PTSD

Complex PTSD is when trauma is more chronic and long-lasting, rather than one singular traumatic event. These traumas might have happened during childhood and involved harm from another person—especially when that person was someone you trusted. An example might be sexual abuse of a child. … Read more

After these types of chronic or personal traumas, people may develop the symptoms of PTSD, and also other difficulties thought to be part of “complex PTSD”. For instance, people may find changes in their personality, their ability to have meaningful relationships, and their ability to manage strong emotions. Because these events often involve other people harming you, they can make it hard to trust or relate to other people. Often when people can’t escape from a harmful situation, they start to feel bad about themselves and to feel like they can’t control their own emotions. Some people dissociate, or separate from reality, as a way to escape an awful situation. They may continue to dissociate even after traumas are over, making it hard to stay in the present.

People with either PTSD or complex PTSD (or CPTSD) often experience related mental health difficulties, such as depression, anxiety, substance use problems, dissociation, or borderline personality disorder. But some people will only have PTSD.

Learn more about PTSD testing here.

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