15 SIGNS YOU HAVE CPTSD (COMPLEX PTSD) | DR. KIM SAGE
Dr. Kim Sage, Licensed Psychologist・25 minutes read
Childhood complex PTSD stems from relational trauma and can result in chronic symptoms in adulthood, including mental health issues and difficulty in forming safe relationships, often repeating patterns from childhood. Seeking therapy and self-compassion are essential in navigating traumatic adult relationships and healing from childhood trauma.
Insights
- Childhood complex PTSD involves repetitive relational trauma, leading to chronic symptoms in adulthood, often unnoticed due to societal norms inhibiting symptom expression by children.
- Adverse childhood experiences are linked to chronic health issues and mental health disorders in adulthood, emphasizing the critical impact of childhood trauma on overall well-being and the prevalence of interconnected mental and physical health challenges.
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Recent questions
What are some common signs of childhood complex PTSD?
Signs include hyper vigilance, isolation, and emotional flashbacks.
How does childhood complex PTSD affect adult relationships?
It can lead to repeating childhood patterns and choosing unsafe partners.
What are some common mental health issues associated with childhood complex PTSD?
Anxiety, depression, and eating disorders are prevalent.
How does childhood trauma impact physical health in adulthood?
Adverse childhood experiences are linked to chronic health issues.
How can individuals with childhood complex PTSD navigate adult relationships?
Seeking help from a therapist and offering oneself compassion is beneficial.
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Summary
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Childhood CPTSD: Signs, Impact, Healing
- Complex PTSD is prevalent, especially in childhood experiences, yet discussing trauma from caregivers has been overlooked for a long time.
- A video titled "12 signs you may have cptsd" is being revisited and expanded upon to provide more comprehensive signs for self-awareness and potential healing.
- Childhood complex PTSD involves repetitive relational trauma, not limited to childhood experiences but also from various life situations like narcissistic relationships.
- Children are not as resilient as commonly believed, often unable to express symptoms due to societal parenting norms, leading to chronic symptoms in adulthood.
- Hyper vigilance, a state of fight or flight response, is a common sign of childhood cptsd, indicating a need for constant scanning and self-protection.
- Isolation can be a coping mechanism for those with childhood cptsd, seeking solace from the stress of human interactions and regulating their bodies.
- Individuals tend to repeat childhood patterns and relational dynamics in adulthood, unconsciously choosing partners who evoke similar feelings from childhood.
- Adverse childhood experiences are linked to chronic health issues in adulthood, emphasizing the importance of understanding childhood trauma's impact on physical health.
- Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders are common in individuals with childhood cptsd, highlighting the interconnectedness of mental and physical health.
- Dissociation, ranging from spacing out to severe daydreaming, can be a coping mechanism for dealing with trauma and escaping overwhelming feelings.
- A harsh inner critic, perfectionism, workaholism, and toxic shame are prevalent in individuals with childhood cptsd, stemming from deep-rooted beliefs of unworthiness and unlovability.
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Navigating Trauma in Adult Relationships
- Living in survival mode is a common experience related to anxiety and hyper vigilance, where every day feels like a matter of survival, even if the basic needs are met.
- Feeling unworthy is a prevalent issue where individuals believe they will never be good enough, leading to constant efforts to combat this feeling through various means like controlling behaviors.
- Emotional flashbacks are common triggers that transport individuals back to past traumatic experiences, causing feelings of fear, shame, or anxiety, often manifesting as depressive or anxious states.
- Being hyper and excessively controlling stems from a lack of control in childhood, leading to unrealistic expectations and standards in adulthood, resulting in chronic exhaustion and feelings of failure.
- Difficulty in trusting or feeling safe is a core issue stemming from childhood complex PTSD, where individuals struggle to trust others, leading to guarded behavior and a deep-seated belief that humans are not safe.
- Childhood trauma can lead individuals to unconsciously choose unsafe partners in adulthood, repeating traumatic patterns and creating challenging adult relationships, especially when dealing with narcissistic partners.
- Choosing to consciously uncouple or co-parent with an unsafe partner, like a narcissist, can be extremely challenging and may perpetuate traumatic experiences, highlighting the complexity of navigating adult relationships post-childhood trauma.
- Seeking help from a therapist can be beneficial in navigating traumatic adult relationships stemming from childhood trauma, but it's essential to offer oneself compassion and grace while dealing with the complexities of these experiences.
