Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 5
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
After years of not understanding what is wrong with me (and my family), several of them in sobriety, now I do,
My husband of 40 years exhibits extreme avoidance when something scares him. In my journey to understand avoidance, I looked it up on Reddit and got hundreds of hits on Complex Post-Traumatic Disorder. So, I read Pete Walker's book, "CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving," and my brain melted. It's me. It's my husband. It's our parents and grandparents, and further, with trauma traveling to the US on starvation ships, as near as I can tell.
The diagnosis is not in the DSM, mainly because meds are not the treatment. I suspect that much of what is diagnosed as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, etc., is actually CPTSD.
I was wondering if anyone else is interested in this topic? I know it is well-known thing in Europe, but the US is "special" in its deference to God and big pharm. IMO, it is astonishing that anyone gets sober in the US!
My husband of 40 years exhibits extreme avoidance when something scares him. In my journey to understand avoidance, I looked it up on Reddit and got hundreds of hits on Complex Post-Traumatic Disorder. So, I read Pete Walker's book, "CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving," and my brain melted. It's me. It's my husband. It's our parents and grandparents, and further, with trauma traveling to the US on starvation ships, as near as I can tell.
The diagnosis is not in the DSM, mainly because meds are not the treatment. I suspect that much of what is diagnosed as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, etc., is actually CPTSD.
I was wondering if anyone else is interested in this topic? I know it is well-known thing in Europe, but the US is "special" in its deference to God and big pharm. IMO, it is astonishing that anyone gets sober in the US!
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 13,560
Very interesting. I am so sorry that both of you are going through this.
I think EMDR therapy has a relatively successful rate of treating this if you find someone who knows what they are doing.
I agree with you on it's a wonder anyone ever gets well and sober in the US!!!
I think EMDR therapy has a relatively successful rate of treating this if you find someone who knows what they are doing.
I agree with you on it's a wonder anyone ever gets well and sober in the US!!!
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,666
Originally Posted by TracyToast 
I was wondering if anyone else is interested in this topic?
The only real resources I have found thus far have been online.
Richard Grannon- 'the Spartan Life Coach' and 'Narcissism Survivor' would be among my personal favorites.
You're not alone... All the best in your recovery
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London, England
Posts: 7,057
I have it too. I have opted out of life. I keep myself safe by isolating, barely engaging with others. Everything is a potential trigger so its easier this way.
Unfortunately safe as I try and keep myself some things can't be avoided. Then its always there, waiting to pounce. A horrible deliberating disorder that isn't well understood.
Horrible.
Unfortunately safe as I try and keep myself some things can't be avoided. Then its always there, waiting to pounce. A horrible deliberating disorder that isn't well understood.
Horrible.
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