Complex PTSD (Memorable Psychiatry Lecture)

The term “complex PTSD” is being used more and more often, but despite this it’s surprisingly hard to find a good definition of what exactly the term means!

Learn more about complex PTSD, including its diagnostic criteria (or lack thereof) in this high-yield talk intended for all healthcare providers, including doctors, medical students, psychologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, and more!

ATTRIBUTIONS
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

[kharaann]

Diagnosis of both BPD and CPTSD. I took years of work with dialectical behavior therapy to get my BPD under control., but my life patterns and habits are absolutely CPTSD and will not change. Growing up with two alcoholic parents and spent my childhood trying to protect my mother from my father. I have never had that telltale sign of BPD which is a fear of abandonment, but instead I spend 90% of my life isolated by choice. Even my closest long lifetime friends get very limited access to me. It can be lonely but it’s safe.

[Joelswinger]

I think it is really wrong that CPTSD is not included in the DSM. How could being abused as a child for years and years not be different from having something bad happen as an adult?

[herryhubert]

Having both a case of cptsd and a master in clinical psychology (but I'm not professionally working in the field), a few things come to my mind when watching video's like these. E.g. re-experiencing the trauma. A single event trauma can be characterized as a photo, whereas cptsd can be better described as a movie. This makes re-experiencing a bit difficult. Unless of course there are some typical traumatic peaks. It usually involves a feeling of mightlessness over a longer period of time. I had it twice (primary school was 5 years of being picked on and getting beaten up), and much later, in my 40's it was a 7 year period of being degraded both at home and at work.
I figured I had created my own coping mechanisms, which I better call "survival techniques". But they all were insufficient. Now a psychologist won't diagnose me with PTSD cause I have no flashbacks or nightmares or whatever anymore. My trauma has found a new home in my back and chest muscles, causing me pain and respiration problems. The pain often appears in my chest, which gives me panic attacks (cos I fear for a heart attack).
In short, I think that "re-experiencing" as a symptom for cptsd should be reconsidered. There may be more beneath the surface.

[MillieFalcone.]

Psychedelic saved me from years of uncontrollable depression, anxiety and illicit pill addiction. Imagine carrying heavy chains for over a decade and then all of a sudden that burden is gone. Believe it or not in a couple years they'll be all over for treatment of mental health related issues

[kimberlydavis]

I have complex-ptsd, severe major depression, anxiety and ocd. When you've gotten abused almost your whole life like I've been through and eye witnessed horrible and terrible things. It scars you for life. It destroys you mentally, emotionally and physically. Complex ptsd isn't fun at all. It's not a laughing matter or funny at all. I have come to my own realization about myself is that I'm broken and can't be fixed because I went through too many years of horrible, terrible things happening to me or happening around me. Some people just aren't fixable and I'm one of those people. Broken.

[INgirl]

CPTSD is different from PTSD because the mistreatment/abuse by parents or other caregivers is ongoing throughout childhood—and even continues into adulthood. BPD is NOT part of most ppl’s CPTSD issues. ADULT CAREGIVERS ARE TO BLAME. Developmental trauma affects many facets of victims’ lives. Narcissistic parents or caregivers, (or those parents with other extreme psychological issues) is the cause. Kids need to feel safe, cared for, loved, and need to be allowed to be kids, instead of being seen as ‘mini-adults’ who should know everything & never make mistakes. In this situation, kids are supposed to parent their parents sometimes & to “just know what to do” without help. Kids in this situation are often not allowed to find out who they are. Many developmental stages are also missed that are part of a normal childhood. So many ppl are now affected by CPTSD. The DSM-5 is wildly out of contact with reality by not listening to professionals who do try to treat patients with CPTSD, and by not actually talking to a variety of ppl affected. So many people are so glad to finally know why & what caused their difficulties. Having a diagnosis (whether in the ‘hallowed DSM-5’ or NOT), is helpful to so many ppl who suffer.

