C-PTSD

Advice

Hi guys,

Yesterday I went to the doctor about my MH and whilst talking she highly believes I have C-PTSD. Although PTSD is something that has never crossed my mind, looking online and the things my doc told me it seems likely-although I am on route for diagnosis now and I am not trying to self-diagnose as such.

I just wanted to know everyone's personal symptoms and how to cope with it?

Even if it doesn't end up being PTSD and some other disorder it would be nice to be educated on this topic as the only PTSD representation I have seen/had is from the movies lol

in ptsdby Sea-Revenue9687

100%

18d

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18d

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aqqalachia

18d

CPTSD was originally meant for survivors of long-term entrapment and severe traumatic experiences-- prisoners of war, genocide survivors, extreme child abuse survivors, etc. Those of us with CPTSD have severe PTSD plus other symptoms that disrupt the sense of self and other things. We have severe issues functioning on a global scale. The other commenter here posted the ICD-11 diagnostic criteria for it, if you want to compare symptoms. https://icd.who.int/browse/2024-01/mms/en#585833559

Nowadays, it is mostly informally applied as a diagnosis for bad parenting or attachment styles, or more "mild" or "normative" experiences than being a survivor of long-term torture, a la the Pete Walker books. I will also say that it is currently having a "moment" among mental health providers, who seem to be diagnosing it quite a bit for people who don't display the core diagnostic criteria. That sure has shot in the foot a bit my ability to get help.

throwaway329394

18d

That sure has shot in the foot a bit my ability to get help.

Sorry to hear that. :( I wonder if this widespread misunderstanding has to do with PTSD stigma and denial of violent/sexual abuse in households. I feel even more isolated and misunderstood because of "mental health awareness." There seems to be less awareness and more stigma/denial of PTSD.

aqqalachia

18d

I think so, yes. There definitely needs to be a diagnosis that can be coded for insurance to deal with things that are "sub-PTSD clinical presentation" I guess you could say, that address what the pop psych definition of CPTSD aims to address. That sort of abuse is wider spread than people want to think.

Beyond issues with therapists, I had a much easier time interpersonally when people thought PTSD was for veterans and severe cases. Nowadays, I get people who think I can function just fine because their friends with CPTSD do, and it's worse than trying to convince people that I won't hurt them.

throwaway329394

18d

Harvard professor Judith Herman created the name Complex trauma / PTSD and talked about it in the famous book Trauma and Recovery. It's a separate diagnosis from PTSD because of the nature of how it happens and the presentation is different. It's always been known as a PTSD+, having the same core symptoms as PTSD with additional ones, and the symptoms are generally more severe and persistent than PTSD. I knew one person who has it, it's a very terrible and severe condition. There can also be symptoms of other disorders such as dissociative, somatoform, personality and others. You can see the diagnostic criteria in the ICD, which is accurate and much different than the C-PTSD in pop culture today.

https://icd.who.int/browse/2024-01/mms/en#585833559