General Definition of 'Complex'

[Anon1]

Hi everyone :)

I was reading a psychology book today - unrelated to CPTSD.

It defined the psychological term 'Complex' as "an organic network of compulsive attitudes beliefs and behaviors"

Is this was the 'Complex' in CPTSD refers to?

I just thought it meant 'complicated'!!

 

[Anon1]

Hi everyone :)

I was reading a psychology book today - unrelated to CPTSD.

It defined the psychological term 'Complex' as "an organic network of compulsive attitudes beliefs and behaviors"

Is this was the 'Complex' in CPTSD refers to?

I just thought it meant 'complicated'!!

And actually - in my country, we might say “Don’t wind me up about that situation - you’ll give me a compex!” meaning like - a psychological condition relating to nervousness or whatever…

 

[Movingforward10]

That's not my understanding of the

Hi everyone :)

I was reading a psychology book today - unrelated to CPTSD.

It defined the psychological term 'Complex' as "an organic network of compulsive attitudes beliefs and behaviors"

Is this was the 'Complex' in CPTSD refers to?

I just thought it meant 'complicated'!

That's not the understanding of complex in CPTSD. Complex in this category is essentially "repeated" or "more than one" or "multi layered".
I.e. abusive relationships whether a parent when you're a child or a partner when you're an adult. Or numerous traumatic issues.

 

[arfie]

in my own circles, the "c" in cptsd is hotly disputed. many say it is a social media darling and refuse to enter the debate or use the term. i first heard the complex in cptsd as referenced to prisoners of war. it referred to repetitive trauma sustained over a long period of time. i have since heard the "c" referenced as childhood, combat and complex. when someone uses the term during conversation, i always ask for clarification. i don't put much stock in names, but i do like to be certain what the other person is speaking of. call ^it^ whatever fits your case. please don't be offended if i need clarification.

 

[Anon1]

Thanks for the reply guys :)

I guess as I reflect on psychological terminology etc (I'm studying a relevant subject area at the moment - which doesn't make me *any* kind of expert, but is giving me room to think on the subject a bit); I'm increasingly feeling like people have 'models' of experience/symptoms/behaviours, but we really don't know what each person's unique perspective really is.

These names feel helpful for some things, but it doesn't seem like a broken leg which is - big surprise - a broken leg.

Rather it feels more like... a broad model, with lots of flexibility and nuance included.

Not sure if people agree with that or not.

But it seems like individual people really are individual people.

 

[Sideways]

Rather it feels more like... a broad model, with lots of flexibility and nuance included.

Complex PTSD was coined by Judith Herman in her book Trauma and Recovery.

It’s specified in the ICD 11, but hasn’t been included in the DSM 5.

People may mean all sorts of things when they refer to ‘complex PTSD’. Similar to the way Narcissistic Personality Disorder is now used socially with little actual relevance to the medical condition set out in the DSM.

If you’re interested in what it actually means, Herman’s work or the ICD is your best bet.

 

[Anon1]

Complex PTSD was coined by Judith Herman in her book Trauma and Recovery.

It’s specified in the ICD 11, but hasn’t been included in the DSM 5.

People may mean all sorts of things when they refer to ‘complex PTSD’. Similar to the way Narcissistic Personality Disorder is now used socially with little actual relevance to the medical condition set out in the DSM.

If you’re interested in what it actually means, Herman’s work or the ICD is your best bet.

Thanks, I'll take a look!

 

[Friday]

Complex Trauma & Complex PTSD are two wildly different things.

Simple/Straightforward trauma, like rape, murder, torture, death… MAY become PTSD. Or? Several dozen other things. Depending on the person who experienced it. Any one of DOZENS of different disorders, or? None. 10 people who experience the exact same trauma can delvelop 10 co pletely different things.

Complex trauma…MAY become PTSD -or- CPTSD -or- ANY of dozens of different disorders, or none.

It. Is. NOT. as. Simple. As:

Trauma = PTSD.
Complex Trauma = CPTSD.
That’s just not how it works.

Would that it were. But? That’s like saying a fever is ALWAYS chicken pox. When a fever? Indicates dozens of different possibilities. A cold. The flu. Malaria. DOZENS of different things.

 

[Anon1]

Complex Trauma & Complex PTSD are two wildly different things.

Simple/Straightforward trauma, like rape, murder, torture, death… MAY become PTSD. Or? Several dozen other things. Depending on the person who experienced it. Any one of DOZENS of different disorders, or? None. 10 people who experience the exact same trauma can delvelop 10 co pletely different things.

Complex trauma…MAY become PTSD -or- CPTSD -or- ANY of dozens of different disorders, or none.

It. Is. NOT. as. Simple. As:

Trauma = PTSD.
Complex Trauma = CPTSD.
That’s just not how it works.

Would that it were. But? That’s like saying a fever is ALWAYS chicken pox. When a fever? Indicates dozens of different possibilities. A cold. The flu. Malaria. DOZENS of different things.

Makes perfect sense - thanks for the reply!

 

[katz]

I had always understood that it meant was that there were multiple times and/or abusers...

 

[Survivor3]

I have a history of complex trauma but I don't have ptsd. I have depression/anxiety/and a very vivid imagination!!!

 

[anthony]

I had always understood that it meant was that there were multiple times and/or abusers...

Nope. Complex is the effect upon you, typically associated to compounding events / durational events. A single trauma does not tyically have the capacity to impact complex, deep rooted, symptoms within a person. They can be impactful and difficult on the person, but still can be removed and not come back.

Complex is the same set of symptoms that now form part of the persons identity, their personality, typically because the trauma was during childhood or was of such duration (long tours in war, captivity, etc) where it can change an adults identity / personality traits to the same level.