Complex Trauma

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Post updated, republished with additional graphics.

PTSD vrs CPTSD

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a condition diagnosed by a medical professional. The term CPTSD also know as childhood PTSD or Complex PTSD is a term used to explain the effects of suffering numerous traumas.

PTSD

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs explains:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/complex_ptsd.asp

CPTSD

The National Health Service (UK) gives a explanation with symptoms

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/complex/

If you recognize some of the symptoms, reach out to a licensed mental health professional. This article provides information intended to educate interested readers to encourage you to seek appropriate treatment from a professional.

Understanding and Healing from Trauma

Image source: modified image:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcCVz4jMqM8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Tim Fletcher’s videos have assisted me in my healing journey.

Tim Fletcher presents 8 videos on Complex Trauma to introduce the concept. He gives an excellent presentation on the causes, symptoms, and how to begin to heal. He covers multiple areas of complex trauma–explaining how it develops, appears in daily life, and how to work toward recovery. His videos are easy to understand and generally applicable. He has helped me to understand the “whys”.

Healing is a journey. You can make significant progress in personal growth as you work through the core issues that are behind the negative emotions and emotional dysregulation (struggling to control emotions/reactions). For detailed information on emotional dysregulation:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/25065-emotional-dysregulation

Matter of Perspective

People carry trauma daily. It’s a heavy load that impacts multiple aspects of a person’s life. Here’s two simple ideas to assist you in beings a safe, compassionate person with others:

1. actively listen and engage in meaningful conversations with those who are hurting–invite them to discuss their difficulties and listen without offering solutions or advice and
2. acknowledge their suffering/grief, and support them in simple, daily interactions,
3. and understand your limitations! Not our role to heal others or provide advice, treatment, counseling, etc. We can be present and listen while referring others to professionals trained and equipped to provide the appropriate level of care.

A kind comment, hug, fist bump, or just acknowledging someone’s difficult season present opportunities to demonstrate God’s grace, truth, hope, and love for others. We are loving and wise when we encourage others to seek treatment. It’s helpful to pray with others and also to invest time in being present in others’ moments of need.

Theological Resources/Books

The following books have helped me to process the issues of evil, suffering, and faith:

Timothy Keller Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

Tullian Tchividijian Glorius Ruin: How Sufffering Sets You Free

Randy Alcorn If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

My Lighthouse

Recently, as I have been walking through some difficult moments, Rend Collective’s song “My Lighthouse” has helped me.

In my wrestling and in my doubts
In my failures You won’t walk out
Your great love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh oh
You are the peace in my troubled sea

We wrestle with doubt(s) and difficulties in our journey, but praise God that He doesn’t cast us away! Is He your peace in the raging storms of life?

My Lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse (oh oh)
I will trust the promise,
You will carry me safe to shore

The Light of grace and truth (John 1) shines a path to eternity and abundant life (John 10). He is our lighthouse that shines the safe path in stormy seas. We know that He will deliver us safely to Himself! His Promises are trustworthy! Peter writes 2 Peter 1:2-4 Berean Standard Bible:

2Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.