CPTSD VS. PTSD SYMPTOMS. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Have you ever wondered if you have PTSD? Maybe you experienced a traumatic event and feel lasting impact from it. Recently, there has been more talk of a type of PTSD called Complex PTSD. What does that mean, you might be asking. This post will break down the similarities and distinctions between the two diagnoses and provide you with clarity on where to seek help if you feel you may be suffering from either.
What does PTSD mean?
PTSD is the official diagnoses for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It classifies a cluster of symptoms that are present in an individual after sustaining a traumatic event such as a car accident or an assault. Most people are familiar with PTSD at this point in time but a lot of people still categorize it as a post war diagnoses, reserved for those who have experienced or witnessed violence during military service. While those experiences are certainly traumatic, PTSD actually spans across a much greater spectrum and war experiences may actually be better categorized as CPTSD. We’ll get into that in a moment. Aside from encountering a traumatic event and suffering lasting symptoms of distress, PTSD is generally diagnosed as a condition stemming from a single event trauma.
What then, is CPTSD?
CPTSD stands for Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Similar to PTSD, it is a condition derived from lasting symptoms of trauma but is different in that CPTSD is caused by ongoing traumatic events. Unlike a single car accident, CPTSD is an accumulation of stressful responses that are repeated over a period of time. This is why I suggest that war experiences are more aptly categorized under CPTSD. They are not single event traumas, rather they illustrate a heightened stress response to trauma that occurs day-after-day, over a period of time. Many people who suffered abusive childhoods have CPTSD. They were powerless to get away from the trauma and suffered/witnessed it over the course of many years, leaving a particularly burdensome impact on their developing brains and bodies.
What are PTSD and CPTSD symptoms?
Both conditions share many of the same symptoms, but unsurprisingly, CPTSD is more significant and expansive in symptom representation. Let’s take a look at the following list of symptoms:
Both PTSD + CPTSD Symptoms
Intrusive Thoughts
Avoidance Behaviors
Hypervigilence
Heightened Startle Response
Challenges with Emotional Regulation
Depression
Anxiety
Intrusive Memories or Flashbacks
Intrusive Nightmares
Impairment In Daily Functioning
Irritability or Restlessness
Concentration or Focus Issues
Executive Functioning Difficulties
High Rate of Substance Use
Task Switching Challenges
Only CPTSD Symptoms
Negative Self-Image
Challenges in Personal Relationships
Self-Harming Behaviors
Mood Changes
Suicidal Thoughts
Intimacy Problems
Feeling Worthless
That list may feel a bit daunting if you are mentally ticking off ‘Yes’ to several symptoms. It may be overwhelming, that’s because it is overwhelming to live in a constant state of fear or survival response. That’s what PTSD and CPTSD is; living out of your survival brain more often than is healthy for our bodies and brains. That is no fault of your own, it’s simply the way your brain has adapted to cope with extraordinary circumstances.
Like most things, there is a lot of hope that can come out of encountering difficulties and that is all the more true for a trauma diagnosis. If you work with a therapist to heal from the trauma you have encountered in your life, you actually have the potential to possess exceptional strengths. Working through trauma creates characteristics like resilience, capacity, empathy, tenacity, diligence, and courage. With strengths like those, you can do so much good with your life. So, please hear me when I say that trauma is not only a scar but also a call to healing that makes you shine for your unique strengths.
Where Do I Get Help?
If you feel that you have experienced lasting impact from trauma, there is help. First and foremost, you will want to find a therapist that you feel a genuine and natural connection with. The evidence is overwhelmingly clear that the single greatest determinant of positive outcomes in therapy is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. So, find a therapist that you feel really understands you, even if that means trying on a few before you find someone you want to do long term work with.
Next, if you can find a therapist who has specific training in trauma, that will be very helpful in getting you the specialized help that you need. Therapists come out of graduate school with generalized education that doesn’t dive too deep into any particular specialty. Finding a therapist who has invested their own time and money into training around a particular specialization, like trauma, is going to benefit you greatly. It’s absolutely appropriate to ask therapists in an initial consult call what trainings they have completed and if they have certifications or specializations.
Below, I have compiled a list of resources that can be of help for you in your search for a trauma informed therapist. These are simply starting points. There are many other resources and organizations training trauma therapists that are useful as well.
As mentioned, this is a starting point. If I can be of assistance to you in your search for a trauma informed therapist, please reach out. I’m always happy to help. In the meantime, I am wishing you kindness and peace as you continue your path toward healing from the impact of trauma. Keep up the good work. I can assure you it will be well worth it in due time.