Why is Complex PTSD So Hard to Treat?

 


Getting treatment right is crucial for healing from Complex PTSD (CPTSD). Too often, people aren't directed to the most effective therapies, leaving them feeling irreparably damaged and beyond hope. My journey from surviving repetitive trauma to working as a healthcare executive and clinician has shown me that healing is possible and resilience is within reach.


Let’s explore why CPTSD is so challenging to treat and how effective approaches can make a difference.


Why CPTSD is Hard to Treat

CPTSD is challenging because it stems from repetitive traumatic experiences, leaving you in a continual state of fight or flight. This means you are:

  • Re-experiencing the trauma through memories, nightmares, night terrors and/or flashbacks
  • Organizing your life to avoid trauma reminders
  • Struggling with negative changes in your thinking and mood
  • Dealing with dysregulated emotions 
  • Experiencing difficulty with relationships
  • Suffering from a poor self-concept

These issues arise from fundamental changes that occur in your brain, keeping you constantly on high alert and affecting your overall well-being.


Dissociation 

To cope with overwhelming stress, many with CPTSD dissociate, disconnecting from the present. While occasional dissociation is normal, frequent dissociation in CPTSD makes it hard to stay grounded and present. This disconnection can impact everyday functioning, making it difficult to engage fully in life.


Impact on Rest and Digest Functions 

Frequent dissociation and chronic stress disrupt your 'rest and digest' functions like:

  • Restful sleep
  • Digestive efficiency
  • Energy conservation
  • Nutrient absorption
  • Hormone balance
  • Emotional regulation
  • Immune function

These disruptions further complicate the healing process. If you have CPTSD, you likely have noticed these impacts. You may experience gastrointestinal difficulties, autoimmune disease, symptoms of insomnia, and other symptoms. 


Treatment Needs 

Because of the impacts and symptoms of CPTSD, effective treatment must address these challenges by:

  • Bringing you back to yourself and the present moment
  • Increasing awareness of your body
  • Calming your nervous system
  • Releasing reactive responses held in your body

Without addressing these aspects, traditional talk therapy will often fall short. There are a wide range of approaches that have extensive evidence to support their effectiveness. 


NOTE: You know the expression, "If it hurts when you do it, don't do it." This is a commonly understood approach when you have an injury and are healing from it. Use the same rule of thumb for interventions you employ to help you heal. When trying approaches, pay attention to whether or not you believe it is helping. Some evidence-based approaches may help some people while serving as a trigger for others; EMDR is a good example of this. So, if you feel triggered by an approach, meaning you notice an increase in symptoms like nightmares, dissociation, etc., it's time to pursue something else. It is NOT an indication that you are too tough of a case and cannot be helped. 

 

Closing 

Explore evidence-based approaches on my website at https://www.resolvetorise.com/trauma-and-treatment (for videos) and https://www.resolvetorise.com/resources (for information and books). Remember, CPTSD may be hard to treat, but it is treatable, and you can heal. Follow for more insights and support on your healing journey! #HealingJourney #CPTSDRecovery"


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Complex PTSD: How Do You Know if You're Dissociating?

Image
There are various types of dissociation and within each type there are various symptoms that would point to dissociation. Dissociation is only considered clinically significant if it is interfering with an aspect of your life, for instance, work or family.  When is Dissociation Normal?  Some degree of dissociation is normal and every person can typically relate to one or another of the symptoms; e.g., getting lost in thought as your driving home and not being able to remember the drive. In and of itself having a symptom isn't reason for concern, but when it becomes the way you navigate life it can have some significant impacts on your work, relationships, and life in general. If that is the case, it may be time for you to seek professional help.  13 Signs You are Dissociating  You drive somewhere or you had a conversation that you don’t remember You do something that you don’t remember You don’t remember how you got to where you are or you don’t remember putting on t...
Read more

What are the Characteristics of Complex PTSD?

Image
What is Complex PTSD? To understand how a person will behave, it helps to first understand more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). Individuals who have PTSD or C-PTSD share many symptoms. To meet the criteria for PTSD the individual has to have been indirectly or directly exposed to a traumatic event resulting in a death or leaving a person feeling like their life or someone else's life was in immediate danger.  They also must meet the following criteria for a minimum of 30 days, not because of a medication/substance and/or illness, and it is negatively impacting aspects of their life; specifically, they...  Re-experiences the event in one or more ways (e.g., memories, nightmares, flashbacks, etc.) Avoids reminders of the traumatic event Experiences negative thoughts or feelings that began or became worse after the traumatic event (e.g., difficulty remembering aspects of the event) Has an increase in arousal or reactivity after the trau...
Read more

How Do I Stop Insomnia?

Image
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...
Read more