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CPTSD Traits?

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Grandpalw

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I have read many many articles in regards to the behaviors, traits, feelings of those who suffer with CPTSD. All the articles may mention different behaviors exhibited by CPTSD sufferers. As I read each one I think, wow another trait that explains exactly some different behavior that my wife exhibited but I could not understand. But I have never found where anyone has tried to put together comprehensive list of these traits. I do understand that it could never be a truly comprehensive list as every individual reacts differently. But a few examples might be:

Restricted range of affect
Cognitive difficulties
Memory issues
Trust Issues
Hates crowds
Hides under blankets, even if 100 degrees in room
Withdraws under stress
Seeks high risk activities
Cavalier attitude toward death
Does not "get" humor
Proud of ability to not show emotion
Proud of self reliance
Prefers to be alone when stressed
Stresses out in normal situations
Difficulties interpreting body language of others
Does not believe self body language means anything either
Feels need to please everyone
Can't say no

I could go on and on. But my question is, does anyone know if such a list exists anywhere. Each article I read includes more different traits that I see. Or would anyone like to add to this list to see if one could be compiled here?
 
That is a good one, is it possible to share where you find that ? I can see myself fit with some of those traits myself. Hope you mind share where you find it.
 
Not sure if you ment to leave it off or not but you've left 'Suffers Flashbacks/ Re-experiencing' off your list.
 
enmat' , I left it off because my wife has not yet come to terms with her CPTSD, so I am not certain she suffers from flashbacks or re-experiencing, which is why I didn't put it on my list. But the reason I asked the question was exactly what I hoped to start in this thread, a conversation of traits that others had so these traits or behaviors could be found in one place.

LeoThe Lion, I didn't find the list, I created it from a myriad of articles I have read, and most importantly, from observations of my wife's behaviors, that seem to me to be related directly to her horrifically abusive childhood, and seem to tie into CPTSD. I was hoping many would comment and add to this list, or even remove from it, to better educate all of us,especially carers, so that we might gain a better understanding or compassion.

Before I was aware of CPTSD, I would tend to anger when I saw her reacting to her stressors with these behaviors. Now if I understand the underlying cause, I can try to cognitively adjust my responses in a manner that improve rather than hinder our relationship. Now this doesn't mean I am always successful and often I fall back into my old learned ways and just get angry, and we probably all know what getting angry at someone with CPTSD accomplishes, nothing but driving them further into there shells.

So I ask again, does anyone else, especially carers, see these traits or behaviors or any others in their loved ones?
 
Hi,
Elizabeth G. Vermilyea in Growing Beyond Survival presents a very comprehensive list of traumatic stress symptoms. All of the typical c-PTSD or PTSD symptoms fall under one of the following general categories. She goes into more details in the book if you're interested:

Psychological Arousal:
-hypervigilance
-exaggerated startle reflex
-poor concentration
-sleep distrubances
-irritability or anger outbursts
-panic attacks

Intrusive Recollections:
-nightmares
-sudden onset of intense emotions
-flashbacks
-preoccupations with the trauma
-hallucinations

Numbing/Avoidance Stress Responses:
-dissociation
-depersonalization
-disorientation
-amnesia
-confusion
-isolation
-denial
-numbing

Physical Stress Response:
-nausea or other stomach problems
-muscle tension, joint pain
-fatigue
-headaches
-weakness
-chronic fatigue, fybromyalgia

Additional Responses:
-self-harming behaviour, self-mutilation
-difficulties with sexuality
-substance abuse

The following are an elaboration on dissociation:

Dissociative Adaptation:
-time loss
-not remembering behaviour
-unexplained posessions
-fragmented memories of personal history
-fluctuation in skills (this probably what you mean by cognitive deficit)

Hypnotic Stress Response:
-spontaneous trance
-enthrallment
-age regression
-negative hallucinations
-out-of-body experiences

Process (Mental) Stress Responses
-passive influence
-hallucinations
-referring to yourself as we
-switching personalities/identities

Affective (Emotional) Stress Responses
-depressed mood
-rapid modd swings

Somatic (Physical) Stress Response
-pseudo or psychogenic seizures
-pain
-conversion (physical pain instead of emotional pain)

I would add that specific for C-PTSD are also problems related to childhood neglect and developmental delays. Difficulty navigating social situations and problems with attachment might be some examples. I don't have a literature reference for that though.

