I think I have this

Complex PTSD isn't something that's diagnosed in my country. I am officially diagnosed with PTSD and it was from something that lasted a few years in my preteen/teen years. I read about cPTSD on wikipedia and I could relate to a lot of the symptoms. What should my next steps (if any) be? Do I bring up the specific idea of cptsd (if so, how?) with my therapist or leave it be since we're already working on trauma?

Where in the US are you located? I'm in Oklahoma and I have that diagnosis. It's my understanding that it was rejected for the DSM-5 but will be included when it is updated to the DSM-6.

You should definitely tell your therapist and explore the symptoms with them if need be. My therapist has me reading, "A Practical Guide to Complex PTSD" by Arielle Schwartz.

Hi Sapien, I've been diagnosed with it a few times here in California. Yeah, definitely talk with your therapist about it. Just tell her what you've told us- that you were reading about cptsd on Wiki.

I'm in New Hampshire. I guess it's just the clinic I go to then that uses the dsm. I've never heard of anyone irl saying they had cptsd when in the waiting room or IP we're all pretty open when talking about our struggles. I brought it up in group last week and they couldn't say whether I had it or not but did say to talk to my T about it. I've been doing more research and even found a video saying a lot of therapists see cptsd and think adhd and my therapist thinks I have adhd when I didn't have any troubles with school or focus as a young child. I don't want to self-diagnose, but I do think my trauma affects me more than my treatment team thinks.

My T just said she doesn't know much about it but she'll look into it. Mentioned it's not in the dsm5 so I won't be diagnosed with it.

Would you consider changing therapists? Anyone that rigid and closed off to change in the field probably wishes they'd bring back crude labotomies done with rusty ice picks.
I have a book recommended to me called A Practical Guide to Complex PTSD by Arielle Schwartz. It teaches you healing step by step and can be done with a close friend, partner, or therapist. If she won't help you, maybe the book will. Best of luck to you.

Hugs MuddyBoots

It could have to do with insurance guidelines.

My therapist acknowledges that this is in fact what I have, however, due to it not yet being "officially" recognized in the USA & DSM, it has to be listed as regular PTSD for insurance, disability, etc.

The good news is that it has recently been "officially" recognized as a separate diagnosis by the World Health Organization (WHO), so perhaps that will help the USA & DSM to get the lead out and recognize it so that those of us that struggle with it can get treatment that is specifically geared towards it.

My therapist gifted me a copy of this book:



I found it most helpful & recommend it.