the DSM haven't added this in their criteria thingy.

C-PTSD has classification problems with the DSM. While it's caused by prolonged trauma that often results in repeated intrusive thoughts, it is also technically considered an attachment disorder in that sufferers don't bond well with others, if at all.

[Open Eyes]

I think what is important to understand about complex ptsd is that each individual is given an opportunity to feel "safe" to step back with a qualified therapist and review their history so they can identify how they were exposed to toxic or dysfunctional behaviors from others that caused harm to them, but to do so with an understanding that it really was "not their fault". Unfortunately, as children we all are really at the mercy of the adults we are exposed to and how well the adults themselves show us respect as well as genuinely being open to our questions, but also are showing us healthy ways to interact as they themselves interact with other adults.

As children, we don't know the difference between healthy environments and toxic environments and we are totally dependent on our parents to oversee that for us. Because all children learn by observing and experiencing and doing, we are all very vulnerable to whomever we are so dependent on showing us and teaching us how to not only think of ourselves, but, how to understand human interactions that we grow to think "is right or normal".

If a child is exposed to an adult that shows them they "care" and respect, that child will begin to "experience" what that is so that child will have something they begin to understand as "positive and helpful". If that presence is not there for a child, that child simply doesn't really "know" how to identify "positive" and also how to feel "positive" about themselves as well.

A child can grow up in a "healthy" way in spite of growing up in a home with parents that are not wealthy or particularly prosperous. What "is" important is not so much the wealth of a parent as how that parent expresses that "wealth" is not the most important thing to focus on. In other words, if a parent is constantly complaining and expressing a sense of hopelessness or envy due to their social economic status, that is how a child will also feel about social economic status and may slowly determine they are "less than" themselves because of the status of their environment. Children do not know the difference unless it is pointed out to them and they are encouraged to feel bad about themselves because of it. If a parent buys a pair of sneakers for a child from a thrift store, the child will not think of that as something to be ashamed of unless they are taught to be ashamed of it.

So, when someone struggles with complex ptsd, the best way for that individual to slowly "heal" is to review the things they were somehow taught to feel or think about themselves in a way where that individual doesn't necessarily have to relive these bad messages/experiences. However, if an individual is struggling with feeling bad or having other challenging emotions, it needs to be "ok" for them to feel safe to talk about these upsetting emotions too. Often individuals who struggle with their emotions have not been exposed to an individual that would listen, validate, and guide towards learning better ways to deal with situations that present them with these emotional challenges.

Sadly, many who struggle with complex ptsd have been told or taught to think it is wrong to ask for "validation and comfort" when they do struggle emotionally. This becomes apparent when an individual talks about an emotional challenge and then says, "I am sorry" as if their challenge is inconveniencing whomever is listening. However, an individual may also become very challenged with "anger' too. This is because when someone does struggle with complex ptsd, that individual is extremely sensitive and within that sensitivity the "fight, flight, and freeze" reactions can be aroused very quickly, so much so that an individual can experience any one of these reactions "before" they choose to react with said responses "consciously".

unguy, this is the main challenge of struggling to bond well with others. Many individuals begin to "avoid" forming bonds with others because they begin to recognize how very sensitive they are and they realize that others will not understand this challenge and in that may respond in a way that only aggrivates the challenge.

However, what "can" help with ptsd or complex ptsd is for an individual to learn how they can "contribute" in spite of whatever their challenges may be. That is part of a slow healing process and is actually how human beings make gains on building their own self esteem in spite of whatever they may have experienced in their life that has traumatized or hurt them in some way.

[Nike007]

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

I think what is important to understand about complex ptsd is that each individual is given an opportunity to feel "safe" to step back with a qualified therapist and review their history so they can identify how they were exposed to toxic or dysfunctional behaviors from others that caused harm to them, but to do so with an understanding that it really was "not their fault". Unfortunately, as children we all are really at the mercy of the adults we are exposed to and how well the adults themselves show us respect as well as genuinely being open to our questions, but also are showing us healthy ways to interact as they themselves interact with other adults.

