At some point, most people will go through something traumatic at least once in their life. While trauma, in general, is complex, someone can also experience C-PTSD.

Many first responders and others who have experienced trauma don’t like to call it a disorder though. The reactions they are experiencing do not denote a disorder but rather a normal response to trauma.

What Is PTSD or Just “Post Traumatic Stress”?

First, we’ll start with some basics. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after someone experiences a highly emotional or distressing event. Some of the most common examples that can cause PTSD or post-traumatic stress are:

• Car accidents
• Witnessing or being the victim of a crime
• Surviving a natural disaster
• Sexual assault
• Death of a loved one

The common factor with all of these is that they are singular events. While many of these things can happen multiple times throughout somebody’s lifetime, the initial exposure is only once.

Signs of PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress

Now, even though those events are singular, that doesn’t mean they have little to no impact. The important thing to remember is that no two people will experience trauma in the same exact way. Common signs of post-traumatic stress may include:

• Nightmares
• Flashbacks
• “Stimming”
• Intrusive thoughts
• Insomnia
• Avoidance behaviors
• Muscle tension
• Appetite changes
• Gastrointestinal issues

What Is C-PTSD?

Above, we talked about events that are typically singular. While each situation is complex, C-PTSD or Complex Post Traumatic Stress refers to something different.

Complex post-traumatic stress is caused by continuous exposure to a certain situation or event. Some classic examples of this are:

• Childhood abuse
• Childhood neglect
• Domestic or physical abuse
• Emotional or verbal abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Being exposed to suffering such as a firefighter, police officer, or paramedic
• Being exposed to war, such as a soldier or a civilian

Signs of C-PTSD

In addition to the signs of PTSD we outlined above, someone who is experiencing C-PTSD may experience:

• Extreme irritability
• Dissociation
• Social isolation or withdrawal
• Development of unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drinking or substance abuse.

Can You Heal From C-PTSD?

While you may have been exposed to repeated trauma, that doesn’t mean you are stuck with the symptoms for the rest of your life. Healing from any trauma is possible.

In both PTSD and C-PTSD, healing won’t be an overnight process. As much as we wish it could be, the impact of trauma reaches far too deep to be a quick fix. One of the best and most effective ways to begin healing from trauma is through therapeutic intervention. However, although therapy is a great option, you can still do things independently in between sessions to help facilitate this process.

Effective Therapies for Treating Trauma

1. Therapy

People who have gone through something traumatic tend to blame themselves. They feel guilty and question themselves on what they could have done differently to prevent the trauma from occurring. Talk therapy with the right therapist is a powerful place to talk through and change this narrative.

2. Neuroptimal® Neurofeedback

Neuroptimal® neurofeedback is a unique approach in the field of neurofeedback. It is the most advanced algorithm and is based on the individual rather than on statistical norms or the skill of a practitioner. If you are interested in research, reach out to us. We have powerful studies from the Cloud Nine project assisting first responders to heal from trauma.

3. Theatre

Research supports theatre as a powerful intervention for healing from post-traumatic stress. Being able to take on other identities—to feel like a king or a queen or a simple farmer—can access and strengthen different parts of the brain to enhance healing.

4. EMDR

EMDR is a well-established approach to helping with post-traumatic stress. It seems like a strange approach, but research supports the results. Be sure to find a practitioner who is well trained and has years of experience with your particular kind of trauma.

5. Psychedelics

Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy is backed by decades of science. These medicines support the healing process for people who have often tried to find healing and relief for years. Please see our psychedelics information page to learn more.

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