Resolve to Rise

Complex PTSD vs. PTSD One of the most common misunderstandings about Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is that it is the same as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).   While they share some symptoms, C-PTSD is different from PTSD. It often happens after you experience repeated trauma, examples would be:   Childhood abuse or neglect Human trafficking Domestic violence   People with PTSD:  Re-experience their trauma through memories, nightmares, or flashbacks Avoid reminders of their trauma either in what they think about or by avoiding certain people or places Are hyper-reactive to upsetting experiences Because of the length of time  and repeat nature of the traumatic events, people with Complex PTSD have the symptoms of PTSD plus other symptoms:   The most common symptom is feeling separate or disconnected from yourself! In addition to that you may:  Have a hard time managing your feelings Have negative thoughts about yourself Use coping strategies that are harmful Fear

Approximately, 1 in 3 individuals has insomnia.  If you struggle with insomnia, you either...  Have difficulty going to sleep   Cannot stay asleep Wake up too early Sleep restlessly What Caused the Insomnia?  To address and resolve insomnia, it is helpful to understand the underlying reason for it in the first place.  The most common reasons an individual has insomnia are…   Anxiety and Depression (50-70%) Insomnia is often caused by psychological factors.  PTSD (50-90%)  c hanges occurring as the result of PTSD like hyper-vigilance, nightmares, flashbacks, fear of sleep are contributing factors to the high prevalence of insomnia for individuals who have experienced trauma.  Medical Conditions (20-30%) including, but not at all limited to, sleep apnea. In fact, many women in menopause find themselves waking up throughout the night.  Unfortunately, when individuals are struggling they often use various things to distract them from stressful circumstances that also interfere with slee

What is the Criteria for PTSD?  According to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to have a diagnosis of PTSD, a person must be older than 6 years old and have  been exposed to an actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence  directly, as a witness, or by hearing about it. Some individuals have experienced repetitive traumatic events, such as is present in abuse, human trafficking, and the like.    T here are a few categories of symptoms present, after the event and lasting for at least 30 days, for individuals who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and they include: Re-experiencing of the traumatic through memories, dreams, flashbacks, or significant psychological distress reactions to reminders of the traumatic event Avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event including internal reminders (e.g., memories, thoughts, etc.) or external reminders (e.g., particular places or people) Negative changes to your thinking or mood (e.g