[acaciaknight]

I have CPTSD and I can say that the relationships are not a black and white symptom. For example many people that have suffered childhood abuse go onto be in abusive relationships whether its verbally, emotionally, mentally, financially, physically or sexually. Because of that factor they'll have a higher likelihood of getting into abusive relationships even though thats not at all what they want. Some people will have had some stabilizing moments that allowed them to build better relationships, but they'll still struggle with building and maintaining those relationships most commonly. So because that symptom itself is so varying it shouldn't be part of the main criteria but as a symptom that can coexist. I had an extremely abusive childhood in more ways than one and I think you have to look at the levels of Dissociation and Anxiety for the largest key differences as well as the other symptoms levels. I read somewhere that they found that the Hippocampus physically shrinks with high levels of stress possibly induced by trauma. If that is the case it would seem its more a traumatic brain injury of sorts.

[TheTeganOsmondChannel]

This is probably the best description I have seen about CPTSD vs personality disorders. Thank you

[tobsternater]

I CANNOT STRESS enough how clearly this is explained here.
To be up to date with discerning the differences in these issues, you can't go past this video and it's content!

[delphinium]

I was diagnosed with bipolar and "a complex kind of ptsd" and eating disorder. I have a history of trauma starting in childhood. The psychiatrist had a really good take on it when she that something happens in my life, I don't get over it before something else happens. Life has been a struggle and it's been difficult to keep going.

[chrisakins]

"Normal PTSD" include all three of the items you list as additional for cPTSD. When you think about it, it makes sense that abuse during the developmental stages will result in PTSD type sxs, and also sxs of BPD (lack of self worth, fears of adandonment, etc). cPTSD appears to be a subtype of PTSD, and should be added to the next edition of the DSM in my opinion.

[myevilfish]

I was diagnosed with BPD and CPTSD. I avoid romantic relationships and the very rare times I want to be with someone they're always emotionally unavailable. I think I'm drawn to people I can't be with. Through therapy I learnt that I don't really fit the BPD bill, but perhaps I learnt BPD behaviours from my undiagnosed parent (who I no longer speak to, but I really hope they get help). Alone is safe, but lonely. I think that should be the motto of the day for all you lovely people xx

[Unshippedpaper]

As a sufferer from CPTSD I can say (for myself at least) that CBT, forgive my language doesn't do Jack-$#!t for me. Been to at least a handful of therapists and it just never helped. On the contrary I more often than not felt even worse after a session until I finally stopped going. Meds on the other hand at least help calm my anxiety and also lift my mood a bit. However, everyone is different I suppose? Other than that a really brilliant video. Thanks for spreading the awareness.

[battlebornthrottletherapy]

by far the best description ever, thank you. Much better then my rambling on the subject.

[tyna]

I have PTSD, BPD, Somatoform Disorders and Eating Disorder and Chronic Depressive Disorder/Major Depression...the more I learn about C-PTSD, the more I think this is the right diagnosis, especially since I had prolonged developmental trauma/interpersonal trauma instead of one specific adult trauma. Here is a new clinic specializing in C-PTSD, I am on their list, hope I can finally find the right treatment as DBT didn't help/was even harmful in certain ways, and nor did CBT, only gave me the rational knowledge but no lasting solutions. I put much hope into DBT-PTSD!

[lagarti]

I know it’s stupid but that made me smile. I’m special! I don’t only have PTSD. I have PTSD+

[JaniceKonstantinidis]

Thank you for this video. I have a dx of CPTSD, MDD, GA.OCD. I am a stable Anorexic with a history of Bulimia. I am grateful for Anti-depressant mediations - I take and SSRI and an NSRI. I've have 6 full years of CBT. I now touch base with a therapist. I often need to get a reality check. I tend to be hard on myself. I am very grateful for the help and knowledge I have been given. To see me in the street, you'd think I was just the average person, and I am happy about this. No-one has to know I am juggling some of the other stuff. I hope more people can get treatment and go on to enjoy their lives. I am glad to know that my condition is now known and recognized; moreover, is treatable.

[doreenhollywood]

It is good to know that CPTSD is now more recognised. I didn't know I had it until last year and am now 72. I was abused at the age of 5 and it was hidden in my memory for decades until I completed a two year HNC course on Counselling. This raised many issues for me and in particular, delayed grief. Abuse was something I continued to experience throughout my life and am only now sorting myself out. I have now forgiven my abusers but will never forget. My future is brighter than ever before

[plockacherrys]

I bought your books both for psych and Neuro. It's amazing during my residency. For real I remember different things due to the visuals. Thank you so much. You're a real bro

[Robin-bklm]

This is a great summary - clear and concise, and up to date. Thx