Generally speaking, most people have a working knowledge of trauma. We’ve all become more aware of this widespread issue and many of its causes and symptoms. Even so, there’s so much to learn. For example, there’s trauma, and then there’s complex trauma. Not all traumatic experiences are one-time events. Crises and/or abusive situations can be ongoing and chronic. This scenario provokes a different kind of response and impact.
It’s not that one form of trauma is “worse” than another. What matters is that we better understand the differences and thus know how to respond properly. With that in mind, let’s explore some basics about complex trauma and its outcomes.
What Are Complex Trauma and Complex PTSD?
As touched on above, key factors related to complex trauma are duration and repetition. The relentless nature of the experiences makes a person feel as if there is no escape, and this is a significant component of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). A few examples of possible causes might include:
- Living in a war zone
- Being held against one’s will in scenarios like prostitution, trafficking, slavery, and kidnapping
- Neglect or abandonment at home
- Living in a situation in which elements like domestic violence or substance abuse are present
- When a child is compelled to step into adult roles like caretaking
It’s important to note that trauma of any kind is in the eye of the beholder.
Common Signs of Complex Trauma
For starters, PTSD and C-PTSD will, of course, share some overlapping symptoms. Hyper-vigilance and intrusive thoughts, for example, are observed across the board. Below are some signs that are most often the outcome of complex trauma and C-PTSD.
- Lack of Trust: When someone has harmed you on an ongoing basis, you can understandably be hesitant to open up to others. If left unaddressed, this symptom can strip your life of a sense of meaning. Avenues like spirituality and religion may suddenly no longer feel trustworthy.
- Lack of Emotional Regulation: Complex trauma is overwhelming, yet a survivor may have been unable to express their emotions. This can later result in emotional outbursts and poor impulse control.
- Trauma Bonding: Amid the abuse, a victim might need to appease others to ensure some level of safety. Such a situation can lead to an unhealthy coping mechanism called trauma bonding. A survivor can develop a complex relationship with the person or persons who hurt them.
- Dissociation: When you don’t believe anyone is coming to rescue you, it may feel best to suppress your emotions. People with C-PTSD may appear to be detached, hopeless, and out of touch with their physical selves.
- Feeling Misunderstood: A survivor might feel that no one is able to comprehend what they’re been through. From this angle, it can appear impossible to connect with anyone, even a mental health professional. Once trust is betrayed, it takes time to rebuild.
Also, long-term trauma will almost certainly shift how your brain works. Certain areas of your brain are altered in their relationships. Until treatment happens, this increases the likelihood that people with complex PTSD struggle with memory and cognition.
You Can Process, Resolve, and Heal
The above information is daunting. However, there is hope. A wide range of treatment options are available. When you connect with a trauma-informed therapist, you may find relief in modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Your sessions will also guide you toward effective self-help steps like exercise, regular sleep patterns, breathing exercises, making healthy eating and drinking choices, journaling, meditation, and more.
Healing from complex trauma is possible, and we are here to help. Contact our office today to schedule your first appointment.