Best,
Bluecat
 
Unique To CPTSD?

Since this is a CPTSD Thread, I am hoping to discuss more about traits that are unique to CPTSD and differitiate it from PTSD. I realize many traits are common.
What traits do you think are unique to CPTSD. Below is another list I came across.


Symptoms of PTSD and C-PTSD
Sudden or frequent nausea/dizziness/faintness
Pain in the chest/heart
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Rapid breathing
Rapid heart rate
Inability to catch breath
Difficulty making decisions
Poor apatite
Difficulty taking care of physical or emotional needs
Vivid nightmares
Nervousness/shaking
Muscle jerks, especially in limbs
Jumpiness
Difficulty starting or completing tasks and projects
Fear that other's are talking about you
Fear that other's don't like you
Sudden feelings of sadness, anger, or fear with or without provocation
Distressing feelings of loneliness
Feeling that others cannot be trusted
Episodes of disassociation - severe daydreaming or zoning out
Feeling that there is no future, you have no future, your life/future will be prematurely cut off
Sudden blankness of the mind
Forgetfulness/memory loss
Argumentativeness/aggression/irritability
Selective mutism
Nervousness when left alone
Periods of inability to feel close to other people
Feeling that people will take advantage of you if you do not protect yourself
Feelings of guilt or shame
Feeling that you deserve to be punished
Boredom
Periods of restlessness - just wanting to move around or frequent fidgeting
Memory loss surrounding the trauma
Preoccupation with acceptance or approval
Self harm/self punishing
Phobias
Anti-social or disconnected behavior
No or limited interest in peers
Periods of disconnection from reality
Stutter or other speech impediment
Lack of emotions - feeling neutral
Difficulty relaxing - always being alert
 
WOW very information Bluecat! How did you come with that if there is no literature reference? Smile

I must have read it somewhere, but don't know where. Possibly Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman. Plus my personal experience, I am developmentally totally retarded, lol.
 
Hello Grandpalw,

If you ask a CPTSD sufferer how their CPTSD differs from PTSD, how would they know? The same if you ask a PTSD sufferer how their PTSD differs from CPTSD, they probably would know that, either. You might try various web searches to get a more specific answer to your question. CPTSD has been (generally) described as PTSD (often) with Borderline Personality issues. Good luck.
 
There is a huge amount of cross over between the two - and until C-PTSD is properly defined and classified then it's going to be hard to develop a very comprehensive list.

CPTSD has a more profound impact on the personality than PTSD, which can manifest in a variety of different ways. Some people can't repress their anger, I personally can't express mine at all. Some are totally anti-social, some have attachment issues that lead to heavy socializing. Some are massively agrophobic, some who suffered long periods of restraint are the inverse.
The key is at some point in our development (those of us with CPTSD) we have been abused/traumatized so often we simply can't view the world the in the way other people do. We've tumbled through a macabre looking glass and even though we've returned home again the experience has changed us in a deep and often twisted way. Those changes though depend entirely on the type of abuse suffered. So, I guess if I had that would be my answer if you asked what kind of traits were differentiated CPTSD from PTSD. The massive effect CPTSD has on one's personality, the way you view the world and your place in it. Many of us can't even begin to fathom that we have any level of basic human rights at all (like those to food, water, safety from abuse, safety from the threat of death, medical aid etc..) because of our experiences.

--

Also, with regards to your earlier plea for carers responses - you may have more luck posting something in the Carers section of the forum if you want to get carers replies. The PTSD bit is perdominantly populated by sufferers ;-)
 
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