Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a natural response to a traumatic experience that can change your life.
If you have been through ongoing trauma or faced traumatic events, especially since childhood and into adulthood, you may develop complex PTSD (C-PTSD).
It is frustrating when loved ones do not recognize your condition, as their actions impact you. It does not matter if the trauma occurred long ago or recently.
It is helpful to know how to explain C-PTSD to someone who doesn’t have it so that they can start to understand what you are facing.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues like C-PTSD, you can reach out to Envision Psychiatry for help.
We are here for you and will ensure you do not feel alone.
What Is C-PTSD?
C-PTSD stands for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing prolonged or repeated trauma.
Its symptoms include:
- Flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
- Emotional dysregulation, including intense anger, sadness, or guilt
- Difficulty trusting others
- Disturbances in relationships
How are C-PTSD and Emotional Dysregulation Related?
C-PTSD is closely related to emotional dysregulation. Long periods of trauma, such as abuse or neglect, can lead to C-PTSD.
It causes difficulties in handling emotions.
Signs of emotional dysregulation can show up as:
- Quickly changing feelings
- Crying even when there is no clear reason
- Struggling to calm down
- Feeling emotions strongly
- Doing things without thinking first
- Using substances to deal with emotions
This emotional turmoil is a central aspect of C-PTSD, posing challenges in everyday life and relationships.
What Causes Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?
Studies show that people with complex PTSD struggle a lot because of bad experiences in their past.
It affects about 1-8% of the general population and up to half of those in mental health facilities.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) can happen because of long-lasting or repeated traumatic experiences, such as:
- Getting hurt or treated badly as a kid.
- Seeing lots of violence at home.
- Living in a place where there is always fighting or being locked up.
- Being forced to work like a slave or being taken and sold.
- Being kept somewhere against your will for a long time, like in a kidnapping.
These situations can make it hard to cope and heal when you are living with C-PTSD.
How to Explain C-PTSD to Someone Who Doesn’t Have It?
When sharing about C-PTSD with someone who does not have it, it can be challenging. Here are some tips to make it easier:
- Describe C-PTSD: Clarify that it arises from repeated trauma over time.
- Discuss Physical Responses: Describe how the body can react to trauma, even if you are unaware.
- Correct Misunderstandings: Talk about how misinformation and stereotypes about trauma can be damaging.
- Share Triggers: Openly discuss your triggers and ask for their understanding and support.
How to Support Someone with Complex PTSD?
To help someone with Complex PTSD, you can do several things:
- Provide stability and be understanding without judgment.
- Pay attention and validate their feelings without offering unsolicited advice.
- Please support them in seeking therapy or counseling and assist in finding resources.
- Understand that healing is a long and non-linear process.
- Avoid pressuring them to discuss their trauma, and recognize trust issues.
- Assist in setting up routines that give feelings of safety and are predictable.
What Not to Say to Someone with C-PTSD?
When talking to someone with C-PTSD, be careful with your words. Avoid saying:
- It was alright
- It is in the past; why are you still upset?
- Calm down
- You are overreacting
- You are being too much
- What is wrong with you?
- I do not believe you
- It is all in your head
The worst thing to do to someone with complex PTSD is to ignore or downplay their feelings and experiences.
Show kindness, empathy, and patience these are key.
Encourage them to seek assistance from experts who grasp their struggle completely.
How Is CPTSD Treated?
Talking to a therapist or psychotherapist is the key to treating complex PTSD. It includes specific cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), known as trauma-focused CBT.
You will see a professional, like a psychologist or psychiatrist, who knows how to help.
They offer support, knowledge, and guidance to help you or your loved ones live better and raise your sense of wellness.
Trauma-focused CBT teaches:
- Understanding your body’s reaction to stress and trauma.
- Learning to control symptoms.
- Identifying and changing harmful thought patterns.
Exposure Therapy
It helps when those with PTSD and CPTSD tend to shy away from things that make them remember their trauma. So, they cannot find out if they can handle their fear.
Exposure therapy helps them face their anxiety-causing situations bit by bit until they can cope.
Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye movement desensitizing and reprocessing (EMDR) is another approach that can be used.
Here, you focus on certain sounds or gestures from the therapist while you recall the traumatic times. The goal is for those past events to be less distressing.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
It helps you deal with the troubling thoughts and feelings since your traumatic experience.
What About Medicine for PTSD or C-PTSD?
Treating PTSD or C-PTSD involves using medications along with therapy.
Currently, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved just two drugs, paroxetine and sertraline, for PTSD treatment.
But, mixing several medicines is quite regular. Using medications off-label also happens, usually due to a less-than-ideal first treatment result.
Conclusion
How to explain C-PTSD to someone who doesn’t have it? It is a complicated and hard condition. People with it need care, kindness, and deal politely.
We can all learn about C-PTSD and be kind to those with it. This will help us support them and help them get better.
If you are stuck in a scary situation you cannot escape, you may get C-PTSD. It is not about how bad it is, but feeling scared and powerless.
So, feel free to contact Envision Psychiatry for quick and convenient help. We currently offer mental health support right in your home.
You can schedule a free 10-15-minute phone consultation with us.
FAQs
Q: How to you help someone with complex PTSD?
Provide empathetic support and encourage them to seek therapy specialized in trauma.
Q: Does PTSD get worse with age?
Yes, PTSD can worsen with age if untreated, as symptoms may intensify over time. It is often due to the accumulation of stress and new life challenges.
Q: Can C-PTSD be cured?
While C-PTSD cannot be cured, it can be effectively managed with therapy, support, and self-care practices.
Q: Is it common for individuals with C-PTSD to have difficulty trusting others?
Yes, individuals with C-PTSD may struggle with trust issues due to their past traumatic experiences.
Q: How do I date someone with complex PTSD?
Dating someone with complex PTSD involves important factors. Understanding, patience, and setting clear limits are key. It is also useful to get advice from professionals.
No comment