When it comes to trauma, the terms PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and CPTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) are often used interchangeably, but they're actually quite different! Unfortunately, when these terms are used interchangeably, folks sometimes seek the wrong type of care for their needs. While both disorders stem from traumatic events, the nature of these events and their impact on individuals can vary significantly. Let’s take a peek at the differences in PTSD and CPTSD, their causes, and available treatments so that you (or a loved one!) are sure to get the care you need.
If you are looking for a handy table that synthesizes all this information for you, click here!
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. An important distinction to keep in mind with PTSD is that these events are often singular or limited in number, and the trauma can be clearly defined with a start and end point. With PTSD, we can clearly say the trauma started at this point and ended at this point. Common symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
What is CPTSD?
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is a more severe form of PTSD. It comes from prolonged exposure to trauma, typically involving repeated or ongoing events. With CPTSD, we have a very difficult time identifying the start and end point of the trauma. For example, in an abusive relationship, we struggle to define clearly the moment that the trauma began, as it tends to escalate, and we struggle to identify the exact moment it ended, as generally there is not one clear end point to an abusive relationship.
CPTSD encompasses a broader range of symptoms; it includes the symptoms of PTSD as well as emotional dysregulation, negative self-perception/under-developed sense of self, difficulty maintaining relationships, and a sense of hopelessness.
It is important to note that an underdeveloped sense of self is very common in CPTSD that originated in childhood. When a child is exposed to trauma, in any form, survival becomes the priority, and normal development is often delayed or ignored. This means that the individual's sense of self is often created around their survival responses. As such, perfectionism, over-achieving, and people-pleasing, among others, often become the person’s core. Healing often means learning who the individual is outside of the survival responses.
Causes and Differences of PTSD and CPTSD
Creating a list of causes of PTSD and CPTSD is very hard to do, because what causes trauma in one person may not cause trauma in another person. Please note that these two lists are not all-encompassing; if you have experienced something that is not included on these lists, your trauma is still valid.
Some Causes of PTSD:
Serious Accidents: Car crashes, plane crashes, or industrial accidents.
Assaults: Physical or sexual assault, robbery, or mugging.
Witnessing Trauma: Observing death or severe injury.
Military Combat: Exposure to warfare and life-threatening situations.
Natural Disasters: Experiencing earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods.
Some Causes of CPTSD:
CPTSD is often linked to more prolonged and repeated trauma, including:
Childhood Abuse: Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse over extended periods.
Chronic Neglect: Prolonged periods of emotional or physical neglect, often starting in childhood.
Domestic Violence: Ongoing abuse by a partner or family member.
Ongoing Environmental Crises: Extended exposure to environmental disasters such as wildfires, which can cause prolonged stress and trauma due to the constant threat and destruction.
Systemic Oppression: Persistent experiences of discrimination and marginalization faced by minoritized individuals, leading to continuous stress and trauma.
Prisoner of War Experiences: Sustained abuse and deprivation.
Treatments for PTSD and CPTSD
When it comes to treatment, each person has a unique combination of what will work best for them. Treatment for PTSD can range from 8-12 sessions, depending on the severity of the PTSD. Often times there are more than one traumatic incident that needs processing; if this is the case, treatment will take longer than it does for single incident PTSD. While the treatment for PTSD can be short-term, folks with CPTSD generally need a much longer treatment window. Some studies find that treatment can last between 5-7 years, though generally this is made up of many forms of healing, and the treatment generally stops and starts based on client need.
Effective treatments for PTSD
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A therapy that uses guided eye movements to process and integrate traumatic memories.
Exposure Therapy: Gradually exposing individuals to trauma-related memories in a controlled manner to reduce fear and anxiety. While effective, this therapy is not safe for everyone or advised in all cases, so please check with a professional before considering this option.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Emerging research shows promise for using substances like MDMA and psilocybin, under professional supervision, to help individuals process and integrate traumatic memories.
Medications: Antidepressants, such as SSRIs, to help manage symptoms.
Group Therapy: Sharing experiences and coping strategies with others who have similar conditions can be helpful.
Effective treatments for CPTSD
Treatment for CPTSD includes the treatment for PTSD, modified to meet the specific needs of CPTSD, as well as other treatments including:
Phase-Based Treatment: An approach that initially focuses on stabilization and safety before processing traumatic memories. Most trauma modalities use this, to some extent, but when it comes to CPTSD, we tend to spend a lot more time in resourcing and stabilization before moving to processing.
Somatic Therapies: Techniques like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy or Somatic Experiencing that address the body’s response to trauma. If you cognitively “know” something to be true, but don't believe it deep in your being, then body-based approaches may be a good fit.
Parts Work Therapy: This therapeutic approach, including a common type called Internal Family Systems (IFS), helps individuals understand and integrate different aspects or "parts" of themselves that have been affected by trauma.
Attachment-Based Therapy: If your trauma was interpersonal (the trauma was caused by another person), your attachment system was likely impacted. This approach works on rebuilding trust and secure attachment.
Creative Arts Therapies: Utilizing art, music, or drama therapy to help individuals express and process traumatic experiences in non-verbal ways. This can be excellent for those who need to process, but aren’t ready to talk in a linear, narrative way yet.
Takeaways
Understanding the differences between PTSD and CPTSD allows for care that meets your unique experiences of trauma. PTSD usually stems from distinct, short-term traumatic events, while CPTSD results from prolonged, repeated trauma. Both conditions require specialized therapeutic approaches to help individuals manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. If you’re looking for a team of therapists who focus on CPTSD in-person in Kamloops and virtually throughout BC, reach out to book your first session today!
Comparison Table: PTSD vs. CPTSD
Aspect | PTSD | CPTSD |
Cause | Single or limited traumatic events | Prolonged, repeated trauma |
Symptoms | Flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety | Same as PTSD, as well as emotional dysregulation, negative self-perception, under-developed sense of self. |
Emotional Impact | Intense fear, helplessness | Chronic shame, guilt, hopelessness |
Relational Impact | May or may not see difficulty with close relationships | Profound difficulty in maintaining relationships |
Self-Perception | May remain intact | Often profoundly impacted |
Peer-Reviewed Treatments | Psychedelic Assisted Therapies, Exposure Therapy, EMDR, Medications | The same modalities as PTSD as well as: Parts Work Therapy, Creative Arts Therapies, Somatic Therapies, Phase-Based Treatment |
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