As children, we don't know the difference between healthy environments and toxic environments and we are totally dependent on our parents to oversee that for us. Because all children learn by observing and experiencing and doing, we are all very vulnerable to whomever we are so dependent on showing us and teaching us how to not only think of ourselves, but, how to understand human interactions that we grow to think "is right or normal".

If a child is exposed to an adult that shows them they "care" and respect, that child will begin to "experience" what that is so that child will have something they begin to understand as "positive and helpful". If that presence is not there for a child, that child simply doesn't really "know" how to identify "positive" and also how to feel "positive" about themselves as well.

A child can grow up in a "healthy" way in spite of growing up in a home with parents that are not wealthy or particularly prosperous. What "is" important is not so much the wealth of a parent as how that parent expresses that "wealth" is not the most important thing to focus on. In other words, if a parent is constantly complaining and expressing a sense of hopelessness or envy due to their social economic status, that is how a child will also feel about social economic status and may slowly determine they are "less than" themselves because of the status of their environment. Children do not know the difference unless it is pointed out to them and they are encouraged to feel bad about themselves because of it. If a parent buys a pair of sneakers for a child from a thrift store, the child will not think of that as something to be ashamed of unless they are taught to be ashamed of it.

So, when someone struggles with complex ptsd, the best way for that individual to slowly "heal" is to review the things they were somehow taught to feel or think about themselves in a way where that individual doesn't necessarily have to relive these bad messages/experiences. However, if an individual is struggling with feeling bad or having other challenging emotions, it needs to be "ok" for them to feel safe to talk about these upsetting emotions too. Often individuals who struggle with their emotions have not been exposed to an individual that would listen, validate, and guide towards learning better ways to deal with situations that present them with these emotional challenges.

Sadly, many who struggle with complex ptsd have been told or taught to think it is wrong to ask for "validation and comfort" when they do struggle emotionally. This becomes apparent when an individual talks about an emotional challenge and then says, "I am sorry" as if their challenge is inconveniencing whomever is listening. However, an individual may also become very challenged with "anger' too. This is because when someone does struggle with complex ptsd, that individual is extremely sensitive and within that sensitivity the "fight, flight, and freeze" reactions can be aroused very quickly, so much so that an individual can experience any one of these reactions "before" they choose to react with said responses "consciously".

unguy, this is the main challenge of struggling to bond well with others. Many individuals begin to "avoid" forming bonds with others because they begin to recognize how very sensitive they are and they realize that others will not understand this challenge and in that may respond in a way that only aggrivates the challenge.

However, what "can" help with ptsd or complex ptsd is for an individual to learn how they can "contribute" in spite of whatever their challenges may be. That is part of a slow healing process and is actually how human beings make gains on building their own self esteem in spite of whatever they may have experienced in their life that has traumatized or hurt them in some way.

Thank you for the post and sorry it took so long to reply to. Reading what you wrote makes a lot of sense to me and I believe this is basically true. Some stuff may be genetics, but not for something like this.

Anyways, the part I bolded was because this is how I feel. I say sorry every time I cry in front of someone because I feel I am being weak and that they shouldn't have to deal with my pain. I should be the only one who deals with it. I felt this for a long time until I broke and told someone. The person I have told has been a mentor of mine for a while now. I have talked to a friend about it, but to be honest, she said that she would probably break like I did if she heard my history. Well, she said she might and that she won't be able to support me then. So I have been trying to stop myself from telling her things about me, but if I hold everything in now, I have repressed anger. I have been trying to repress the repressed anger so I don't know how that is working.

Note: I have no PTSD or C-PTSD but I feel I may have unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder.

But what you said makes a lot of sense, thanks.

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

unguy, this is the main challenge of struggling to bond well with others. Many individuals begin to "avoid" forming bonds with others because they begin to recognize how very sensitive they are and they realize that others will not understand this challenge and in that may respond in a way that only aggrivates the challenge.

Our experiences with C-PTSD are very, very different. I do not relate at all to your rambling explanation. I replied to a simple question about why C-PTSD is not in the DSM. I don't know why you wrote such a long response and mentioned my name - as if you know me when you don't know me at all - and think it's entirely inappropriate. Please refrain from doing this in the future and keep your remarks directed towards your own experience. Thanks.

