Finding Hope in a CPTSD Diagnosis

Light inside a complex disorder

Complex PTSD is often caused by trauma types that linger in the shadows, like ongoing neglect or sexual abuse.

PTSD is no mystery to the American public. Thanks to veterans initiatives, “simple” PTSD — while still far from simple —has made its way to our national dialogue. It’s often associated with soldiers returning from combat, and the story goes like this: Man is exposed to traumatic event in a war setting, has trouble processing or making sense of event, and has difficulty adapting to life at home. With movies like American Sniper and the newly launched third season of True Detective, PTSD is better acknowledged if still widely misunderstood and stigmatized. We’re beginning to scratch the surface as to what this disorder means for the people it afflicts: auditory and visual flashbacks, emotional surges, feelings of general fear and paranoia in response to triggers.

But complex PTSD, a disorder that affects many people from childhood on, is widely misdiagnosed. A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychological Science suggests that up to half of people that meet the criteria for PTSD actually have CPTSD. And it’s not just soldiers affected: In fact, studies suggest that foster children are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD or CPTSD than U.S. war veterans.

Studies suggest that that up to half of people that meet the criteria for PTSD actually…