What is considered complex trauma?

Complex trauma describes both children's exposure to multiple traumatic events—often of an invasive, interpersonal nature—and the wide-ranging, long-term effects of this exposure. These events are severe and pervasive, such as abuse or profound neglect.

What is an example of complex trauma?

Examples of complex trauma

sexual abuse or incest. ongoing physical or emotional abuse. chronic neglect or abandonment. medical abuse or medical trauma.

How do I know if I have complex trauma?

Symptoms of complex PTSD

feelings of worthlessness, shame and guilt. problems controlling your emotions. finding it hard to feel connected with other people. relationship problems, like having trouble keeping friends and partners.

What are the characteristics of complex trauma?

Complex trauma outcomes involve significant difficulties with emotional, behavioral, somatic, and cognitive dysregulation. type II traumas tend to be repeated, long-standing events that may present with a range of symptoms including denial, dissociation, rage, self-destructive behavior, and unremitting sadness.

What does complex trauma feel like?

Complex PTSD and emotional flashbacks

If you have complex PTSD you may be particularly likely to experience what some people call an 'emotional flashback', in which you have intense feelings that you originally felt during the trauma, such as fear, shame, sadness or despair.

Complex PTSD affects the brain long-term and can affect your closest relationships

Is complex trauma same as PTSD?

The main difference is that PTSD is generally related to a single event or series of events within a short period of time, while complex PTSD is related to a series of events that repeatedly occurred over an extended period of time.

How is complex trauma diagnosed?

The diagnostic criteria for C-PTSD include: Experiencing anxiety-producing visual or emotional flashbacks, and vivid memories of trauma in response to triggering events. Going to extreme lengths to avoid environments or situations that are believed likely to provoke flashbacks or unpleasant memories.

Is complex trauma a mental illness?

Living with CPTSD. CPTSD is a serious mental health condition that can take some time to treat, and for many people, it's a lifelong condition. However, a combination of therapy and medication can help you manage your symptoms and significantly improve your quality of life.

Is complex trauma the same as BPD?

Individuals with complex PTSD often over-regulate emotions, using emotional numbing, withdrawing, or dissociation to cope with reminders of traumatic experiences. On the other hand, BPD is characterised by under-regulation of intense emotions, resulting in expressions of intense anger or self-harm.

How long does complex trauma last?

Recovery from C-PTSD is a long slog, with survivors sometimes requiring more than ten years of psychotherapy for resolution. There are some C-PTSD programs offered through residential psychiatric programs that offer specialized treatment for this disorder and accompanying dissociative disorders.

When does complex trauma begin?

'Complex Trauma' describes a particular type of trauma that goes beyond a one-time incident. be repeated or ongoing; be difficult or impossible to escape from; occur within a personal relationship; begin in childhood, so that it affects a child's development; and be covered up, kept secret or denied.

Does complex trauma lead to PTSD?

Complex PTSD is caused by prolonged or chronic trauma. Those with complex PTSD usually have at least some of the symptoms of PTSD, but they could also have other symptoms. Most people experience at least one traumatic event during their lives, and about a fourth go on to develop PTSD.

Does complex trauma go away?

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is entirely treatable with the right combination of compassion, patience, and trust. Someone can work to disempower the trauma that cripples them and practice positive coping skills in the context of well-rounded support and guidance.

What should you not say to a complex trauma?

What does complex trauma do to the brain?

Structural changes alter the volume or size of specific brain regions. Proven structural changes include enlargement of the amygdala, the alarm center of the brain, and shrinkage of the hippocampus, a brain area critical to remembering the story of what happened during a traumatic experience.

What is complex trauma and dissociation?

When someone develops complex PTSD and dissociation, it is their mind's way of coping with an intensely traumatic experience. But this development does not resolve the trauma; in fact, it brings symptoms that are distressing and confusing and that stand in the way of a fulfilling life.

Why do antidepressants not work for BPD?

Limited therapeutic effectiveness of antidepressants in BPD may be related to lack of serotonin receptor specificity, since 5-HT_2A but not 5-HT_2C antagonism is associated with decreasing impulsivity.

Is complex trauma serious?

Complex trauma typically has a more significant impact on children and young people's mental health outcomes than non-complex forms of trauma. However, the outcomes following experiences of complex trauma vary significantly. Mental health disorders commonly associated with complex trauma include [4]: anxiety.

How common is complex trauma?

For example, in a 2021 study of refugees and asylum seekers, 19.4% of the participants fit the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and 49.5% fit the criteria for complex PTSD. Since complex trauma is prolonged, it can often begin in early childhood.

How does complex trauma develop?

Complex trauma usually occurs as a result of repeated trauma experienced by a child or young person, although it can also occur as a result of experiences as an adult. Some people experience trauma across their lives.

What happens when complex PTSD is triggered?

Complex PTSD triggers

For example, it could be something you picked up with one of your five senses when the trauma was taking place. Some common triggers include: specific physical sensations or pain. intense emotions like fear, sadness, or anger.

What it's like living with complex PTSD?

When your brain is wired for fear and distrust, it's difficult to be comfortable with anyone. Living with complex PTSD can trigger intense emotional flashbacks, making it difficult to control emotions, leading to severe depression, suicidal thoughts, or difficulty managing anger.

How can you tell if someone has CPTSD?

Can you have complex PTSD and not know it?

People can have PTSD even though they do not recall the experience that triggered the problem. As a result, such people may live with PTSD for years without realizing it.

What is a complex PTSD episode?

Complex PTSD comes in response to chronic traumatization over the course of months or, more often, years. This can include emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuses, domestic violence, living in a war zone, being held captive, human trafficking and other organized rings of abuse, and more.