Understanding C-PTSD

[AlizzaBliss]

"I dont have many memories of childhood but I know I was super anxious growing up." Man, I felt that one.

[blueberryoatmeal]

I actually appreciate the acknowledgement that it can be caused by "small" traumas.

The point is that extreme things like sexual abuse are obviously, and rightfully, respected as legitimate trauma. Smaller things are not. People who try to open up about them are treated as if they are too soft and have nothing to complain about.

It's about legitimizing the small things, not dismissing the big ones.

[Healinghands]

Damn this hit hard. I parented my mom. I’m 35 now and she has since passed. I am for the first time in 15 years unmedicated and I feel like I can’t regulate my emotions at all. I’m not even sure how to fix it. I was abused physically, mentally, emotionally, sexually most before the age of 16. By the time I was 17 I found out I had cancer and at 18 I had major surgery and radiation.
I just want to be able to live in my own head at this point without it making me cry.

[G-Sagittastellium]

I had a therapist 2 years ago during I think our 2nd session say “ haha it’s not like I’m going to diagnose you with CPTSD or something haha “ jokingly - my jaw dropped at the unprofessionalism and considered it rude I felt hurt and didn’t want to see again because she did NOT know me nor what I’ve been Dx with yet and you don’t make jokes about that stuff. ( I have a great sense of humor but I’m a nurse myself and you just don’t do that to your patients )

[edd.]

I never had any idea how PTSD was ingrained into my behaviors, my emotions, my entire being until I finally open up about everything I had gone through. What I thought was normal was far from it. I'm having to relearn 50-something years of behavior and rediscover who I am.

[cg]

I grew up terrified of how my dad would react every time i had a bad grade at school. The anxiety was so intense, that i remember one day crying uncontrollably at school thinking that I'd die that day, not feom my dad hurting me but i just thought that a car would hit me and that was gonna be it... Pretty intense feelings for a 12 yr old child to experience...

[cocofrog]

Took me until my 40’s to validate the trauma of emotional neglect, despite years of therapy, poly pharmacy and lots of anguish. With the help of psychedelics, a caring coach and resources like your book, I’m finding healing, hope and meaning in my life.

[reenasingh-idzh]

I think one can develop such responses even in their adult life when they encounter people who kind of pose a threat to their peace, stability or confidence . It's not only in childhood that you develop sense insecurity or helplessness which eventually lead to ptsd .

[choosethehighesttimeline]

Breathwork saved my life....and gave me the chance to live my life.... not my trauma's life. I'm still a work in progress, but I freaking LOVE myself now (even all that deep and intense and sometimes scary shadow of mine). Baby steps upon baby steps ...I keep going!

[G-Sagittastellium]

Thank you for sharing awareness and education on C-PTSD. I have it but only realized / became educated on it over the past few years ( I’m 47 ). I knew I’ve had traumas but I didn’t know my GAD symptoms were actually more related to my C-PTSD

[dayanatechera]

Your videos are amazingly accurate. You are really good at storytelling. Thanks for making this kind of content so relatable, ppl really need to understand the importance of parenting in order to stop repeating those patterns generation after generation. Raising a child is not just feeding and dressing up them, let’s take responsibility for what we’re doing to our children

[comnandmentsdeadlysins]

My now narcissistic alcoholic sibling saved me. Told me and taught me to laugh at my parents fighting around the age of 6. I started to see adult behaviors for what they were at that point. However it did not prepare me for the narc ex and the recovery from that ordeal. Upside I made it thru and will use my learned experiences to help others recover and live a good healthy life.

[alicemarshall]

I definitely know I have cptsd. My mom yelled at me constantly, I had to take care of mom cuz she was physically disabled, I had to do all the house chores, I was never allowed to leave the house other then for school. Always got blamed or punished for things that didn't even have anything to do with me...like my cousin would act out and thow a tantrum and I would be the one getting grounded and he would be rewarded with treats and loving attention even tho he just thuw a tantrum and punched us all and tried to stab us with a knife and threatened to burn the house down with all of us inside....but me coloring quitely in my room minding my own business not bothering anyone in the family I got punished for him acting out all the time. My dad worked nights and double shift so I barley ever saw him, my aunts and uncles worked all day. My cousin nwas mentalaly retarded and couldn't even go to school. So when I was home I had to clean and take care of others and when I was not needed I was sent to my room to be quiet and out of the way, I was given clothes and food and shelter that is needed for a child to grow up and I was allowed to go to school. But other then that I was left on my own and to fend for myself and neglected physical and emotionally

[stevensawyer]

Ironically, I quit my trauma therapist because of my cptsd. Having appointments scheduled every other Tuesday for over a year in advance, but she would continuously cancel 1 hr. before appointment time. Every excuse imaginable. Never had 2 appointments in a row. I know when I'm not wanted. 😢 couldn't deal with 1 appointment a month.

[purplepatch]

The end when you said "it remembers" gave me chills

[marianapretti]

So far, this is the video from your channel that I can relate the most, for sure! And it feels so relieving! I’m used to asking my therapist why it feels that I had a big trauma growing up, even though I know I didn’t. Well, C-PTSD makes totally sense to explain my fear and anxiety still stuck in my body. The small traumas of my childhood certainly can be felt here, in my body today. And I’m very happy you mentioned in the video, Dr Nicole, that we can heal from these traumas. It just hit me and motivated me to do the work! Thank you so much ❤ for this amazing reminder.

[Ephesians.]

0:19 You described my childhood exactly… other than other things that were done against me since a very young age…

[Anonym-yrqn]

This needs to be talked about more in public. Schools should have therapists to examine every student coming in, (or at least those who are struggling with school) so they can get help instead of a burnmark.

I have already concluded something like this but only now hear about that specific term.

It perfectly fits the picture.



...I recently recalled a memory, where i gave up a train seat for a little girl that was passing by with her class.

She turned around and gave me this shining and innocent smile, while genuinely saying "Thank You!" in a loud and happy manner. (Typical elementary school kid behavior)


...I almost cried.

Not because of joy, but because i had a painful realization.

Namingly: I realized my pain and my suffering.


... Seeing how this kid radiated happiness, innocence and a genuine behavior of trust and goodness, not suspecting the littlest evil of anyone around her, made me realize that i used to be just like that and even more so, how far i've gone astray...


When i remembered recently at home, i just bursted out into tears and asked myself:

"What happened to me? What did i go through, to become the polar opposite? 😞 What went wrong? Where did it take the wrong turn?"

It's all so fucked up...

[BrittanyJ-dx]

Cptsd isn't just "small" traumas. I was repeated raped at 4 years old by a family member without any help, then abused by my mom's bf, then my own bf, then guys in college.

[aaronjohn]

Main thing I worked on was recognizing where I was and who I was interacting with. It gave me time to tell my inner child that there was an adult there and they were not alone. Also taking a breath and sending it down into my belly helped to ground and reassure as well.