We all may already be familiar with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but you might not have heard of ‘Complex PTSD,’ abbreviated to c-PTSD or CPTSD. Now you may wonder, is it more severe than the usual PTSD? Is the
PTSD Treatment approach still effective for this symptom?
As a reminder of how PTSD occur: those who experience a heavily traumatic event such as a serious accident, physical or sexual assault, domestic abuse, death of a loved one, war and conflict. Additionally, those with pre-existing conditions such as anxiety are more prone to developing PTSD after a traumatic experience. Statistically speaking, about 1 out of 3 people who experience severe trauma would develop PTSD. So, how complex is Complex PTSD?
Know About Complex PTSDComplex PTSD is a mental condition that can develop as a result of chronic and recurring trauma. Said trauma is able to impair the development of a person's identity, their capacity to regulate their emotions, and their ability to create relationships with others. On top of that, c-PTSD is particularly prominent in those who have experienced child abuse or domestic violence.
Symptoms of Complex PTSDAs you may be aware, individuals with complex PTSD conditions will exhibit the symptoms of PTSD as well as some additional symptoms, including:
Difficulty controlling emotions
Feeling extremely angry or distrustful towards the world
- Constant feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
- Feeling as if they are permanently damaged or worthless
- Feeling as if they are entirely different to other people
- Feeling like nobody can understand what happened to them
- Avoiding friendships and relationships or finding them very difficult to maintain
- Often experiencing dissociative symptoms such as depersonalisation or derealisation
- Physical symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains and stomach aches
- Regular suicidal thoughts
Conditions Similar to Complex PTSDThe term ‘Complex PTSD’ is fairly new. Many professionals have long acknowledged that certain types of trauma can have additional effects in addition to PTSD. However, there is still a disagreement about whether it is a subtype of PTSD or a distinct condition.
An individual may find that before a
Trauma Treatment , some doctors would use the following terms to diagnose their condition:
- Enduring Personality Changes After Catastrophic Events (EPCACE) - some mental health experts still use the term, even though it is no longer recognized by the World Health Organization
- Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS) - the term is often used interchangeably with complex PTSD, especially in the US.
Emotional Flashbacks in Complex PTSDAny individual who developed complex PTSD may be more liable to experience what some people refer to as an ‘emotional flashback,’ in which they experience overwhelming emotions that they have felt during the trauma, such as dread, shame, grief, or despair. It is also possible that they would react to events in the present as though they are producing these feelings when, in reality, they are actually having a flashback.
PTSD TreatmentsAs per
PTSD Treatment methodology, most would be familiar with medication, in which the doctor will prescribe medicine, such as antidepressants, to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Yet, there can be certain unwanted side effects, including insomnia, sexual difficulties, changes in appetite, risks of severe mood and behaviour changes, and more.
An alternative to PTSD medication is ‘cognitive processing therapy’ or CPT, which is a type of evidence-based model of cognitive-behaviour therapy that was designed to assist patients in coping with trauma-related experiences, negative thoughts and behaviours - a famous form of CPT is known as ‘Kintsugi.’
The Kintsugi Programme at The CabinThe Cabin Rehab, Thailand, offers those who are suffering from traumas and PTSD an alternative way to combat their condition — The Kintsugi programme.
Tragic accidents, abuses, and other such events show that the external world is not always controllable, and The Cabin fully understands that. Although the pain may have started externally, it lives on the inside in the form of painful memories, difficult emotions, negative thoughts, or unpleasant urges, which are often an issue. The programme aims to guide patients to learn to cope with pain and find a new way forward.
Learn more about The Kintsugi Programme at The Cabin If you or your loved one are suffering from PTSD or other forms of trauma, treatment is always an option.
Get Help Now at The Cabin, Thailand. Counsellors at The Cabin are well-trained and experienced in providing the most effective
trauma treatments , addiction treatments, and other rehabilitation programmes.
Contact The Cabin now, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So if you, or a loved one, needs help in overcoming an addiction or trauma, contact us to
get help now .
Call for immediate assistance: +66 20 385 469
Email:
[email protected] Let Us Know How We Can Help: thecabin.com/contact/[/list][/list]