12 SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE SUFFERING FROM COMPLEX PTSD (CPTSD)

LINK FREE CHECKLIST: DOES MY PARENT HAVE BORDERLINE OR NARCISSISTIC TRAITS?
FREE COURSE: IDENTIFYING CHILDHOOD EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT

It is well documented that childhood PTSD and childhood CPTSD can leave us suffering with a range of lingering mental, physical and emotional wounds and scars.

This video examines the 12 most common signs and symptoms of childhood PTSD and CPTSD.

xo

@drkimsage

❤️❤️In the coming months, I am working to create more therapy related tools, info and resources to share via my mailing list.❤️❤️

[Tylerze]

Treating mental health disorders Studies have shown that mushrooms can be effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

[moulee]

1. Chronic health issues like lupus
2. Chronic mental health issues-anxiety, depression, ocd, depersonalisation
3. Over reliance on substances to numb emotions (substance abuse)
4.Dissociate or space out
5.Harshly critical and perfectionist kind of person towards yourself especially
6.Toxic inner shame
7.Living in survival mode often like heightened anxiety level
8.Lowkey feeling unworthy in general
9.Emotional flashbacks
10.Hypercontrol (nees to be in control)
11.Difficulty feeling trust and safety around others

❤

[MS-OneMomentAtaTime]

I'm 70 years old, was diagnosed previously w/PTSD, but people always assumed I was a veteran. While I have the deepest respect for all of them and feel deeply for the many w/PTSD, somehow I never completely felt it completely covered just how badly I've felt inside all my life--yes all types of childhood abuse, plus countless traumas as an adult. Watching this on C-PTSD I broke down and sobbed, as for the first time I felt understood. I'm now seeking more info about this and plan to discuss w/my therapist tomorrow. Thank you, Kim.

[SashaFiercer]

Oh my. I have all of these. Diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. I’ve always been hypercritical of myself and my lack of achievements. Keeping people at arms length so I don’t get hurt, relying solely on myself because deep down I’ve felt believed people would just let me down. Self medicating to stop intrusive thoughts and memories. Luckily, I’ve realised I need help and am finally in therapy at the grand age of 46.

Thank you for this video.

[jkerr]

I'm 55 and spent all of my life not knowing what was wrong with me. I never connected the dots to my childhood trauma and I feel as if realising I have cptsd has made me feel free and not alone

[norismendoza]

Throughout the years I have minimized my childhood experiences. I've diminished their impact and blamed myself for playing small and not fully stepping into my potential. Two steps forward- three steps backwards.Those around me were more than happy to reinforce this distortion. I realized today that -for the first time- I'm sharing space with people that don't criticize, diminish or invalidate me. I've gotten very good at pretending I'm ok. I'm a capable person. I have achieved some succes. I can project confidence. I'm a great pretender. I don't want my identity defined by victimization and trauma yet it seems I never get past it. I do want empathy and understanding. Watching your videos gives me both. I'm got- spot on- and you totally get it. Thank you, Dr Sage. You hit it out of the park again!

[m.t.]

The chronic health issues is something I just recently learned, i'm still reeling from the fact that my childhood trauma gave me a sleeping disorder. I was always just "the tired girl" who fell asleep driving, at work, in the library, the girl who could sleep 14-16 hours if you let her. Turns out it's my CPTSD, my body just...avoids being hurt by sleeping. All the time. I'm about to start a medication that just wakes me up. It's insane what trauma can do to the body. You don't realize how OFTEN you've been traumatized until you start looking into this stuff, now so many puzzle pieces are fitting together and i'm realizing now at 26 that my childhood was NOT normal and that I didn't have a place I felt safe until about 3-4 years ago. This channel is such a gold mine for information, I'm glad I found it!

[timefliesasyougetolder]

Childhood trauma makes it difficult to separate out what you should feel guilty for as an adult. Sure, things that should be way out of bounds are clear, but it's those things that are borderline that are hard. Feeling major guilt over a perceived poor wording (on my part) can be difficult to move past.

[FrenchTwist]

70 years old.. you have summarized my entire life

[snakewomangirl]

Yup, got all of these. Been in therapy 10 years & I still get triggered and need to “escape”. I think another signifier of CPTSD is problems with relationships- alluded to in the last point, and, for me constant retraumatisation as I cannot assess the safety of others.
Brilliant short informative video, thank you 🙏

[slister]

I'm 66 year old retired counselor and hypnotherapist. I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder at age 30. Up until then I thought there was something terribly wrong with me because I couldn't write or speak, or eat in front of others (except close friends and family). I had extreme panic attacks that would render me worn out, embarrassed and ashamed for days after. It's a wonder that I made it through college!

1. Neuropathy in my feet ‐ I am in constant pain
2. Social anxiety disorder
3. Nicotine addict and recovered alcoholic
4. Highly perfectionism
5. Hypervigilance surrounding criticism and ridicule
6. My anxiety disorder has colored every major decision in my life; many to my detriment.
7. I am essentially a hermit. Social situations are painful and require days from which to recover. Even though I am considered outgoing, friendly, and a good conversationalist. 🤷‍♀️

[rubywhite]

First the time in my life, I feel understood and seen. Thank you so much for this video. I had no idea I was likely dealing with CPTSD this whole time. I have 11 out of 12 signs because I’ve steered clear of substances, but I’d consider food my “drug” of choice.

[melissadsilva]

omg!!Every single one of these symptoms are in me.I also get flashbacks all the time ….reliving the same traumatic experience over and over in my head .I have experienced at least 8 super traumatic experiences in my life so far and grew up with a robotic mother who never once hugged me or brushed my hair or said I love you in any form.

[PositivelyMe]

I am realizing I have had CPTSD for years but started dissociating more after surviving domestic violence. I was about to start EMDR and found out my therapist was moving away. It is hard for me to realize that the long term trauma I experienced and physical head trauma have led me to dissociate and have a lot of difficulty staying present...the good news is I am signing up to do EMDR soon because I am mentally exhausted from overthinking and add and im determined to heal...

[katiebowman]

I'm weeping as I watch this, thank you so much Dr. Sage. After years of doing the hard work in therapy, I have been starting to lose hope lately. I guess for all this time I have been trying to manage the symptoms rather than treating the root cause. Learning about this feels like I am finally getting somewhere. Thank you

[SPSHSP]

Such a sweet message how the comments encourage you. I’ve learned so much from you. I love the academic lens, integration of your own story, and how you share day to day things we all experience and can laugh about it.
Also I have a whole new appreciation for the amount of time and work that goes on into applying makeup (referring to the video you shot while applying makeup).
I still have no idea how anyone can trust someone else. I was so transparent with a colleague of my triggers, self development and being bullied and felt I had appropriate trust but in the end questioning her about a responsibility she dropped lead to an argument and resulted in her doing the very thing that would destroy my career. Sadly years prior had realized misalignment and encouraged her to seek other positions and would assist instead of a termination route but I was not given the same courtesy. Terrible.

[treemcfarland]

The more I learn about c-ptsd the better I understand who I am
It's like reading my own life story.
I'm so grateful to have lived long enough for this illness to finally be recognized.
Thank you for sharing, 🙏

[mollys]

i really appreciate how digestible your videos are and i love the way you approach these topics

[antonchristian]

This is a real eye opener, I can relate to ALL these points, Thank you for this post !

[CShells]

Thank you! I’m overwhelmed and at a loss for words after watching this video, so just… thank you! ♥️