Have you ever heard of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)? The World Health Organization Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse conducted a study in 2016 that discovered the distinction between PTSD and C-PTSD. People with complex PTSD tend to notice feelings of trauma coming up more often, have more difficulty controlling emotions, are more likely to dissociate, you feel physical symptoms related to your past trauma, are more sensitive to triggers. Watch this video to see if you relate to some of these signs.
Disclaimer: If you recognize yourself relating to some of these signs, we hope that you use the knowledge towards your mental health journey and getting professional support.
#cptsd
Writer: Brie Cerniglia
Script Editor: Caitlin McColl
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
VO: Amanda Silvera (www.youtube.com/amandasilvera)
Animator: Sun Biscuit
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong
REFERENCES
BetterHelp. (n.d.). Dissociation and dissociative disorders. Dissociation and dissociative disorders – Better Health Channel. Retrieved from www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dissociation-and-dissociative-disorders
Gilles, G. (2018, September 29). Complex PTSD: Symptoms, tests, treatment, and finding support. Healthline. Retrieved May 6, 2022, from www.healthline.com/health/cptsd
Keeley, J. W., Reed, G. M., Roberts, M. C., Evans, S. C., Robles, R., Matsumoto, C., Brewin, C. R., Cloitre, M., Perkonigg, A., Rousseau, C., Gureje, O., Lovell, A. M., Sharan, P., & Maercker, A. (2016). Disorders specifically associated with stress: A case-controlled field study for ICD-11 mental and behavioural disorders. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 16(2), 109–127. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2015.09.002
Leonard, J., & Kubala, K. (2022, February 2). Complex PTSD (CPTSD): Causes, symptoms, behaviors, recovery. Medical News Today. Retrieved from www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322886#symptoms
Torres, F. (2020, August). What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
Tull, M. (2022, January 18). How a diagnosis of Complex PTSD differs from PTSD. Verywell Mind. Retrieved from www.verywellmind.com/what-is-complex-ptsd-2797491
WebMD Editorial Contributors, & Brennan, D. (2021, April 12). What is complex PTSD? the symptoms caused by chronic trauma. WebMD. Retrieved from www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-to-know-complex-ptsd-symptoms
Stress Advice That Everyone Should Ready About
Stress doesn’t have to control your life. No one needs to live in the constant state of stress that so many people have come to accept as normal. There are changes that you can make, starting right now, that will dramatically alter the amount of stress in your life and the effects of it. Keep reading for ways that you can get started.
A journal can help reduce stress. All it takes is a pen and paper and a few minutes to write down whatever is bothering you. Often just getting it out on paper puts things in a better perspective. Writing about our problems releases emotions that may otherwise be pent up, thus increasing our stress levels. Furthermore, seeing our problems on paper can sometimes allow us to see possible solutions to our problems.
One thing that you can do at work or school to relieve your stress is smile whenever you get the chance. When you smile, you automatically alter your mood from the inside out and make people around you happier. This will create a pleasant aura and help to reduce your stress level.
Try seeking out humor to relieve your stress. Whether it’s reading jokes on the internet, watching a funny movie, or going to see a comedian, getting a dose of humor in your life can really help reduce the amount of stress. It’s been shown that if you laugh often, you won’t be as stressed out.
Making duplicate keys and keeping them in safe places will give you one less thing to stress about! Being locked out of your home or car can ruin your entire day so think ahead and have a few spares made and stored wisely to avoid being stuck. These easy trick will save you time and save the stress of having to worry about it!
A great tip that can help you fight stress is to make sure you’re not spending more money than you have. There’s nothing more stressful than being in debt and having to repay a lot of money. Being responsible with your money will help you keep your stress in check. Start today at keeping careful track of where your money is going – you could be surprised when you see how much of it is really just wasted.
In order to keep your stress under control, it would be wise to stay away from caffeine. This is important because this drug is known to cause anxiety in some people, therefore making stress harder to deal with. It can be hard to break away from, but you will feel better once you learn to live without it.
In order to deal with stress, it is important to make sure that you organize all of your goals on paper. This is important because you then can see where you are at and what you hope to attain, thus giving yourself a sense of power over your own purpose in life.
In order to deal with stress, you may wish to consider completely cutting yourself off of whatever is causing your stress temporarily. This is important because sometimes we have problems with completely turning things off and often times this can be the best way. An example would be to turn off your work cell phone and computer for an entire weekend.
A great tip that can help you fight stress is to simply have sex. The act of having sex releases endorphins into the body. These chemicals go straight to the brain and have a significant effect on our moods. Having sex now and then can help keep stress levels down.
One way to deal with stress in your life is to be sure that you do not take up drinking as a means of dealing with it. This is important because alcohol will only make your life more stressful in one way or another. The only positive effect that it has is possibly dulling your emotions. If you feel that you need a drink, stop and analyze what you are feeling. Try to deal with what stress you identify in a more healthy way. Either tackle the problem itself, engage in some vigorous exercise, or listen to your favorite music – whatever works for you.
A great way to deal with your stress is to go to church. This is a great way to deal with stress because you not only will have the support of other people, but you can focus on what is important in life. Through prayer you may find all of the answers needed to remove stress from your life.
One way to ensure that you are able to deal with stress in your life is to make sure that you get enough sleep. Without the proper amount of sleep, your body and mind are not fully able to recover and you will not be in the best shape for making decisions and dealing with possible stress causing situations.
One way to deal with stress at work, is to have others assist you with your work via delegation. This is important because you have people there to help you and you should make the most out of your resources. Of course, this may not work for everyone but for those who have it as an option, it is extremely important to take advantage of.
Running is one of the absolute best activities you can do to help you reduce stress. Not only does it help you to clear your mind, it also releases endorphins into your body that help you to feel more relaxed. It’s not called a runner’s high for no reason at all.
Treating yourself to a luxurious, lengthy bath can be an excellent way to relieve tension. Add scented oil or soap to your bath water for an added aromatherapy boost. Read a favorite book, listen to restful music, or just close your eyes and meditate. A long soak in the tub can help you to let go of the day’s stress.
This article has shown you a lot of wonderful ways to start eliminating or reducing the amount of stress in your own life. Don’t let it stop there. Make sure that you pass this information along to anyone else you know, who is struggling with stress on any level.
Christopher Conway, the innovative mind behind “Love Blueprints,” is a seasoned relationship expert and author. His insightful guidance, drawn from years of experience and study, offers transformative strategies for modern love and dating. Christopher’s commitment to enhancing romantic connections has made “Love Blueprints” a go-to resource for those navigating the complexities of relationships.