Is That Feeling Creeping in Again?

That irritating inability to regulate your emotions. You can't quite tell how you feel, small things feel like big things. You know what they say about mountains and molehills… It feels like no one seems to understand what you're dealing with. Friends are feeling difficult to keep again and your circle feels like it's getting smaller. You want these relationships to work out, but for some reason it feels impossible to keep people as close as you'd like. 

Is your inner critic lashing out again? Maybe you've messed up a simple task and gone into a downward spiral, telling yourself that you're not good enough, or even worthless. You might be wondering, why do I do this to myself? Why do I feel so intensely about the simplest things? Why can't I hold onto the connections I know I want in my life?

It seems like everyone else can handle the things life throws at them, so why can I?

You've Been Through and Dealt With So Much Already, So Why Are These Feelings Still Creeping Up?

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is a relatively new term used to describe a more enhanced version of PTSD. C-PTSD shares symptoms of PTSD, with the addition of emotional dysregulation, negative self concept, and trouble in interpersonal relationships. C-PTSD relates to complex trauma and traumatic events. As you know, trauma comes in many different forms, but some common causes of C-PTSD can include:

• Prolonged domestic violence
• Childhood abuse
• Torture
• Other interpersonal traumas that disable that may disable a victim from escaping

Understanding and Treating C-PTSD in Young Adults and Adolescents

Young adults and adolescents have been shown to have more serious clinical symptoms along with serious neurocognitive deficits. C-PTSD should be taken seriously by both the treating clinician and patient. Some possible treatments and coping mechanisms include current treatment options for PTSD with emphasis focusing on long term mental health care. Research around C-PTSD is still ongoing, however coping mechanisms for PTSD like seeking social support, practicing mindfulness, and self-soothing are still recommended. 

For further insights into understanding and managing Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), as well as exploring coping mechanisms and treatment options, consider trying out the Mendu app.