Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has only recently been officially recognized and is now the subject of a great deal of research because of the huge economic impact it has.

Often the result of being long-term bullied at work or online or even in volunteer organizations, it can lead to triggering the first episode of Bipolar Disorder, as well as Anxiety/Panic Disorders, Severe & Chronic Depression. It leads to sick days taken, even unpaid days taken, even simply becoming unable to any longer be able to function at work. It is an only recently recognized huge financial burden on businesses which is helping spur (but still too slowly) the training of managers and human resources to be responsive to bullying. Unfortunately, if the manager(s) or people in human resources are part of the bullying problem, sometimes bullies themselves or sometimes "snowed" by the charming, disarming and seemingly reasonable depiction of the bullied person as being the actual trouble-maker... Or as being emotionally disturbed to begin with, being the cause of their own THINKING they are being bullied.

The Complex Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by physical and/or sexual and/or emotional abuse during early childhood is considered to be the cause of the syndrome currently still officially known as "Borderline Personality Disorder".

Women (and men, too) who are emotionally abused within a close relationship, with the hallmarks of control-freakery, crazy-making, isolation from friends and family, as well as verbal and/or physical abuse - and, if the person tries to flee the relationship, stalking and terror-inducing behavior. This also leads to this type of PTSD.

This type of disorder is often seen, too, in law-enforcement in some work conditions and in many returning veterans, even if they have not had a specific critical trauma circumstance like being injured severely or witnessing the killing of comrades.

For many many years, beginning with what was first labeled SHELL SHOCK, PTSD was considered to be the result of a single overwhelming traumatic experience. A severe battle or assault, a terrifying accident (like a plane crash, et al), kidnapping, especially vicious rape - the "official definition" of PTSD meant something that was the result of a single instance of trauma.

Complex Post Traumatic Disorder due to Chronic Prolonged Abuse leads to a great deal of economic problems due to no longer being able to be productively employed, leading to bankruptcies, loss of home and sometimes family, even homelessness. Tremendous numbers will end up in on disability or, if they don't realize they can claim disability and wait too long, then extreme poverty and only SSI and Medicaid and limited housing opportunities.

Because of the increasing recognition of this type of PTSD, it is leading to the training of mental health professionals in recognizing the symptoms. Research is now going into trying to understand how best to treat the syndrome.

What the main problems are is
1) the victim being unable to seek mental health help or
2) the victim not recognizing that what is happening is abuse if it is not a fist in the face or
3) the victim's fear that seeking out a shrink will label him/her as "a head case" or
4) the victim thinking that all that is happening is somehow his/her own fault and that he can't yell help, but must just keep trying harder to get the abuser to stop the abuse. Of course, that doesn't happen.

However, what IS known already is that the best recovery for PTSD victims is when treatment begins as soon as possible. Once months and years of abuse have passed, the problems for the victim are deep and extreme, their very personality having changed..

So it is important that this group, this forum, recognize that PTSD is not a "one size fits all" problem. I think this post should be a sticky.

OneMoretime

are you saying that complex post traumatic stress disorder is different in some ways from PTSD or are you saying that the cause is different but it has the same characteristics as ptsd , or do both apply?

If the best chance of recovery for ptsd is to be treated as soon as possible, than complex post traumatic stress disorder by definition has a low chance of recovery?

I have thought about this in the past, never having heard of c-ptsd, that the definition of the cause of ptsd was very narrow and that people can become traumatized over time without having one specific life threatening incident.

I would imagine that this cause or type of ptsd is not accepted by the whole medical community at this time.

