Complex-PTSD
Most people are familiar with the idea that after a traumatic event in someone's life, they may experience PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These days, PTSD is a common, well known condition and there are an umbrella of types of therapies used to treat it. However, there has been a noticeable lack of research on Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD).
A big misconception about PTSD is that sufferers have to have experienced a large, or obviously traumatic, often singular event. What researchers are beginning to realize is that small, prolonged or frequent traumas that might not seem “traumatic” in the moment can build up over time and lead to what is now being called C-PTSD.
In addition to the classic symptoms of PTSD, such as nightmares, physical pain, vivid flashbacks, and sudden surges of anxiety, C-PTSD also includes more minor behavioral and emotional difficulties such as impulsivity, rage, and panic.
The most common causes of Complex-PTSD range from ongoing domestic violence (witnessing it or experiencing it) to neglect from family members and even exposure to substance abuse. These types of traumas can be just as damaging as immediate events in one's life. However, there are no standardized treatments for C-PTSD because every individual reacts differently to any given situation.
As Sherlock Holmes stated, “You can, for example, never foretell what any one man will do, but you can, with precision, say what an average man will do. Individuals vary, percentages remain constant.” So, while teams have begun to do more research on C-PTSD, the therapy options that they have come up with haven't strayed very far from the already implemented PTSD therapies, because this disorder is significantly harder to both recognize and treat.
This topic is currently so underdeveloped, that it is not even named as an illness in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) yet, the last edition of which was written in 2013. Lack of treatment for C-PTSD can not only lead to a lower quality of life, but also more detrimental mental illnesses in the future, and a higher likelihood of being incarcerated. In order to prevent these possibilities from happening, it is essential to continue researching this illness and brainstorming even more treatment options to ensure the highest possible quality of life.
