By Shirley J. Davis: For More Info, Go Here…

There can be no doubt that the symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder are life-altering and debilitating. In this article, we begin a series outlining the symptoms of CPTSD a few at a time to help bring understanding that the world is correct, complex post-traumatic stress disorder is important and should be included in the DSM’s next iteration so that providers of mental health services can better diagnose and treat it.

Today we are going to examine together the first six on the list of the most common symptoms listed above and conquer the rest in subsequent articles.

The Long List of Symptoms of CPTSD

There is a lot of confusion about the differences between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). However, there are some distinct differences between the two.

PTSD is mostly caused by a single event like a car accident, earthquake, or rape. CPTSD, on the other hand, forms after trauma happens repeatedly such as repeated childhood abuse or neglect.

Other traumatic events that can cause complex post-traumatic stress disorder to form are:

• Experiencing human trafficking
• Experiencing being a prisoner of war
• Living in a region wracked by war
• Experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse

The symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder are too many to list in the scope of this article. However, the twenty-four most common symptoms are listed below:

• Reliving the trauma through flashbacks and nightmares
• Avoiding situations that remind them of the trauma
• Dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma
• Hyperarousal
• The belief that the world is a dangerous place
• A loss of trust in the self or others
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Startling easy by loud noises
• A negative self-view
• Emotional regulation difficulties
• Problems with relationships
• Thoughts or actions of suicide
• Fixating on the abuser or seeking revenge
• Losing memories of trauma or reliving them
• Difficulty regulating emotions that often manifest as rage
• Depression
• Sudden mood swings
• Feeling detached from oneself
• Feeling different from others
• Feeling ashamed
• Feeling guilty
• Difficulty maintaining relationships
• Seeking our or becoming a rescuer
• Feeling afraid for no obvious reason