[Nike007]

Originally Posted by unguy

C-PTSD has classification problems with the DSM. While it's caused by prolonged trauma that often results in repeated intrusive thoughts, it is also technically considered an attachment disorder in that sufferers don't bond well with others, if at all.

Oh okay. Makes sense. Thank you .

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[Open Eyes]

Originally Posted by unguy

Our experiences with C-PTSD are very, very different. I do not relate at all to your rambling explanation. I replied to a simple question about why C-PTSD is not in the DSM. I don't know why you wrote such a long response and mentioned my name - as if you know me when you don't know me at all - and think it's entirely inappropriate. Please refrain from doing this in the future and keep your remarks directed towards your own experience. Thanks.

unguy, I was not insinuating anything at all about "you" though. Perhaps read my post again so you can see that? I was merely agreeing with your input, and that "can" be a part of the overall challenge of complex PTSD, and acknowleging your input. I did not post "anything" about you personally. I guess just mentioning your name and agreeing with you triggers you?

If what I did do in agreement with you bothers you, I will make note of that however and no longer acknowledge you or your input.

[Open Eyes]

Originally Posted by Nike007

Thank you for the post and sorry it took so long to reply to. Reading what you wrote makes a lot of sense to me and I believe this is basically true. Some stuff may be genetics, but not for something like this.

Anyways, the part I bolded was because this is how I feel. I say sorry every time I cry in front of someone because I feel I am being weak and that they shouldn't have to deal with my pain. I should be the only one who deals with it. I felt this for a long time until I broke and told someone. The person I have told has been a mentor of mine for a while now. I have talked to a friend about it, but to be honest, she said that she would probably break like I did if she heard my history. Well, she said she might and that she won't be able to support me then. So I have been trying to stop myself from telling her things about me, but if I hold everything in now, I have repressed anger. I have been trying to repress the repressed anger so I don't know how that is working.

Note: I have no PTSD or C-PTSD but I feel I may have unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder.

But what you said makes a lot of sense, thanks.

I wanted to reply to this Nike when I had some time.

I think that what you could do is look at your own past and see if you faced too many individuals or even parents/family members that encouraged you to feel incompetent (too demanding and controlling, it was inconvenient if you needed). Also, what can happen is that an individual can be taught to think they are wrong or incompetent when they struggle emotionally.

Unfortunately, society does have a lot of ways of encouraging individuals to feel "incompetent". We are told while being educated that when we don't get 100 % right on something, we are not very competent. The focus tends to be on what we get wrong instead of what we are getting right. This has also been marketed to where if a person doesn't have a certain label on their clothes and shoes, then they should feel bad or somehow incompetent.

Many struggle to talk to a therapist for "fear of being judged", which tells me they were judged and often poorly which made them feel incompetent somehow.

Complex PTSD can result not only from being physically abused, but also emotionally abused and a long history of the victim having too many individuals overpower them by convincing them they were incompetent.

Often an individual can develop problems with anxiety because they are basically expecting that moment where someone will point at them and say "you are incompetent" and "worthless". If a situation takes place that happens to be very traumatic, and the individual already is challenged with anxiety, it is possible they will be shaken up so much by that that they end up developing PTSD.

This is when an individual can become very challenged with "bonding" with other individuals because they have been hurt so much that they "avoid" developing close bonds with others. If a person experiences too much negative input by being exposed to too many individuals that are too insensitive and critical it can sour them from even wanting to around people completely. And what is sad is that they begin to "self blame", when in reality it was really "not" their fault.

If you are emotionally challenged, then it means that you need support and comforting and someone to help you with your self esteem. You "are" only human after all, and in being human you were designed to have emotions that will in turn push you to want to ask for help. Emotions are expressing our fear and uncertainty and when we express emotions it is supposed to draw in others to help us understand whatever we may be "afraid" of so we become more educated about the world around us and slowly learn better ways to understand it so we are "not" so afraid. If we are taught to ignore our emotions and "hide" how we feel or even be ashamed when we do feel, then we are discouraged from doing what we are meant to do which is be "human" and reach out for comfort, support, and guidance.

So, whenever I read a post where someone is asking for help and is genuinely challenged and finishes with saying "I am sorry", that tells me this person was somehow taught that it was wrong to feel/need emotional comfort and be ashamed when they are simply being human and struggling.

