Beginners Guide to PTSD and C-PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a neurodegenerative disorder whose origin is rooted in an experience or experiences of trauma. Similar in symptoms and causes, complex post-traumatic stress disorder is a subset of this disorder whose symptoms are, generally speaking, more severe. Although many experience traumatic events in their lives and some even experience symptoms of PTSD following them, this disorder is not widely spread, and, unfortunately, is widely misunderstood. That's where this beginner's guide to PTSD and C-PTSD will be helpful.

Some form of PTSD affects about 4% of adults, with the number of women being higher than that of men. This could be, at least in part, due to the negative social stigma surrounding men seeking help and expressing their feelings. Its origin is a traumatic event, one or multiple, that can come at any point in life. With C-PTSD, it's always rooted in childhood trauma and of a repetitive nature-meaning it happened over a long period of time.

Instances of trauma can be subjective because the amount of stress induced by situations is highly individualized and differs widely among individuals. For example, a person prone to overreactions- maybe due to a comorbid condition, such as autism or borderline personality disorder, could be inclined to the onset of PTSD in the face of situations less dire than others. Even seeing or hearing of another's traumatic experience can be sufficient in leading to this disorder in some people.

Studies have shown that PTSD runs in families, suggesting a genetic component to it. However, even with a genetic predisposition for it, the disorder will only be onset by sufficient occurrence of trauma. No one is born with PTSD, nor can it be inherited without explanation throughout life, which is why it is named as it is: post meaning after, traumatic being a description of the experience that onset it, stress being the primary symptom that's induced by it, and disorder being the general term for the unrest that warrants a diagnosis of mentally ill.

Once PTSD is triggered, it begins to build on itself, causing each subsequent stressor to be felt at a greater magnitude and increase the severity of the disorder as a whole.  PTSD symptoms are grouped into 4 categories. These are intrusive memories-like nightmares and flashbacks-avoidance of triggers or anything relating to the event, negative changes in thinking and mood-symptoms of depression or anxiety, and changes in physical and emotional reactions.

Manifestations of these symptoms usually come in one of two ways: anxiety or anger. This is one area where a difference can be seen among the genders. Men with PTSD are more likely to express themselves with anger or violence when triggered, while women more often respond with jumpiness and an increase in anxiety. This is likely due, in part, to gender roles and social norms-as society views anger to be a more suitable emotion for men and anxiety more acceptable among women.

In C-PTSD, the patient will experience these at a higher level and frequency for reasons including the prolonged exposure to the traumatic event, leading to more memories and triggers to ruminate on, as well as, the early origins of the disorder, pairing with its buildable nature, leading to more stressful life events amplified by it.

Outside those 4 categories, some other symptoms often found in patients with PTSD include: an aversion to touch, especially common in those with history of sexual assault; insomnia which may stem from the presence of night terrors, and disassociation- which is more prevalent in complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

Uniquely in those with C-PTSD, dissociation is also a common symptom. Dissociation is a term used to describe the feeling of disconnectedness from yourself or the world around you. It's a form of escapism, and is more commonly exhibited in C-PTSD than PTSD because of its origins in childhood. As we grow older, escapism becomes a less commonly employed coping mechanism, but when established at an early age, this tendency follows us through life. At its most extreme, it can even lead to dissociative disorders, but is also a symptom of some like C-PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

Brain

As neurodegenerative disorders, PTSD and C-PTSD both have a significant impact on the brain. Some areas this is most prevalent include: the medial prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. The medial prefrontal cortex, as the name suggests, is located in the middle front of the brain. This area is primarily responsible for emotional expression, attention allocation, and mood regulation, and is closely related to symptoms like the physical and emotional reactions. Next, the amygdala is named for its almond shape and located deep in the temporal lobe, which is behind your ear. It's responsible for hormone secretion in the brain, and, in patients with either of these disorders, releases heightened levels of cortisol and norepinephrine receptors that are associated with stress. Lastly, the hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe, which is in the back bottom of the brain. Its main responsibility is in storing and making memories. 

Treatment

In terms of treatment, PTSD and C-PTSD have almost the same options. Without the inclusion of a therapist-which would always be preferable-some ways an individual can work to improve their symptoms are through practicing mindfulness, journaling, and in relying on social support. These are three proven methods in decreasing the harmful effects of stress on the mind, so their implementation can be beneficial to the individual suffering. A form of social support that may be most beneficial is joining support groups.

While seeing a therapist, treatment methods one may consider to treat this disorder are exposure therapy, hypnosis, and EMDR. Exposure therapy is a method that allows the patient to combat their triggers in a controlled environment.  Hypnosis is less recommended ,as its validity is questioned among psychologists, and some people are not susceptible to it. A final therapeutic method that may be useful in the reckoning with PTSD is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, which involves the patient recalling the traumatic memory while having you move your eyes back and forth. This movement is believed to bypass the area of the brain that has become stuck from this trauma and prevents them from moving past it.

The purpose of each of these treatment types is the same. They aim to desensitize the patient to the memory of the traumatic experience so that, overtime, they're able to react less negatively to it and find peace. Exposure therapy is the most common employed method, as the other two each require that the therapist be specially trained in them.

Lastly, when seeing a psychiatrist, one may derive significant benefit from the addition of medication to their treatment. Most treating this disorder with medication will prescribe anti-anxiety and/ or anti-depressants, at least. Other types of medication that may be useful in its treatment are sleep inhibitors, if insomnia is presenting, and/or anti-psychotics which can help to alleviate flashbacks and dissociation

PTSD and C-PTSD are widely misunderstood disorders that stem from a deeply distressing background. It's only with an increase in this understanding that we may ally with these individuals and assist them in alleviating some of the pains of their symptoms.