Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

What Is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)?

Complex post traumatic disorder (CPTSD, C-PTSD, or cPTSD) is a mental health disorder caused by long-term trauma (e.g., child physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, other violence, etc.)

C-PTSD is most often associated with chronic childhood trauma. However, adults with traumatic experiences over a long period can also develop it.

The Difference Between PTSD and C-PTSD

Both PTSD and C-PTSD involve behavioral and psychological stress responses (e.g., flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoidance). However, individuals diagnosed with C-PTSD also have chronic and more severe issues regulating their emotions, building relationships, and maintaining their sense of self.

How Complex PTSD Affects Mental Health

With C-PTSD, you are stuck in a constant fight, flight, or freeze mode, increasing their risk for other disorders like anxiety, depression, and substance misuse.

Over time, this can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness, making it difficult to trust or feel connected to others. This can lead to a negative self-image, dissociation, avoidance, social withdrawal, and several other symptoms.

Complex PTSD Symptoms

Complex PTSD causes a combination of intense emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms.

Emotional Symptoms

• Negative emotions (difficulty feeling positive emotions).
• Negative thoughts.
• Exaggerated feelings of blame or guilt.
• Social isolation.
• Loss of interest in hobbies or other activities.
• Flashbacks and nightmares.
• Anxiety, depression, and mood swings.

Behavioral Symptoms

• Avoiding thoughts, feelings, memories and places that are reminders of the traumatic event.
• Being hypervigilant, jumpy, or on guard.
• Having trouble with concentrating or remembering.
• Changing routines to avoid reminders.
• Engaging in risky or reckless behavior.
• Feeling irritable, angry, or aggressive.

Physical Symptoms

• Chronic pain.
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
• Fatigue.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Sweating and trembling.

Causes and Risk Factors of Complex PTSD

C-PTSD can be caused by long-term or repeated exposure to trauma, including:

• Childhood or ongoing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
• Childhood or ongoing neglect or abandonment.
• Parentification (children taking on adult roles).
• Living in a war zone or in an area of civil unrest.

Environmental factors, genetics, family history, and personality may also increase your risk of developing C-PTSD. These include:

• Stress response.
• Lack of social support.
• Ongoing life stressors.
• Socioeconomic disadvantage.
• Family dysfunction.
• Limited access to healthcare.

Complex PTSD Diagnosis

How Complex PTSD Is Diagnosed

A mental health professional can diagnose C-PTSD if a person meets all criteria noted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) book by the American Psychiatric Association. Symptoms must persist for more than one month and cause significant distress.

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Test and Diagnostic Criteria

The criteria for C-PTSD disorder include:

• Meeting all diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder.
• Meeting these criteria consistently for more than one month.

To diagnose this subtype, our licensed therapists may ask you to complete a self-assessment in the form of a questionnaire. Once they have a general understanding of your symptoms, they will perform a screening assessment and structured clinical interview to understand the cause of your symptoms and determine the best complex post traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Treatment Options for Complex PTSD

Therapy Approaches

At Beach House, our licensed therapists have undergone specific training to help you address trauma. We offer several treatments to address complex PTSD symptoms. However, the best approach depends on your unique preferences and needs. Our complex PTSD treatments include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  CBT for C-PTSD is a type of talk therapy that focuses on helping you learn how to manage your symptoms, address negative thought patterns, and improve your well-being.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  DBT for C-PTSD is a type of talk therapy that helps you address emotional difficulties, interpersonal problems, and impulsive behavior while rebuilding interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  EMDR for C-PTSD helps decrease the impact and severity of symptoms through external stimuli and engaging eye movement exercises.

Medication

Your healthcare provider or mental health professional may prescribe one or more of the following medications along with C-PTSD treatment, depending on your unique symptoms:

• Antidepressants
• Antianxiety medications
• Sleep aids

Lifestyle Changes and Self-Care Strategies for Managing Symptoms

In addition to therapy and medication, your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following lifestyle changes and self-care strategies to support long-term healing:

• Eat a healthy diet of leafy green vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
• Limit sugar, caffeine, and sodium.
• Avoid trans fats and processed foods.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, three to five times weekly.
• Get seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night.
• Know when to ask for help by paying attention to signs of stress, depression, anxiety, or substance misuse.

How Complex PTSD Affects Relationships and Daily Life

Those with complex post traumatic stress disorder often experience difficulties with trust, intimacy, communication, emotional regulation, and self-esteem. They are more likely to avoid situations, people, and places that remind them of or trigger negative memories—making routine activities more challenging.

Coping with Social Isolation and Trust Issues

The licensed therapists at Beach House can help you cope with social isolation and trust issues caused by complex trauma. In addition to providing self-care tips, we help you get to the root cause of your issues, rebuild your confidence, and develop effective coping strategies so you can manage triggers and anxiety.

Navigating Workplace and Family Challenges

C-PTSD can make navigating workplace and family challenges exceedingly difficult. Issues with trust, connection, and conflict can make it challenging to build and maintain healthy working relationships

Get Help for Complex PTSD

When to Seek Professional Help for C-PTSD

If you or a loved one is struggling with symptoms of C-PTSD, we can help. Our center for recovery is one of Florida’s most respected mental health treatment centers. We specialize in treating a range of adult mental and behavioral health disorders.

Finding a Specialist for Complex PTSD Treatment

We offer expert, intensive intervention for those seeking freedom from PTSD and its many subtypes. Contact our admissions counselors to learn more about our treatments and how to get started on your path to healing today. more about our treatment programs.