What Are the 17 Symptoms of Complex PTSD?
Traumatic events are often a one-time occurrence — a car accident or being affected by a hurricane or other natural disaster, for example. But when trauma is chronic and prolonged, lasting for weeks, months, or even years, people can suffer in extreme ways and be at risk of developing what’s known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder. How can we know if someone we love might have this serious mental health disorder — and what are the 17 symptoms of complex PTSD?
According to the UK-based Mind.org, complex PTSD can be caused by a variety of traumatic experiences, including:
- Ongoing domestic violence or abuse or prolonged sexual abuse.
- Child abuse or neglect (especially at a younger age).
- Torture.
- Kidnapping or slavery.
- Being forced into prostitution or human trafficking.
- Repeatedly seeing someone else’s violence or abuse.
Is Complex PTSD a Serious Mental Illness?
Because of the extreme emotional suffering this serious mental health condition can cause as a result of this chronic trauma, specialized treatment programs are necessary to help people live a better, happier, healthier life, such as dual diagnosis treatment programs for veterans with PTSD and addiction. Here are the 17 symptoms of complex PTSD, according to Health.com:
- Repeated flashbacks (feeling like they’re experiencing the trauma again).
- Realistic dreams or nightmares.
- Avoiding people and things that can trigger distressing, traumatic memories.
- Isolating or feeling detached from friends and family members.
- Angry outbursts or repeated irritation.
- Self-destructive or dangerous behavior.
- Difficulty remembering details about traumatic experiences.
- Feeling angry, afraid, guilty, or ashamed.
- Loss of interest in hobbies or things they used to enjoy.
- Repeated distressing thoughts or mental images about the traumatic events.
- Difficulty sleeping well or concentrating.
- Actively avoiding thinking about their traumatic experiences.
- Distorted thoughts about the traumatic experiences, especially their cause.
- Not wanting to talk about the trauma.
- Being easily startled or suspicious of their surroundings.
- Negative or distorted thoughts and beliefs about themselves and other people.
- Feeling like they can no longer experience positive emotions.
Why Is Complex PTSD So Hard to Treat?
Because complex PTSD happens as a result of serious, repeated, prolonged traumatic experiences, it is a serious mental health condition. The symptoms it causes can make the people who live with it feel unable to connect with others around them or live in constant fear that a trigger can lead to vivid flashbacks. Their lives can become quite lonely if they feel like they can’t or don’t want to talk about their experiences with anyone else, and they can start to withdraw from the world around them in response. Even years after their traumatic experiences have ended, complex PTSD can affect them greatly and bring up devastating symptoms.
What Happens If Complex PTSD Goes Untreated?
Not getting treatment means living with the sometimes-drastic 17 symptoms of complex PTSD. Because of the difficult, painful memories they try to live with, and the social consequences of their isolation or inability to feel connected to others around them, people with complex PTSD are at a higher risk of trying to self-medicate or numb their emotions with drugs or alcohol. This is why effective treatment for C-PTSD at professional facilities like WhiteSands Treatment in Florida should include specialized, trauma-informed treatment programs and options. For example, WhiteSands offers a drug rehab for veterans that takes into account the unique needs of veterans who may be suffering from addiction and complex PTSD after their time at war or if they were a prisoner of war. Personalized, specialized treatment is the best way to manage and overcome the symptoms of complex PTSD.
What Is the Best Treatment for Complex Trauma?
Because complex PTSD is distinct from PTSD, which would resolve from a one-time or limited-duration traumatic event instead of chronic, prolonged trauma, its treatment needs to be specialized. A 2022 article in the European Psychiatry journal tracked the results of phase-based treatment for this condition, with all patients receiving treatment for stabilization by managing symptoms and ensuring they were safe. In the second phase, patients received specialized treatment: individual trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), or a combination of CBT and EMDR.
The study found that of the 59 patients who were analyzed, those who received the second phase (specialized treatment) showed reduced complex PTSD symptoms compared to those who only received the study’s first phase of symptom management. Based on this, trauma-focused psychotherapy like CBT or EMDR therapy can be especially effective at improving symptoms of complex PTSD.
Why Is Complex PTSD So Hard to Treat?
Now that you know the 17 symptoms of complex PTSD and exactly why it can be so devastating to live with, it’s important to remember that effective treatment is available. At WhiteSands Treatment’s network of addiction treatment facilities across the state of Florida, our expert staff is well-versed in how to use trauma therapies to help people with PTSD and complex PTSD address their addiction and mental health struggles simultaneously. Complex PTSD is, well, complex, and it can greatly disrupt a person’s life — but it doesn’t have to be that way. Call WhiteSands Treatment today at 877-855-3470 to learn more about how we can help.
External Sources
- Mind.org — Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Health.com — Signs and Symptoms of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- National Library of Medicine — The Effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
