Complex-PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving

Steven Stokes, Clinical Practice Consultant at South Pacific Private – Australia's leading addiction, trauma and mental health treatment centre – shares his expert insight and practical guidance around surviving and thriving with complex-PTSD.

What is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

C-PTSD is commonly referred to as childhood trauma, but the definition is a little more expansive than that. It refers to sustained or ongoing traumatic experiences, often inflicted during childhood or vulnerable developmental periods, which interfere with a child, teenager or adult's ability to function healthily in daily life. Such trauma can lead to issues with relationships, co-dependency, substance abuse, anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns.

[georgetobey]

I too suffer from CPTSD and I want you all to know that you've already paid the price of the abuse with years, and countless embarrassing scenarios; now it's your time to turn the pain into wisdom and thrive:) God Bless

[nadineo]

I am 35 and was just diagnosed with complex-PTSD. I just had to pause this video halfway through because Jesus christ, I knew I was a mess.. but hearing all this and relating to all these symptoms explained, I realize just how messed up my brain is and it's a wonder if have made it this far in life. It really puts it into prospective of just how much of me needs to be healed. I feel like it's unfair because this was done to me and it's ruined my life...

*Edit 1 year later:*
I am almost 37 now and am now on SSI because I'm Medically disabled because of my complex-PTSD. I work with an AMAZING trauma therapist.
I was reading through some of these comments and I thank and express sympathy to the other survivors for telling their story.
I am still struggling every day but, I'm on the path of recovery.
To the people who tell someone with a trauma disorder to "not look back" that's extremely invalidating. I suggest you research complex-PTSD because "looking back" isn't a choice, it's called a flashback.

[scholar]

I had complex PTSD. I scored an 8 on the ACE test. I am 100% cured. I did this by learning about the subconscious mind from many teachers online, but, the main one was Bruce Lipton. Once I figure out my triggers, I went to a hypnotherapist and we discussed everything and he hypnotize me and recorded it, and every night I listened to it until I saw extreme change. It took about a week. I continued listening to the session for another three weeks just to be sure. It's been two and a half months now and still holding strong. No more sadness, depression, anxiety, fawning, procrastination, feeling as if not good enough, or shyness. Also, my health is improving every day. I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life and feel like my life has started over. I'm 57 years old and ready to take on the world.

[landline]

@22:56 "Traumatic symptoms are not caused by the "triggering" event itself. They stem from the frozen residue of energy that had not been resolved or discharged; this residue remains trapped in the nervous system where it can wreak havoc on our bodies and spirits."

Beloved fellow wounded children with CPSTD, I share your deep grief and I love you. We have survived. Our victory lies in thriving. Bless us all.

[aviendha]

Complex trauma the only illness where evenTHINKING about helping yourself can be more scary than life its self!

[carolwhelihan]

exactly. high functioning in job or on tasks, then feel "numb", hypervigilant and anxious during down time. Lots of fear towards life. exhausting.

[syntacc]

I spent 2 years just sleeping for 15-20 hours a day because I just couldn't stay awake. I thought it was depression but it was Severe Hypoarousal from CPTSD. After I left the traumatizing environment, it took me 3 years but I can leave the house now and my sleeping is regulated again.

I felt so powerless I would just come home everyday and fall asleep until the next morning. I wish someone had started treating me for CPTSD earlier. This is the first time I've been able to actually apply remedies and have them work.

Generalized Anxiety and Clinical Depression were not the problem, the problem was the abuse

[urbansetter]

I'm 60 yrs old, almost 2 yrs into recovery. I never felt pain like this in my life. Getting conscious of a totally abusive upbringing. I was disassociating from my teenage yrs and am now almost completely in my body. The grief that is coming up is nonstop.

[matthewdiiulio]

This is probably the biggest obstacle I will overcome in my entire life

[SolaGratia.]

It's really difficult for me to watch this. I keep having to remind myself it's just information intended to help bring hope, but it feels so heavy and overwhelming. Just having to admit to much of this and understand why it happened forces you to face the thing you've spent your life running away from. This happened to you, and you didn't deserve it, and it wasn't okay, and it damaged you beyond your ability to hide or ignore or manage without becoming a mirror of the thing that broke you.

You can be fixed after all, but first you have to go back to things that damaged you, and it's terrifying. It's like being in a room full of smoke and knowing that you have to go to your knees before you can find clean air again.. But if you don't go there, it chokes you.

As I'm listening, my heart is breaking to know this happening to so many people. I feel their pain and suffering and then there's the realization that I AM them and I feel immediately weak and guilty for feeling sorry for myself. What a mess. Why is it so hard for us to give ourselves the compassion and understanding we so readily offer others?

[kruehli]

I am 79 and have been diagnosed with CPTSD. It started at age 3. I recognize myself in a thousand ways in this presentation. Now I have begun to work with a group at Harvard using Ketamine and eventually MDMA, soon-to-be-approved by the FDA. They are in phase 3 trials now. It is never too late to heal. Permanently.

[ajoyjessee]

I'm Already paralyzed, this video has me so pegged I'm like a paraplegic with the whole world staring at me telling me to just get UP AND no one can see I'm missing my speaking

[lovevintage]

Spending time with animals really heals.

[raphaellavelasquez]

Too bad none of the therapists Ive seen know any of this. Therapy itself is gaslighting and re-traumatizing.

[sunnyerienne]

This seminar saved my life! Today marks a year since I chose to stay and find the strength to start the journey of healing my complex trauma. While there is still a long road ahead of me my life is insanely different, more so than I could ever have imagined. For the first time ever I am happy to be alive and hope to continue to be here so I get to experience what the future holds. The 2 hours I spent watching this video were quite possibly the most important hours of my life so far. It has changed my entire course of existence.
There is no way I could ever begin to express the level of gratitude I have that this resource exists.

[nolagirl]

This video has changed my life forever. I finally have hope after 55 years of struggling with anxiety, depression and self medication not to mention years of misdiagnosis from several therapists. Thank you! Blessings from New Orleans, Louisiana!🙏

[nancycarlsen]

This explains alot about me to myself...now I know why I'm so avoidant to others...

[jakecolburn]

Pete Walker's work has been the single most important info for recovery, a life changer, he deserves far more recognition

[raphaellavelasquez]

Life is not a gift when you're not allowed to care for yourself. Shamed for being "needy" or called selfish for having boundaries/self-care (talk about a double-blind.)

[krE]

not finished watching this but i can't believe how much it mimics my experience. Thank you for validating my feelings of being overwhelmed by, say, making lunch.