PTSD and Complex PTSD: Understanding Trauma Disorders

Posted: June 20, 2023

By: Janelle Schlueter, MS, LPC, NCC, CCTP When individuals go through a traumatic event, their brain has the capacity to process it in various ways. To illustrate this idea to my clients, I often explain a hypothetical scenario. Suppose a plane carrying 100 passengers crashes, and miraculously, all 100 individuals survive. Despite the shared experience, each person would perceive and respond to the traumatic incident in a different manner. What happens when someone has a series of traumatic experiences over an extended period of time, particularly in childhood? Individuals often struggle with more profound and severe symptoms that may seem unrelated to trauma. These symptoms can manifest in various ways, including challenges with self-esteem, difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy attachments with others, impulsive behaviors, and even engaging in self-harming behaviors). Let's take a deeper look at Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). There is a lot of misinformation in the world about these two disorders, so let's get into it and clear things up!

The Basics of Trauma Disorders

It is important to note that before we can discuss the nuances of PTSD and Complex PTSD, it is vital to know if one of these is the appropriate diagnosis. The diagnosis of PTSD or Complex PTSD helps the mental health professional, as well as the survivor, develop an appropriate treatment plan. The treatment plan is much more intense for PTSD and C-PTSD than other disorders that often result from trauma, such as adjustment disorders, anxiety, and depression. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which mental health professionals use to diagnose mental disorders, requires that a diagnosis of PTSD NOT be made until after one month after the traumatic experience. This is due to the typical healing the brain and body will experience after such trauma. For trauma symptoms within one month after trauma, a diagnosis of Acute Stress Disorder is used. After a month, if the symptoms are still present, the diagnosis of PTSD can be considered. Remember the example of the plane crash? Some of those 100 people may not experience any trauma symptoms after a couple of weeks. Some individuals may be scared to leave their house and relive the experience often. Other individuals may develop anxiety or panic disorders. It is important to note, however, that experiencing trauma does not automatically guarantee the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This statement is not to diminish someone's suffering but rather acknowledge the treatment plan needs to match the accurate diagnosis.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Traumatic events often leave an individual feeling 'altered' in some way. It is possible that an individual may be struggling with PTSD if the following points apply. *The DSM requires that exposure to actual or perceived death, serious bodily injury, or sexual violence be experienced to consider this diagnosis. *PTSD symptoms often include exaggerated startle response, avoidance of trauma reminders, flashbacks, psychological distress, and overall negative impact on quality of life. *Extreme anxiety and fear-based symptoms surrounding an event. Some good news: PTSD is responsive to treatment as it is anxiety and fear based, so it is localized to the fear part of the brain (amygdala). Following treatment for PTSD, or sometimes through the natural process of time and the brain's natural way of processing, the diagnosis of PTSD may no longer be applicable for some individuals. This signifies that PTSD is not always a persistent or permanent disorder, and individuals can recover from it.

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

C-PTSD is a diagnosis recognized by trauma-specialized therapists as well as the majority of the mental health community. Although it has not been formally recognized in the DSM, we do proceed as if it is included. While most of the criteria for a C-PTSD diagnosis are the same as those for PTSD, there are a couple of significant differences. *C-PTSD requires multiple recurring traumas over an extended period of time and is often experienced during childhood. *The requirement for physical threat can be lowered to include unstable upbringing, neglect, and exposure to drugs. *C-PTSD results in extreme anxiety, very similar to those who experience PTSD. However, it affects multiple parts of the brain (the limbic system, which includes the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex). *Due to the long time spent feeling unsafe, many issues become rooted in shame and fear rather than only fear. *Individuals with C-PTSD need help with confidence, shame, anxiety, fear, relationship difficulties, and even impulse control.

Hope and Healing from PTSD and Complex PTSD

The unique needs of an individual's treatment plan are influenced by various factors. In the case of C-PTSD, the impact of trauma on multiple aspects of one's life often necessitates a longer duration of treatment compared to PTSD. It is important to note that while the diagnosis of PTSD can become inapplicable after treatment or with the passage of time and natural brain processing for some individuals, this outcome is less common for C-PTSD. However, with appropriate treatment, it is possible for a client with C-PTSD to no longer meet the diagnostic criteria. In fact, the goal of treatment is precisely: to alleviate symptoms and eliminate the persistent presence of PTSD or C-PTSD. Therefore, it is evident that these disorders are not always permanent conditions.

Begin Therapy For PTSD and C-PTSD in Katy, TX!

If you are ready to start healing from PTSD or C-PTSD, one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:

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