Some psychologists propose that there is a difference between the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD, which suggests that a different treatment approach may be necessary for individuals who have experienced complex trauma. It is important to note that complex trauma, as compared to simple trauma, does not mean that the type of event one experienced was more distressing or shocking.
In fact, Complex-PTSD is closely related to the events and symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The main difference is that PTSD is generally related to a single event or series of events within a short period of time, while complex PTSD is related to a series of events that repeatedly occurred over an extended period of time. PTSD is more likely to be associated with flashbacks of a particular event, vulnerability to specific triggers, or difficulty coping with a major life transition, while symptoms of Complex PTSD are more pervasive and can be generalized to any number of stressful situations.
Individuals who have experienced complex trauma are more likely to live in a constant state of anxiety or, conversely, may have trouble distinguishing red flags based on normalizing their experiences. People with C-PTSD are more likely to struggle with maintaining a support system due to difficulties trusting others and interacting with others. As a result, they are at an increased risk of re-experiencing relational trauma throughout their lifetime based on poor boundaries and security in relationships.
They are also more likely to be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder BPD based on inconsistencies in relationships. While teenagers who have experienced complex trauma are more likely to avoid relationships and push away social support, developing healthy relationships is one of the primary ways they can begin to change their worldview and sense of self. Relationship-based therapy may be more effective for teens with C-PTSD than reprocessing traumatic events, especially due to memory issues and the length of their trauma histories.
Family therapy may also help because the behavior and distress of the person with PTSD can affect the entire family. Other psychotherapies such as interpersonal, supportive and psychodynamic therapies focus on the emotional and interpersonal aspects of PTSD.
Medication can help to control the symptoms of PTSD. In addition, the symptom relief that medication provides allows many people to participate more effectively in psychotherapy. They are used either alone or in combination with psychotherapy or other treatments. Other medications may be used to lower anxiety and physical agitation, or treat the nightmares and sleep problems that trouble many people with PTSD.
Other treatments including complementary and alternative therapies are also increasingly being used to help people with PTSD. These approaches provide treatment outside the conventional mental health clinic and may require less talking and disclosure than psychotherapy.
Examples include acupuncture and animal-assisted therapy. In addition to treatment, many people with PTSD find it very helpful to share their experiences and feelings with others who have similar experiences, such as in a peer support group. Acute stress disorder occurs in reaction to a traumatic event, just as PTSD does, and the symptoms are similar.
However, the symptoms occur between three days and one month after the event. People with acute stress disorder may relive the trauma, have flashbacks or nightmares and may feel numb or detached from themselves. These symptoms cause major distress and problems in their daily lives. About half of people with acute stress disorder go on to have PTSD. An estimated 13 to 21 percent of survivors of car accidents develop acute stress disorder and between 20 and 50 percent of survivors of assault, rape or mass shootings develop it.
Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy can help control symptoms and help prevent them from getting worse and developing into PTSD.
Medication, such as SSRI antidepressants can help ease the symptoms. Adjustment disorder occurs in response to a stressful life event or events. The emotional or behavioral symptoms a person experiences in response to the stressor are generally more severe or more intense than what would be reasonably expected for the type of event that occurred.
Symptoms can include feeling tense, sad or hopeless; withdrawing from other people; acting defiantly or showing impulsive behavior; or physical manifestations like tremors, palpitations, and headaches. Symptoms of adjustment disorders begin within three months of a stressful event and last no longer than six months after the stressor or its consequences have ended.
The stressor may be a single event such as a romantic breakup , or there may be more than one event with a cumulative effect. Stressors may be recurring or continuous such as an ongoing painful illness with increasing disability.
Stressors may affect a single individual, an entire family, or a larger group or community for example, in the case of a natural disaster. It is typically treated with psychotherapy. Disinhibited social engagement disorder occurs in children who have experienced severe social neglect or deprivation before the age of 2. Similar to reactive attachment disorder, it can occur when children lack the basic emotional needs for comfort, stimulation and affection, or when repeated changes in caregivers such as frequent foster care changes prevent them from forming stable attachments.
Disinhibited social engagement disorder involves a child engaging in overly familiar or culturally inappropriate behavior with unfamiliar adults.
Following a traumatic event, the mind and the body are in shock and almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD such as bad dreams, feeling fearful and anxious and constant throughs about the traumatic event. These are normal reactions to abnormal events and for most people the symptoms will run their course and normal life will resume.
This can take some weeks but eventually the symptoms will decrease as you make sense of what happened and process your emotions and begin to feel a sense of normality. War, terrorism, rape, natural disasters, motor vehicle accidents, physical and sexual assault, plane crashes, terrorist attacks, sudden death of a loved one, kidnapping, childhood neglect etc. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous or life-threatening event.
It is possible to develop PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or dies suddenly or witnessing a traumatic event or accident or natural disaster. The symptoms of PTSD occurs a survivor of trauma fails to return to normal and stress reactions get worse over time. Sufferers of PTSD will often, relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, they will have trouble sleeping, may feel detached or estranged from life and family.
Sometimes the symptoms can take weeks, months, or even years before they appear.
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