What is Complex PTSD?

Complex PTSD is a condition where we experience symptoms of PTSD along with other symptoms such as:

• Difficulties controlling our emotions (we might feel very low or very high)
• Feeling very angry or distrustful towards the world
• Constant feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
• We might feel that we are permanently damaged or worthless
• Avoiding friendships, relationships (both building and maintaining them)
• We might be experiencing suicidal thoughts
• We might be experiencing dissociation (we talk more about this later on in our post!)

Complex PTSD develops when we experience a traumatic event but we also have difficulties managing our emotions and relationships and see ourselves in a negative light. This can often occur if we have experienced on-going trauma as a child or adult, in which we were unable to escape or were harmed by someone we trusted such as:

• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Domestic violence
• Sexual abuse
• Torture or war

What is dissociation?

Dissociation is something that many of us can experience in our lifetime. This can happen during the day (e.g. when we become focused on a book that we lose awareness of what’s going on around us) and as part of experiencing PTSD in which we might feel disconnected from our body and the world around us (e.g. feeling as though things are unreal).

Dissociation can last for hours, days, weeks or months depending on what is happening in our lives and it can happy for a number of reasons such as:

• A response to a traumatic event e.g. medical trauma, witnessing a car accident etc.
• Trying to cope with a stressful event
• It could be as a side effect of alcohol or substance consumption or medication (we would advise you to speak to your GP or another health professional regarding this. Lifted Therapy does not provide advice on medication).

How can therapy help me?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be helpful in supporting you to help process what has happened in your life, identify and cope with your symptoms and practice techniques to help you manage your symptoms day-to-day. CBT can help you to build control over your fears, reduce nightmares, flashbacks and dissociation to help you move forwards in your life and do the things you want to do.

If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of complex PTSD, you don’t have to face this alone, we can help you. You can book an online initial appointment to speak to one of our therapists and identify what support would be most helpful for you and what the next steps will look like. Alternatively, you can call us on 01256 975 045.