Many people have heard of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They know that traumatic experiences cause it. They may not be familiar with complex PTSD.
First, there are the symptoms of PTSD. These include:
- the presence of a traumatic event (experienced or witnessed)
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks
- Avoidance of triggers and other things that would remind the person of the traumatic event
- social isolation
- and increased vulnerability to substance abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders.
A single traumatic event often causes PTSD.
The good news is that therapy can make a big difference for people who have experienced the symptoms of PTSD. I practice Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
Learn More about how EMDR can help
Complex PTSD
Complex PTSD is a little different from PTSD. It includes all of the symptoms listed above and can add some of the following symptoms, including:
- difficulty regulating emotion
- bad or blaming self-perception
- high mistrust and withdrawal from relationships
- abrupt termination of jobs and other projects.
Complex PTSD is caused by repeated, prolonged trauma over a long period. For instance, a person who survived abuse as a child or a combat veteran can experience the symptoms of C-PTSD.
The good news is that therapy can make a big difference for people who have experienced the symptoms of PTSD. I practice Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.