If someone responds to you like this one friend did where they said, "if I hear your story it could make me feel bad too", then that is "not" because you do not deserve to get comfort or talk about how you need that comfort. Instead, what that means is the other person is admitting to you that they themselves have struggled and did not get the comfort they needed either and may not be able to give you the comfort and advice you need because they may simply not know "how".

A lot of people "avoid" comforting others, they do so because they feel incompetent to actually be able to do that kind of human interaction, it makes them "uncomfortable". Most people "avoid" doing things that make them feel uncomfortable not because the other person is not worthy, but simply because they really do not know "how".

[Nike007]

Originally Posted by unguy

Our experiences with C-PTSD are very, very different. I do not relate at all to your rambling explanation. I replied to a simple question about why C-PTSD is not in the DSM. I don't know why you wrote such a long response and mentioned my name - as if you know me when you don't know me at all - and think it's entirely inappropriate. Please refrain from doing this in the future and keep your remarks directed towards your own experience. Thanks.

Hope this isn't caused because of me . Sorry .

[amandalouise]

for those wondering why they can not find anything in the DSM 5 on complex ptsd it is because its no longer called that (it was changed in may 2013) In the DSM 5 the same symptoms, diagnostics for complex ptsd are found under the diagnostic labeling of Acute Stress Disorder, Other specified Trauma and Stress Related Disorder, Unspecified Trauma and Stress Related Disorder.

in other words its there just different labeling and split up into more than one mental disorder. to find out which new labeling you fit into you will need to contact your treatment providers who can match your old diagnostics and symptoms to the new diagnostics and symptoms.

this is with in the USA. other countries or those that use the IDC diagnostics will need to contact their treatment providers or a treatment provider in their own locations to find out what the labeling and diagnostic criteria is in your locations.

[Quarter life]

I agree with unguy in the fact that experiences and symptoms differ greatly. Having suffered with C PTSD for over 20 years (result of prolonged torture trauma) , I have endeavoured to learn as much as possible to acertain why I feel dead inside, and seem to have little interest in connecting with others. My psychiatrist explained this to me, using the term 'Mental Death'...akin to a conscious jolt or severing of the psyche. There is a lot written about this online. The paper attached to link below I found to be particularly informative.

And to all the broken C PTSD sufferers...there may not be a way back, but there is a way forward, the trick is to never give up seaching for the key.
http://www.google.com.au/url?q=http:...T_UiLs2Ul3nIsg

This is one of the best links I've found regarding the subject matter ...

Complex PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

While the gods that write the Psychiatric Bible known as the DSM-V are slow to add C-PTSD to their book, Judith Herman first spoke of it in her book titled Trauma & Recovery (1992), and most professionals that specialize in treating trauma related mental health issues have been embracing it ever since - even altering their treatment approaches to effect better outcomes for their clients that are unfortunate enough to be afflicted with it.

Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS) and Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) are also a couple of other suggested names for it because it does present an extra array of issues to be overcome than regular PTSD, especially for survivors of domestic violence and child abuse.

With that being said, this is in no way meant to minimize the seriousness of PTSD, both are very bad to have and often very difficult to heal and recover from.

Sincerely,
Pfrog!

[Georgia Bridge]

How's n dat mimimizing berioubness ub didorders? Rherorical Bebyon. No RSVP bebyon. Dat wud arb rite rite.🌱.

[marmaduke]

Open Eyes,
I found your explanation very helpful. Thanks

[marmaduke]

I think I (used to) Suffer from C-PTSD
Would this involve memories, painful memories that keep repeating on an endless loop, going over and over the same stuff and not being able to stop?
The thoughts driving you mad.

[Open Eyes]

Originally Posted by marmaduke

Open Eyes,
I found your explanation very helpful. Thanks

You are welcome. In my discussions with others that struggle I have noticed that often they suffered from having their boundaries disrespected in some way and they just did not know how to defend themselves. It could also be that someone did not have the kind of support and nurturing they needed and suffered from a parent or other individuals responding to their needs in a way that kept telling them to have needs was a bad thing, to have feelings was inconvenient or a bad thing too somehow. I have heard a lot of sad stories since I joined PC.