I have anxiety,panic,pain in my chest from chronic anxiety,OCD,depression,and now I'm out of work at 55,and cannot stand to many people because I had a dad who was most abusive with his flairs of anger,I was bullied at school,I was bullied at private school,I've been bullied at work over,and over by Bosses,workers,and others who could do their bullying thing. Now I'm 55,cannot stand people at work,I don't want to go outside,the center of my chest is hurting from stress,and my muscles are pulling in that area,and right at this time,I almost wish that I was dead. I'm living out in the country in a family member's old vacant house,and they don't understand what's happening to me. I'm angry,depressed,scared,and don't want to have contact with people,and I react emotionally now to the slightest thing that someone might do that I think is a violation of my honor,integrity,who I am as a person,my work,my hobbies,the way I think,and respond. So far Social Security disability won't help me. I have a sister who is trying to help me,but she has no clue of what I'm going through. Right now I just hate life,and I'm just trying to live day,by day. I have no clue what to do. I know that I'm not crazy. I even got hurt by a pastor. He was young, and inexperienced,and let some missionary punch me in the stomach two times,to expel a demon. They said I was that way because I was on my Doctor's medication,and they could not help me because of it. That was about 20 years ago. Around that time when I woke up,I would immediately have a panic attack. My sister says that she notices that I seem to have a hard time processing my thoughts in the beginning of what I'm doing. That's been true all of my life. I failed two grades even though my IQ is upper average. My chest is hurting deep down now,and there isn't anything that I can do about it. I cannot get much help at all,and this condition isn't getting any better. It seems to be getting slightly worse as the years go by. People in society never have cared much about people who are emotionally hurting,even though we are no longer in the dark ages.They only help what they see if they help at all. It's not fair.

We all eventually reach a point where we decide, Today is the Day that I CHOOSE to no longer be a Victim

This is the part of introspection that is necessary for us to make the mental change. It's about learning Detachment.
It's a long involved process, most days it's a daily struggle. For my journey, I started with the book "Stop Walking on Eggshells"(by Kreger) this book is mentioned in PsycheCentral and there is a bulletin board out there that relates to this. Once we learn to stop walking on eggshells, then we are better prepared to continue with the journey. This is not a cure-all, but it's certainly relevant material. ALSO, don't start trying to diagnose your significant other, or any other person with this. This is just a start to a series of self-help in the journey to freedom from feeling on a roller-coaster ride.
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/fre...ut-borderline/

More to come....

This is the first time I have been on here.

Im not sure if you are still contributing to this forum 'broken friend'

I too have Complex Post traumatic stress and live a bit like you do. I just wanted to say I understand the feeling of prefering to not have a lot of contact with others..sometimes having to cope with others adds to the detrimental thought patterns, and the feeling in the chest..like its a constriction/ avoidance of feeling/thinking really...UIts good you have your sister in your life she sounds supportive.

Let me know if you are still on this site, and if also how life is today for you?
My life is slowly improving...day by day....

Hope you are in a better space within

Hi Amii Allot of us talk daily in the Bipolar forum. I haven't been here in quite awhile. Thank you for posting. A friend on here told me you posted here.

Welcome to Neurotalk. I believe you will find help here. This tread was inactive for a long time. Brokenfriend

Good to get your reply thanks.

You say a lot talk on the Bipolar site..is that people with PTSD?
Amii

I have Complex PTSD and panic disorder. I also have 2 disc in my neck hernia. I understand what you are going through. I am going to therpy and am on meds to help with my disorders. I understand that you feel alone and no one understands. Chronic pain is a systom of Complex PTSD. No one can understand what we are going through. I am no longer driving now because I had an panic attack driving with my son in the car. I hate going any where because I have attacks. It is normal everything you are feeling. I would recommend finding a therpist that you feel comfotable with. I also recommend antidepressants. Try Binder and Binder for SSD. Don't give up. You have survide through hell and you are still here. Don't give the ******** that have done you harm the satifatiction of letting you live! Search the web for Mental health clinic in your area they go on your income. Don't give up, don't give in because you can win this fight.

Ok, I'm not here to argue because no matter what it's called, PTSD is a beast of a disorder!!! However, I do wish to say that all those things: "These elements include psychological fragmentation, the loss of a sense of safety, trust, and self-worth, as well as the tendency to be revictimized, and, most importantly, the loss of a coherent sense of self" ARE a part of PTSD!!!!!!

It won't matter to me if they add complex to the mix though. At least they're studying it!

I do wonder how much of the the extra effort for those supposed additional issues may stem from preexisting personality traits and experiences. From my understanding the main difference with PTSD and complex PTSD is the ongoing or repetitive nature of the abuse for the latter.

I completely agree.