Complex PTSD

Symptoms of complex PTSD

---

Symptoms can vary in individuals experiencing PTSD and C-PTSD. Though, the symptoms are often more severe in people with C-PTSD. People with C-PTSD may experience the symptoms of PTSD along with additional symptoms:

• Suicidal thoughts
• Feeling different from other people
• Being in a continued state of high alert (hyperarousal)
• Difficulty regulating your emotions, such as explosive anger or ongoing sadness
• Experiencing repeated dysfunction and distress in your relationships
• A negative self-view, possibly feeling shame, guilt, or helplessness
• Preferring to avoid some friendships or family members
• Dissociative symptoms, such as depersonalisation or derealisation
• A distorted perception of your abuser

Flashbacks

Flashbacks are common in people with complex PTSD and can be frightening. You may re-experience the traumatic events or feel the same emotions as you did during the events.

Some people with C-PTSD also relive their experiences through nightmares, which can lead to insomnia. Anything that reminds you of your traumatic experiences could trigger a flashback.

Flashbacks and nightmares do not feature in the C-PTSD of some people.

---

Complex PTSD triggers

A trigger can cause a strong reaction and intensify your emotions. Exact triggers differ depending on each person’s experience. Though, they tend to fit into the categories below. 

• Specific environments
• Words, conversations or topics
• A person that looks similar to your abuser
• Distinct smells, noises, sensations, or tastes
• Others discussing individuals linked to the trauma
• A song, book, or movie that you associate with the trauma
• A time of day, day in the week, a month of the year, specific date 

For example, if your house was an unsafe environment and always smelt like potpourri, that smell may now bring a wave of symptoms. If you can identify your trigger, it allows you to avoid becoming triggered.

A therapist may work with you to gently expose yourself to a particular trigger when you are prepared, so it becomes less troublesome. We call this exposure therapy and explain this in more detail in our treatment section. It can be useful to share your triggers with trusted loved ones, as they can help you through this.

Triggers in relationships

Complex PTSD may affect your relationships as it can impact your ability to feel safe with or trust others. You may not open up to them or put yourself in a position where you could be hurt. 

C-PTSD can also cause overwhelming emotions, such as anger or sadness, which may influence your actions in the relationship. You may feel like it’s hard to be close to one another and experience issues with intimacy.

You do not need to share everything about your experience with your partner. However, sharing the information you are comfortable with can help them to understand you better. If you explain your triggers, your partner can also work with you to deal with them. For example, they can learn the signs of a flashback, your coping techniques and boundaries.

Causes

---

The key defining factor of C-PTSD is the experience of repeated trauma. Examples of this are below.

Traumatic events that can cause C-PTSD:

• An ongoing form of violent or emotional abuse
• Experiencing human trafficking or forced prostitution
• Childhood exposure to violence, abuse, neglect or abandonment
• Being a prisoner of war, experiencing torture, kidnapping, or slavery

Researchers believe that C-PTSD can affect areas of the brain, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. These parts of the brain are linked to our memory function and stress response, e.g. fight or flight. 

People with PTSD often have abnormally high levels of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which could lead to hyperarousal. This may also lead to a numbed state, where you feel like you have no emotions.