When it comes to trauma, not all experiences are the same—and neither are the symptoms or diagnostic frameworks used to understand them. If you've ever struggled with symptoms of trauma and felt that the label of PTSD didn't fully reflect your experience, you're not alone. Many individuals, especially those with prolonged or repeated trauma, often resonate more deeply with the concept of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD).
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a well-established mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. This might include things like car accidents, witnessing someone die, natural disasters, physical or sexual assault, or military combat. To be diagnosed with PTSD, you must have experienced a traumatic event. However, in some cases PTSD may also occur when someone very close to you as experienced a traumatic event.
Common symptoms of PTSD include:
✓ Intrusive memories or flashbacks
✓ Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
✓ Negative changes in thoughts and mood
✓ Heightened arousal and reactivity (e.g., hypervigilance, sleep problems)
PTSD is recognized in both the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) and the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases, 11th Edition).
What is Complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD is a diagnosis included in the ICD-11 but not currently recognized as a standalone diagnosis in the DSM-5. It captures the impact of repeated or ongoing trauma, often occurring in childhood or over a long duration, in which escape was not possible such as:
- Childhood neglect or abuse
- Domestic violence
- Living in a war zone
- Human trafficking or long-term captivity
While individuals with Complex PTSD experience all of the core PTSD symptoms, they also struggle with additional difficulties in three key areas:
✓ Emotion regulation (e.g., intense anger, sadness, or emotional numbness)
✓ Negative self-perception (e.g., shame, guilt, feelings of worthlessness)
✓ Interpersonal difficulties (e.g., problems trusting others, feeling disconnected)
Why Does This Distinction Matter?
Many people with C-PTSD report feeling misunderstood or misdiagnosed, particularly when they are labeled with conditions like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). While BPD and C-PTSD may share some overlapping symptoms—like emotional dysregulation and interpersonal instability—the origins and treatment approaches can be quite different.
If you've been diagnosed with BPD and felt that the diagnosis doesn't fully fit, or that it overlooks the root causes of your symptoms (such as long-term trauma), exploring C-PTSD as a framework can be incredibly validating.
Therapy for PTSD and Complex PTSD
Whether you're navigating PTSD or Complex PTSD, healing is possible. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a first-line clinical intervention for treating both PTSD and Complex PTSD.
As a trauma-informed psychologist, I work with adults across Europe who are seeking to understand their symptoms and reclaim their lives after trauma. My goal is to offer a safe, supportive space to explore your experience, develop practical tools, and begin the journey toward healing.
✨ If you're feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or stuck, you're not alone.
📁 Learn more or book a free consultation at: www.christinababich.com
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