Understanding C-PTSD: Symptoms and Treatment

Yes, I wanted to make that my specific diagnosis so hopefully they add it since it's more accurate than just saying PTSD

Diagnostic Assessment

What does DA stand for, WillowRaven?

I don't know how official it is but my Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor said I've probably got CPTSD. She did a lot of work with combat veterans with PTSD and often talks about their similarities and differences since many people are more familiar with PTSD symptoms than CPTSD. We came to the CPTSD conclusion about 1.5-2 years ago.

I am in the U.S., yes. It's listed on my DA but I am aware it's a relatively new diagnosis and isn't recognized by all practitioners. The one I saw before this certainly didn't and clearly got frustrated that I needed to process multiple EMDR targets and wasn't "cured" after seeing her for a year....which is why I switched and got lucky enough to find someone who understood the difference. I didn't even know there was one until I started seeing this new practitioner about 2 years ago.

Are you in the US, WillowRaven? As far as I’m aware, licensed practitioners are not using that Dx yet. It would be wonderful to find a therapist who IS using it! 🙏🏼💖🌟

Yes, my licensed therapist did diagnose me with C-PTSD and it's in my DA exactly why that is a more appropriate diagnosis than "simple" PTSD. (Not to minimize just to distinguish).

Hi, Willow! Thank you for sharing. Quick Q: were you able to obtain an official diagnosis from a licensed professional? Thank you! 😊

Yes, I have a C-PTSD diagnosis. It's different in that it comes from a repeated cycle of abuse/incidents instead of a single incident or set or incidents.

Thanks Phoenix Afrodita 🤗

Hi, Rosita! PTSD is a stress disorder based on a single trauma event, while CPTSD is based on chronic cycles of repeated traumatic events. If you’d like to know more, I recommend looking at the works of Pete Walker, Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine, Alice Miller and some of Gabor Maté’s. Thank you for asking! 😊

What is the difference between PTSD and C-PTSD ?

Yes, I am aware of this! I hope then add it to the DSM soon, because I feel that it matches so much better for me and so many other people. Others get confused get confused when I say I have dissociation and memory issues from PTSD and I basically just tell them I have really, really severe PTSD.

The app doesn’t list it yet (probably because it hasn’t made it into the DSM), so I figuredI would try gathering a community of the people who know about this. 😊

Yes.