12 Common Symptoms of CPTSD From Childhood

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You may have suspected that abuse and neglect in your childhood still affects you now, or that you developed Complex PTSD as a result of what happened. Here are 12 signs of CPTSD that you can compare to the symptoms you experience.
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[victoriakelley]

Is anyone else here with CPTSD realizing how strong and resilient they were as a kid or teen and how weak, confused, and vulnerable they feel like as an adult ? It’s like we didn’t feel anything until now and wish we had that shell from before.

[pheyup]

I’m currently 52 years of age, I’ve been to 4 war zones throughout my military career. I’ve been shot at, blown up, and seen things that no one should have to see. None of this has really ever bothered me much, the experiences rarely cross my mind. But the abuse I went through as a child, crosses my mind on a daily basis.

[arlenerivera-gwst]

Peace comes from isolation. It's not like anyone really misses us once we do isolate completely, we've been building the roadway there for years and years.

[bensnacks]

When you said "The abuse and neglect that happened to you when you were a kid was not your fault" I burst into tears so pretty sure this applies to me.

[barry]

Did anyone else feel like they were about to be killed when a teacher shouted at them at school

[rockyraquel]

1. Do you struggle with attention, memory, or focus?
2. Do you space out or feel numb when faced with decisions or try to talk about your feelings?
3. Do you have trouble regulating intense emotions? (Ex: outbursts of anger or intense sadness when it doesn’t seem appropriate.)
4. Do you have conflicts with family, friends, coworkers or partner?
5. Do you avoid social engagements because being around people is just too triggering?
6. Does the fear of abandonment or being alone cause you to stay in negative relationships? (Not necessarily romantic ones.)
7. Do you find yourself attracted to unavailable, abusive, or destructive people?
8. Have you suffered with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues?
9. Do you smoke, use food, drugs or alcohol in an addictive way? (Self-medicating)
10. Are you overweight or struggle with over-eating?
11. Do you have unexplained health problems with no clear cause?
12. Do you feel that you are unexplainably separate from others?

[samr]

The worse thing is knowing that we have had our lives and potential stolen from us. I am nearly 50 and now after discovering Narcissism and my seriously dysfunctional family only beginning to heal. But the stolen years, the stolen joy, the stolen moments of pride and amusement have all been taken by the abuse I went through and still experiencing to this day.

[actionmoviefrea]

We're not afraid we'll screw up relationships, we're tired of being hurt.

[cloaked.mystic]

Someone give this woman an award. This is paradigm shifting at it's finest ❤

[uswhbtn]

I'm 74 and have had therapy off & on over the years, but this is the first time ANYONE has ever explained EXACTLY what I've been living with my entire life. Thank you so much, Miss Crappy Childhood Fairy! You rock! Someone understands! I'm a normal person with normal responses to abnormal behavior decades ago. Thanks!

[TheAnticorporatist]

I saw a great TED Talk with Patrick Stewart where he said that it shouldn’t be called “PTSD” since it’s actually the way that a healthy mind reacts to post traumatic stress, rather than a disorder.

[witchiewoman]

I’m 72, ALONE, I have no real friends! I have always had an extremely difficult time making & keeping friends. All that you said in this video is true of how I feel. In relationships I was so afraid of rejection, I would leave. I have lived alone most of my life.

[bryanmiller]

13. You find it impossible to love yourself, & believe you deserve to suffer for merely existing, due to your weakness of not being able to “just get over it, & be normal!”

[annahailliebrown]

I was bullied by my sister and mother at home, I got blamed for things I didn’t do, and I was bullied at school. I had nowhere safe to go except inside my head, so I’m scarily good at compartmentalizing in emergencies and staying completely calm. Survival is my life.

[wallacemoore]

Being alone and not worrying about feelings keeps me safe. No one can hurt me!

[happyoneable]

I’m beyond exhausted trying to heal my CPTSD. It’s hard trying to just SURVIVE this, but I also find that it adds to my struggles when trying my best to maintain full time employment. I seem to attract very difficult employers, where I’m not heard, not appreciated etc. I do my best to try and discern the vibe when interviewing, but lately this has been my life. I changed jobs 3 times last year, and just had to resign from this narcissistic CEO who was gaslighting me about two weeks ago. I truly and humbly realize I deserve better, but now in the midst of continuing trying to heal, I have to find employment and this is definitely adding to my stress. I’m not sure I’m cut out for earth life.

[robbehr]

Let's not forget, schools and teachers often create a horrible abusive environment for little kids.

[nishasankaran]

Opting to live in isolation. That one struck deep

[Crouteceleste]

As an autistic person who has been through childhood abuse, it's very difficult to draw the line between the needs that are coming from autism, and the reflexes that are coming from trauma. It's like they're forever intertwined.

[lursbl]

I'm 54. I don't want to heal, is too late. I just want to retire, have a house away from everyone and everything and live the rest of my life in peace.