Trauma affects how we think about the world and other people. How we interpret what happens to us and what happens around us. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was traditionally seen as a condition experienced by those involved in a war or a natural disaster. But it is present in a wide range of people, especially those who have gone through a threat to their safety. In particular, developmental trauma linked to events in childhood can stay with someone well into adulthood. This affects every part of life’s activities. Multiple traumatic events can lead to complex PTSD (C-PTSD). On this page, we define C-PTSD in more detail, explain the signs and symptoms, and how to seek effective psychological treatment.
There are many types of trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder is the most well-known. Complex PTSD usually develops after someone has experienced repeated, prolonged exposure to stressful situations. Often, occurs within an environment that was supposed to provide protection. This can include physical harm as well as emotional trauma. It threatens a person’s feelings of control or personal power and identity. The sense of unease is so overwhelming that everything becomes about survival. For example, neglected and abused children are in a no-win situation. Although an adult is supposed to take care of them, they are also being mistreated. As a result, the child’s sense of self is shattered. And this will change how the brain’s neural pathways develop.
But complex PTSD comes with a wider range of difficulties. You go through extreme inner turmoil, and the symptoms last much longer. The signs don’t necessarily manifest all at once. They can appear gradually or be triggered later in life by stressful or upsetting experiences. Without treatment, C-PTSD lowers the chance of successful reintegration into life’s routines.
Emotional detachment and dissociation
Avoidance
Struggling to regulate negative emotions
Having thoughts of shame or of being ‘bad’
Low self-esteem
Nightmares and trouble sleeping
Flashbacks to memories of trauma
Intense, overwhelming feelings of helplessness or horror
Becoming hyper-protective or hyper-vigilant (sensing danger all around)
Identity disturbance (disruption to your sense of self)
Distrust and fear of intimacy
Pacing
Difficulty forming relationships
Socially withdrawn
Depression and anxiety
Alcohol and substance abuse
Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts
The patient’s feelings and memories become too much to bear, so they break off from them. As a result, they become emotionally shut off from their past, present and future. It’s like they’re living through a thick veil of fog. They may be aware that things should be different or better in their lives. But they are unable to interact with others and make positive strides towards improvement. The consequences of this may include an inability to control violent or destructive impulses. C-PTSD is sometimes misdiagnosed as borderline personality disorder or generalised anxiety disorder. This means many people with C-PTSD remain undiagnosed and miss out on the ideal treatment.
Eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is commonly used by clinical psychologists to treat conditions such as complex trauma and phobias. It’s a highly effective form of therapy that changes how you respond to past events. The brain stores traumatic experiences in a unique way. These negative episodes are imprinted in our memory as vivid perceptions. But our brain can also adapt trauma imprints if we are exposed to appropriate sensory interventions. Helping patients to stay in the present moment through mindfulness techniques and talking therapy is an essential part of preparing to work with EMDR therapists. EMDR works by stimulating the brain through eye movement therapy or similar sensory stimuli. This aims to ‘unlock’ the trauma in your mind by examining the cause of your most pressing issues. The therapist acts like a ‘witness’ during EMDR sessions so you are not reliving anything distressing on your own. This enables you to process and find relief from disturbing memories and related feelings. We support you to feel relaxed and safe, without needing to be ‘on guard’ for something dangerous you believe could happen. By making sense of your past in a positive and self-compassionate way, we help you come to terms with your negative thoughts.
We use EMDR to treat many psychological problems, but it is more suitable for some individuals than others. This applies whether the therapy intends to address the original issue or to resolve problems that emerged later.
Child neglect
Child abuse
Persistent bullying
Domestic violence
Sexual assault
Warfare
Kidnapping, cults and other forms of entrapment
We understand that, for some people, the idea of seeing a therapist and talking about potentially uncomfortable things may sound off-putting. At the same time, it’s easy to see why someone who’s been traumatised might feel this is exactly what they need. To sit down with an objective professional who’ll guide them through difficult experiences without judging, blaming or shaming them.
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If you are unsure if you or a loved one has complex PTSD, it’s important to consult a qualified mental health professional. Complex PTSD treatment by the qualified psychologists at Kove can: Help diagnose your symptoms, Provide a personalised treatment programme, Help you move forward with your life.
If you are curious about EMDR therapy for C-PTSD and want to know more, please contact us.
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