by Eden A
A few years back, I was diagnosed with PTSD, then it wasn’t until early on, a couple of months later, another psychiatrist mentioned it was C-PTSD I was going through. Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have many similarities but also differences. PTSD is known to last a single traumatic event or incident and is recognized in the DSM-5. On the other hand, C-PTSD is caused by long-lasting effects of the trauma that happens weeks, months or years later and isn’t posted or described in the DSM manuals.
The similarities involving C-PTSD and PTSD route from experiences of traumatic flashbacks as well as nightmares that can make you feel unsafe or uneasy, which is a normal response. But, there are also various differences between the two forms of Post Traumatic Stress through when the trauma can peak, specifically C-PTSD is more common in younger age years from childhood experiences. PTSD, on the other hand, is a bit milder than complex post-traumatic stress due to a single event at any age. Psychological and developmental impacts are involved in the underlying factor of stress disorders, and triggers, even though the treatment is slightly similar. Some triggers for Complex are long-term impacts like slavery, abandonment, abuse, and domestic violence. PTSD also has many causes, such as seeing certain people, things, locations and places that may trigger the person and impact that ongoing sense of reality and trauma. In conclusion, it’s extremely beneficial to find support and reach out for help when needed, and is can be difficult to navigate alone.
