Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety that occurs after someone experiences a traumatic event. If trauma is chronic and continues for months or years, you may develop complex PTSD (C-PTSD). ¹

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 7 to 8% of Americans will experience some degree of PTSD. Of that figure, more than 90% will experience C-PTSD.

While it depends on the type of trauma and personality, many have difficulty resisting memories of the traumatic event. This can occur even if you receive professional treatment. Throughout this article, we’ll explore C-PTSD, its differences from PTSD, and how you can get treatment.

The Difference Between PTSD and C-PTSD

PTSD symptoms develop after a short-lived traumatic event, such as a car accident or natural disaster. On the other hand, C-PTSD symptoms are better associated with long-lived traumatic events, such as prolonged: ²

• Childhood abuse
• Domestic abuse
• Sexual abuse

While some PTSD symptoms are associated with C-PTSD, complex trauma also has its own set of symptoms, including: ³

• Avoiding places, people, or situations that remind you of the traumatic experience
• Belief that the world is a dangerous and unforgiving place
• Continuously in a state of high alert (hyperarousal)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Headaches and dizziness
• Losing your sense of self
• Nausea
• Startled by loud sounds
• Sleep problems

Other Symptoms

C-PTSD can also pose more personal symptoms, including:

• Change in Perception – Your trust in others may diminish and you can develop a negative worldview. ⁴

• Detachment – While experiencing trauma, you may have detached yourself from emotions. For example, rape victims often detach from the pain and fear while the sexual abuse occurs. ⁵ In turn, this detachment can linger through daily life and you may find it difficult to get in tune with common emotions. ⁶

• Other Emotional Problems – C-PTSD can snowball into other mental health conditions, including a major depressive disorder or suicidal ideation. ⁷

• Poor Self-Esteem – C-PTSD may bring about feelings of helplessness, guilt, and shame. As such, you may look negatively upon yourself or see yourself as a burden to others. ⁸

• Relationship Problems – With these symptoms, you may find it difficult to develop and maintain a relationship with someone, whether romantic or friendly. On top of this, people with C-PTSD are more vulnerable to unhealthy relationships.

Signs and Behavior

C-PTSD can bring about several personality changes, including: ⁹

• Becoming a “people-pleaser” to avoid negative situations
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Feeling strong emotions about minor events or situations
• Self-harm

These signs are a way for you to handle their traumatic experiences and become a part of your daily life. Whereas, such behavioral signs usually dissipate with PTSD.

Treatment for C-PTSD

C-PTSD is a relatively new diagnosis. ¹⁰ Therefore, medical professionals approach treatment the same way as PTSD: through medication and psychotherapy. ¹¹

Naturally, this leaves limitations. As a result, you may need to incorporate some of your own prevention methods (see below).

Medications

Medication for C-PTSD is similar to that prescribed for depression. The most common include: ¹²

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

Admittedly, it may take some time before these medications have an effect. This is part of the reason you’ll undergo psychotherapy alongside prescription use.

While doctors don’t consider antidepressants addictive, they can cause withdrawal symptoms when suddenly stopped. On top of this, they may lead to side effects, including: ¹³

• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Excessive sweating
• Heart rhythm problems (i.e. palpitations or fast heartbeat)
• Problems with passing urine
• Slight blurring of vision
• Weight gain

If you received medication for C-PTSD and you think it’s not helping, contact your doctor. It’s important to have a conversation with them before suddenly stopping.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can occur in one-on-one or group sessions. These therapies will help you understand negative thought patterns and teach you to develop healthy coping mechanisms. ¹⁴ The most common for PTSD include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

With C-PTSD, you will be expected to reflect on your traumatic event and how it affected your perception and personality. If you struggle with this reflection, you may be recommended exposure therapy. ¹⁵

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

On top of psychotherapies, some doctors may recommend eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for C-PTSD.

With a therapist, you’ll be asked to recollect your traumatic experience. From there, your therapist will move a finger from side to side and tell you to follow it with your eyes. The purpose is to desensitize you from your traumatic memory. ¹⁶

The reason EMDR may not be recommended is it remains controversial in the medical realm. Furthermore, it doesn’t always help people facing C-PTSD.

What Can You Do?

Beyond professional treatment, there are some steps you can take to cope with C-PTSD. The first is to find a support system. ¹⁷ Whether this be family and friends or an outside resource, it’s essential to have people to talk to when you fall on hard times.

From there, you can incorporate the following into daily life: ¹⁸

• Eating well and getting a good night’s sleep
• Exercising
• Making new friends
• Talking with people who have fallen out of your life
• Taking up new hobbies
• Working or going to school

Remember, no matter what you do, it’ll take time to recover from C-PTSD. Be patient and have some optimism. You aren’t alone in your battle.

References

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² Amir M, Kaplan Z, Kotler M. Type of trauma, severity of posttraumatic stress disorder core symptoms, and associated features. J Gen Psychol. 1996 Oct;123(4):341-51. doi: 10.1080/00221309.1996.9921286. PMID: 9042743.

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