Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Window of Tolerance

Learning to Self-Regulate Your Emotions

Photo by Sydney Rae on Unsplash

One of the worst symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) must be the inability to get and maintain self-regulation. This article will focus on what self-regulation is and how to obtain it.

What is CPTSD?

CPTSD is a chronic condition brought on by exposure to multiple traumatic events.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is not the same as PTSD, which is born from exposure to one traumatic event, although the DSM-5tr lists them together.

Typically forming in early childhood from severe and repeated abuse and in adults, complex post-traumatic stress disorder causes, among other things, a lack of self-regulation.

Adult survivors with CPTSD experience many symptoms, including:

· Amnesia

· Alienation

· Re-victimization

· Chronic mistrust

· Anxiety

· Dissociation

· Flashbacks

· Nightmares

· Body memories

· Shame