CPTSD/CRTR as a Normal Response to Trauma

[Kizzie]

The effects of trauma are indeed just that—effects of an event [or events]—and as such are causally related to the trauma and not to the harmed individual. .... when psychology and mental health professionals draw that causal path incorrectly, when the field fails to place the dysfunction solidly on the shoulders of individual and societal wrongdoing, survivors of trauma .... end up shouldering the burden. This, in essence, is pathologizing—the assumption that because individuals exhibit certain sets of symptoms, they are themselves disordered.  From Rosenthal et al, (2016). Deconstructing disorder: An ordered reaction to a disordered environment. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation 17(2). 

As this article points out, we are not disordered; rather, we sustained lasting psychological and physical injuries due to the abuse/neglect of others.  These symptoms we develop are normal responses to an abnormal situation; that is, the ongoing abuse/neglect we were subjected to.  These responses allowed most, but not all, of us to survive.  It is important to our mental health and to how we are treated by professionals, government, the public and family that we accept this perspective rather than accept blame for our symptoms.

[juliannmhall]

I really like this. I have been labeled so many negative diagnoses, particularly a drug addict or alcoholic. I've used or drank on and off for maybe 5 to 10 years of my life. But my other avoiding behaviors, like being a workaholic and a never ending doer, I have to be very busy to feel ok, they've been around my whole life. I've been diagnosed with PTSD for most of my life, but only one mental health care provider, in 45 years even suggested or tried a treatment for PTSD. It was EMDR. I was so young though, I only did it a couple times. I had no idea how much CPTSD was ruining my life already, I had no awareness or knowledge about PTSD or CPTSD or how my childhood psychological, emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect were already controlling my body, my mind, my compulsions, my instability etc.