What is Complex PTSD? Why Trauma Therapy is So Important
In honor of PTSD Awareness month, we wanted to take a moment to bring awareness to Complex PTSD, or C-PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a well-known condition often associated with veterans or victims of major single-event traumas. However, there is a lesser-known variant called Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), which arises from prolonged and repeated trauma, typically occurring during formative years. Understanding C-PTSD is crucial for those affected and for those who support them. This blog will explore what Complex PTSD is, its symptoms, and the various treatment options available such as trauma therapy.
What is Complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD develops in response to chronic trauma that continues or repeats for months or years at a time. This could include childhood abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and prolonged captivity. Unlike PTSD, which can develop after a single traumatic event, C-PTSD is characterized by prolonged exposure to trauma and a broader range of symptoms.
Symptoms of Complex PTSD
1. Emotional Regulation Issues: People with C-PTSD often struggle with regulating their emotions, which can lead to explosive anger, deep sadness, and suicidal thoughts.
2. Consciousness Difficulties: This includes dissociation, memory issues, and feeling detached from oneself.
3. Negative Self-Perception: A persistent sense of guilt, shame, and self-blame is common. Individuals might feel completely different from other people and often view themselves as worthless.
4. Interpersonal Relationship Problems: Trust issues, difficulties in maintaining relationships, and feeling isolated or detached from others are typical symptoms.
5. Distorted Perceptions of Perpetrator: Victims may become preoccupied with the relationship to their abuser, ranging from hatred to a misplaced sense of responsibility.
6. Physical Symptoms: Chronic pain, headaches, stomach issues, and other physical complaints without a clear medical cause can be manifestations of C-PTSD.
Treatment Options for Complex PTSD
Treating C-PTSD often requires a multi-faceted approach, as it involves a range of symptoms that affect various aspects of a person’s life.
1. Psychotherapy
Trauma-Focused Therapy: This includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps patients process trauma and develop healthier thought patterns. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another effective therapy that helps reprocess traumatic memories.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT helps individuals manage emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and improve relationships.
Attachment-Focused Therapy: Given that many C-PTSD sufferers have issues stemming from childhood, therapies that focus on building safe and secure attachments can be beneficial.
2. Medication
Medications can help manage symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and mood stabilizers are often prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
3. Self-Help Strategies
Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can help individuals stay grounded in the present moment and reduce the frequency and severity of dissociative episodes.
Physical Activity: Regular exercise can improve mood, reduce stress, and help with sleep problems.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Maintaining a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, and avoiding substances like alcohol and drugs can have a significant positive impact.
4. Support Groups and Community Resources
Joining support groups where individuals can share experiences and coping strategies can provide a sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation.
5. Creative Therapies
Art, music, and dance therapies can provide non-verbal outlets for expressing and processing trauma. These therapies can be particularly useful for those who find it challenging to articulate their experiences through traditional talk therapy.
Teens, Trauma, and Counseling: Helping Adolescents Feel Safe Again
Adolescents often don’t say “I’m traumatized”—they show it. Trauma in teens can look like “attitude,” shutdowns, perfectionism, or sudden dips in grades. The nervous system is still developing, and overwhelming experiences can hijack attention, sleep, mood, and motivation.
Common teen trauma signs:
School refusal, isolation from friends, or irritability at home
Big emotional swings, panic, or “going numb”
Risk-taking, self-criticism, people-pleasing, or over-controlling
Headaches, stomachaches, or constant fatigue
How teen-focused counseling helps:
Safety first: We build trust at the teen’s pace—no forced sharing
Skills they’ll actually use: Grounding, breath tools, and short routines that fit busy days
EMDR for teens: Age-appropriate reprocessing to reduce the charge of memories
Parent collaboration: You’ll learn what supports (and what accidentally escalates) at home
If your teen is withdrawing, “exploding,” or saying they feel empty or stuck, counseling for teens can help them regain a sense of control and connection.
Complex PTSD is a severe and often misunderstood condition that requires a comprehensive and tailored approach to treatment. Understanding its symptoms and the impact it has on individuals is the first step in providing effective support and care. With the right combination of therapies, medications, and self-help strategies, individuals with C-PTSD can work towards healing and building a life less dominated by their traumatic past. If you or someone you know is struggling with C-PTSD, reaching out for professional help is crucial. There is hope and help available for those willing to take the first step.
If you need support for CPTSD, past trauma, or to help prevent trauma from impacting your teen, learn more at Counseling and Nature Therapy Center. Our Team of Therapists is available to support you on your healing journey. If you are ready to book, Contact Us. Our licensed therapists provide in-person counseling for adults and teens and virtual trauma therapy in Frisco, Texas.
More Resources:
ComplexTrauma.org
A curated collection of books, videos, articles, and interventions for survivors, caregivers and professionals in the field of complex trauma. Complex Trauma ResourcesCPTSD Foundation
Offers peer support, trauma-informed programs, and community resources for adult survivors of complex trauma. cptsdfoundation.orgOut of the Storm (OOTS)
Free, anonymous community/support forum for survivors of relational trauma and CPTSD; includes personal stories, forum discussions, resources and shared recovery experiences. Out of the Storm
