Everything you need to know about... PTSD

from the Mental Health Foundation

What are the key differences between

PTSD and Complex PTSD? PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) are both conditions that can occur after exposure to traumatic experiences. The key differences between the two are:

Type of trauma

PTSD is typically associated with a single, isolated traumatic event, while C-PTSD is associated with repeated, prolonged trauma (such as childhood abuse or domestic violence).

Symptoms

Both conditions include symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviours and feelings of distress. However, C-PTSD also includes additional symptoms, such as feelings of hopelessness, difficulty regulating emotions and a distorted sense of self.

Duration

PTSD symptoms typically emerge soon after the traumatic event and can persist for months or years. C-PTSD symptoms may take longer to develop and can persist for a lifetime.

Treatment

Both PTSD and C-PTSD are treatable, but the approach to treatment may be different. C-PTSD may require longer-term, intensive therapy, while PTSD may respond well to shorter-term, trauma-focused therapy.

In summary, PTSD is a result of a single traumatic event, while C-PTSD is a result of repeated and prolonged trauma, with symptoms that are more severe and long-lasting.

How is Complex PTSD described in the UK?

There is a degree of variation in how

C-PTSD is viewed. In the UK, Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is described as a psychological condition that can occur after experiencing prolonged and repeated trauma. This trauma can be physical, sexual or emotional abuse, human trafficking or living in a war-torn region, among others.

C-PTSD is characterised by symptoms that go beyond those typically seen in PTSD, including difficulties with emotional regulation, self-worth and interpersonal relationships. People with C-PTSD may experience feelings of guilt, shame and hopelessness, as well as an altered sense of self.

In the UK, C-PTSD is recognised as a serious mental health condition and is considered a separate disorder from PTSD. It is typically diagnosed by a mental health professional and treated with a combination of therapy, medication and self-care.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Feeling shocked and distressed after a traumatic event is normal, but most people feel better after a few weeks. However, sometimes trauma can cause difficulties in your daily life, including looking after yourself, trusting people and holding down a job. It can make you more vulnerable to developing mental and physical health problems.

PTSD causes three main groups of symptoms:

⚫ Reliving the event. This can include flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and physical symptoms such as pain or nausea.

⚫ Avoiding people or places that remind you of the traumatic event. You might distract yourself with

work or hobbies and try not to talk about what happened. You may try to deal with the pain by becoming emotionally numb.

⚫ Feeling on edge. You might be easily startled and feel you’re constantly on alert for danger. This is called hypervigilance. You may feel anxious, irritable or angry and have difficulty concentrating or sleeping.

Why does PTSD develop?

While this isn’t clear, there are a number of possible reasons:

⚫ It could be an automatic survival mechanism intended to help you survive further trauma. Flashbacks force you to relive the event in detail so you’re prepared if it happens again; being on guard means you can react quickly if another crisis happens. While in theory this is intended to help you survive, in reality, it stops you from processing your trauma and moving forward with your life.

⚫ When you’re in danger, your body produces stress hormones to trigger a ‘fight or flight’ reaction to help you survive. People with PTSD can have unusually high levels of stress hormones even when they’re out of danger. This could be why you feel on edge or numb.

⚫ Scans have shown changes to the part of the brain responsible for emotions and memory in people with PTSD. This can stop you from processing flashbacks and nightmares properly, meaning you feel anxious.

Getting support

PTSD can be treated years after the traumatic event occurred, so it’s never too late to get help. Speak to your GP if you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD or C-PTSD.

For more information, visit mentalhealth.org.uk