New here, and new to C-PTSD

[labradorable]

Hi everyone,

It has just recently been suggested that I may be suffering from complex PTSD and I guess I'm looking for a bit of support and to get to know some other people who might understand the stuff that I am going through.

I have had mental health problems for nearly fifteen years and have previously been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder.  I must admit the C-PTSD label seems to fit better than all the others and it explains a lot.  It's just a shock and quite a lot to get my head around; up until yesterday I didn't even know about C-PTSD!

It would be good to know that there are others out there who understand and who maybe could point me in the direction of some useful reading, etc. to help me make a bit more sense of all this.

L xx

[arpy1]

hi and welcome to the forum, labradorable. (cute name by the way  )

i am the same, having done loads of research (no official diagnosis) i feel the CPTSD model is the best fit for my lived experience.  pity the mental health services in UK are not up to speed yet...

However... i have to believe i can get a long way on my own  with a bit of support from fellow survivors.  Hope the following books will help you.

my go-to books at the moment are Pete Walker From Surviving To Thriving   and Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps The Score

Also useful was Christine Courtois' It's Not You, It's What Happened To You

[labradorable]

Hi Arpy

Thank you for replying

Yeah I've not got an official diagnosis, it was my therapist who said that I meet almost all the diagnostic criteria by a long shot and then the more I looked into it the more I agreed.  I don't think it's worth trying to get my p-doc on board because they just don't seem interested in diagnoses these days (which is actually a refreshing change from the last time I was involved with the CMHT and they seemed desperate to whack a label on you and move on). The last p-doc I saw was really nice but said my flashbacks weren't flashbacks because they weren't visual (they were physical sensations) but I've since found out that's pretty common with C-PTSD.

Thanks for the recommendation of books, I will have a look at those.  I am currently looking at the academic literature around the subject (that is kind of how I prefer to engage with stuff!) but I think I will get to the point where I want to read the more accessible stuff too...  I just tend to be better reading about stuff with my academic hat on rather than, you know, actually having feelings

It's really nice to meet you anyway I really hope I can feel part of this community xx

[arpy1]

in which case go for the Christine Courtois book on same subject which is far and away the more informative:

Complex Trauma, a Sequenced, Relationship Based Approach Christine Courtois and Julian Ford.

it is better but much more expensive than the one targeted to non-professional popular audience. it was the one i wanted but couldn't afford.

The last p-doc I saw was really nice but said my flashbacks weren't flashbacks because they weren't visual (they were physical sensations) but I've since found out that's pretty common with C-PTSD.

... yep, i rest my case...

have to admit that even the driest academic tome can manage to trigger me, but hopefully you won't have that problem!

nice to meet you too 

[Boatsetsailrose]

Hi lab r adorable

I can relate to what u share -
I too had a long history of mh and this yr came across cptsd and knew' that's what I have..
I went on to self refer to a psychology service and told them in my assessment ( had lots of long term therapy in the past ) . I was assigned lead child trauma therapist and it was just wonderful to work with her - feel I made a lot of progress !
I would suggest to anyone to get proper specialist help - I think it's essential -
Someone who specialses in cptsd child trauma

This forum has/ is immeasurable for sharing / support/ information
Many speak of Pete walkers book 'from surviving to thriving' and I am working with it now -
He has much recovery from cptsd and is senior therapist who has developed an effective relational process for helping people

Labr Dorable writes

Quote 'it's just a shock and quite a lot to get my head around '
Yes I understand that I felt the same
What I did was just take it easy - read posts here ask questions where
I needed and post if I wanted
Re Pete book I took it very slowly and still do and it helps me then rather than overwhelmes
All best wishes for your recovery to finding more of the real you ✨💓