Info on complex PTSD

I posted this in the C-PTSD forum but thought I should post it here too.

I noticed there were several posts here from people asking if they have complex PTSD. This info may help some of you put the pieces together. I also want to share this because there can sometimes be a lot of confusion around this condition.

This would be good info to also share with your loved ones.

https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?...CY5k&wdparaid=

Thanks for sharing this. No one has ever given me a formal diagnosis. So I'm always curious about how what I have experienced might be categorized. I can see quite a bit of my own personal experience in the description of complex PTSD.

You can't formally be diagnosed with complex PTSD as its not in the DSM. A diagnosis is primarily for insurance purposes. Complex PTSD overlaps largely with PTSD so that's why it didn't get its own diagnosis. And it seems that everyone has a different definition of what complex PTSD entails. There are tests for regular PTSD, none for complex PTSD. I've been slapped with that stupid label and I don't fit the criteria other than having multiple traumas as a child. Funny, as I've never been asked about a number of supposed qualifiers, yet practitioners feel the need to slap anyone with the complex PTSD label if they had childhood abuse and are still suffering. A bit ridiculous.

I agree, not everyone who had childhood abuse gets complex ptsd. But the evidence based research and literature are in agreement with what c-ptsd looks like. And a diagnosis is NOT primarily for insurance purposes. The DSM is a tool compiled for MH pros so they can determine what is wrong with a person so the patient can be treated properly. Eg. There is some overlap with bipolar and schizophrenia (i.e hallucinations) but they are very different conditions that require different therapies and meds. The same goes for complex ptsd and regular ptsd. There is some overlap but very different and require different specific forms of therapy. (i.e. trust issues is a big problem for c-ptsd and therapy has to take this into consideration).

If you're not happy with the diagnosis they're giving you it would be a good idea to ask them about it and ask how they came to that conclusion. You have a right to know these things.