What is C-PTSD?

I am currently reading What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo.  I love this book and I highly recommend reading it.  In stark detail, she describes her experiences of childhood abuse and C-PTSD (Complex Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder).  C-PTSD is a form of PTSD that results from a person (especially a child) experiencing inescapable trauma over an extended period of time.  This trauma is often inflicted by family members or communities that either abuse them directly or do not protect them from abuse. The abuse is ongoing and creates an environment that is lacking in safety.  

What can cause C-PTSD? 

• Witnessing domestic violence

• Sexual Abuse

• Neglect 

• Emotional Abuse

• Physical Abuse

• Religious Trauma 

• Racism 

Symptoms of C-PTSD

• Intense emotions that come on suddenly and are difficult to regulate- anger, intense sadness

• Deep feelings of shame resulting in negative self-image and disbelief in one's own worth (everyone else has worth but not me)

• Emotional numbness and not being bothered by anything, including trauma 

• A feeling of lack of meaning in life 

• Persistent imposters syndrome- believing you’re a fraud and have no competence or worth even though there is substantial evidence to the contrary

• Difficulty in interpersonal relationships- ending up in abusive relationships, having difficulty trusting others and developing secure attachments, avoiding close relationships all together

• Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Workaholism and feelings of suicidality.   

The thing I love about Stephanie Foo’s book is that she shares her personal story.  She shares her trauma AND her process of healing.  When we Google mental health terms we often get a bunch of articles about diagnosis and symptoms.  While it’s good information to have, it’s often full of impersonal and clinical terms.  Trauma creates disconnection and a feeling of being alone.  When you read someone else’s story, it’s personal and creates a connection.  This is a major part of healing. 

Be mindful of triggering- this book is intense.  Use grounding techniques and the coping mechanisms that work for you if you get triggered.  Don’t push yourself past your limits for the sake of healing.  Healing comes from self-compassion and learning to take care of yourself by honoring your needs, no matter where you are in your healing process.

Hanna Woody is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Asheville, North Carolina.  She has over 12 years of professional counseling experience and specializes in breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma, childhood trauma, and the Enneagram.  Certified in the Embodiment Tradition, she has over 150 hours of training and teaching experience.  Hanna is in private practice and provides online mental health therapy, Enneagram coaching, and Enneagram training.

Therapy in Asheville, Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro and all North Carolina regions. 

Therapy for Childhood Trauma, Anxiety Therapist, Childhood Trauma Therapist, Therapy for Cycle Breakers, Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, Enneagram Therapy, Enneagram Therapist, Enneagram Coaching