What’s the difference between PTSD and CPTSD ?

At speaking, events and corporate events for HR companies or department I am often asked What is the difference between PTSD and CPTSD ? This is something I clarify in my book #dealwithit – living well with PTSD

The major difference between PTSD and CPTSD  is that Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs because of a traumatic event, an event that has a top and a tail to it, a beginning and an end. It might be a mission overseas, it might be a series of time in-country etc

The difference between PTSD and CPTSD  is that the trauma that is associated with CPTSD has been trauma that has occurred over a prolonged period of time. 

For example things like captivity in concentration camp, being a prisoner

of war or long term domestic violence or long term childhood sexual abuse or entrapment.

In these cases often a person feels totally helpless and unable to escape from the situation. Many times later in life people will get recall of these events and it leads to the onset of CPTSD.

drjohnaking.com
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