CPTSD

[Lilmissbitty]

Why won't the people who were the DSM just accept that CPTSD is very real and needs validation and treatment? It's so infuriating.

[Absentmind]

I can understand your huge frustrations with this. I have CPTSD and I believe it delayed my diagnosis and treatment for a few years. My therapist has my diagnosis as PTSD with it not being in the DSM. He believes it will be someday. I work at a medical clinic and I have noticed CPTSD starting to show up as a diagnosis in charts. I feel like there is some hope it eventually will be with seeing therapists starting to use it. However, I also know therapists so invalidating and expect their clients to heal quickly and that is not how it works. Sometimes people need long term treatment to help improve their mental health especially CPTSD. Hang in there I am hopeful it will get better and people will become more aware of CPTSD in time and get the validation and treatment they need.

[Lilmissbitty in reply to Absentmind]

Thankfully my therapist acknowledges my CPTSD. It's the stupid American Psychiatric Association that won't acknowledge it and it's hurting so many people and children.

[Nathalie99 Partner]

I agree, there is more awareness needed and there are great contributors like Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine and many more that educate others.

It takes decades to get established and very well respected experts to be listened to.

Meanwhile, we still have basic CBT as a treatment and antidepressants as medications. It is sometimes hard not to despair...

Not having access to trauma therapy early on makes things so much worse and it is damaging to health...

[Lilmissbitty in reply to Nathalie99]

I love The Body Keeps the Score. It really put everything in to place for me. I finally found a wonderful trauma therapist but no antidepressants work for me. They are saying ECT is all that's left but, I'm telling them no, I'm working on it in therapy.

[Nathalie99 Partner in reply to Lilmissbitty]

I am so sorry they said ECT is all that's left, this is so bad...

I think trauma therapy can bring much better result, it is just very tough but worth it.

Antidepressants didn't help for my ptsd either.

Have you tried somatic experiencing, TRE, tapping or any other suggestions from books on trauma?

[Lilmissbitty in reply to Nathalie99]

I would love trying somatic therapy. I do have a book for learning about it and I believe some DIY methods. Haven't read it yet. My therapist has started the talking and she knows the IFS therapy which I really want to try. I think that would help me out a lot.

[Lilmissbitty]

I already have brain damage from MS so I definitely do not need ECT

[LaurieL13]

Good Question. My brother just disowned me saying I have always played the victim

[Gillyflower18]

My therapist is very aware of cptsd. She has worked with regular ptsd for a long time so used emdr with me too. I think my severe reaction the the memories it brought up really helped her. Emdr has really helped me work out a lot of my hidden problems. Still working at it but it sure has made a difference.