Story by: Sara Thompson on November 18, 2022
Most people probably have heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This anxiety disorder results from a traumatic event, which can be physical, emotional, spiritual or psychological in nature. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) has all the characteristics of PTSD and then some. Here is a breakdown of both conditions and their symptoms.
“Trauma is not rare,” said Jonathon White, LCSW, a social worker with Norton Behavioral Health. “About 60% percent of men and 50% of women will experience some form of trauma in their lifetime.”
Traumatic events include war, domestic violence, death and more.
“PTSD can happen to anyone, at any time. It’s not a sign of weakness,” Jonathon said. “Many times, developing this condition isn’t in your control.”
A type of trauma that is often unaddressed is race-based trauma. “It’s a culturally sensitive topic, so therapists may avoid bringing race into a therapy session out of racial bias or limited cultural insight,” said Jonathon. He recommends The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health by Dr. Rheeda Walker as a resource for helping navigate mental health systems.
The Institute for Health Equity, a Part of Norton Healthcare, was established to address health and racial inequalities in our community.
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Symptoms fall into four categories. Not everyone experiences these in the same way or to the same degree.
“Complex PTSD is pretty much just what it sounds like — a more complex variation on regular PTSD,” Jonathon said. “The symptoms might be more intense, more frequent or happen in conjunction with many other symptoms.”
CPTSD includes the symptoms above and:
“You aren’t alone,” Jonathon said. “It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help.”
If you are in crisis, don’t wait.
Go to the emergency department, or call 911 or call a suicide hotline — such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).
You also can call 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org.
Select an appointment date and time from available spots listed below.