Complex Trauma

Complex Trauma

Complex trauma generally refers to traumatic stressors that are “interpersonal”, that is they are premeditated, planned, and caused by other humans, such as violating and/or exploitation of another person.

Interpersonal traumatization such as that by a parent or guardian, causes more severe reaction in the victim than does traumatization that is impersonal (i.e. a natural disaster, an accident, etc.) Plus, interpersonal traumatization is usually repeated and can become chronic.

Relationship with a parent or guardian should foster a feeling of safety and security for a child. Abuse by a primary parent or guardian instead causes extreme distress and creates a condition of insecurity and instability for the child. The child then develops doubts about the trustworthiness of others in general.

When abuse occurs with a family member or other trusted individual (i.e. clergy, teacher, coach, therapist), it often is repeated, becomes chronic and escalates after awhile. Knowing it can happen again, at any time, leads to a state of ongoing vigilance and anxiety. Abused children are always worried and hypervigilant. The energy that normally goes to learning and development goes to coping and survival.

Often the child is threatened not to tell about the abuse. Very often, they don't know it is not normal, nor do they realize they could talk to another adult. The result is, they never receive the help they need from an adult, adding another betrayal, another trauma. This trauma is labeled secondary traumatization or institutional trauma.

Complex trauma is often compounded and adds up, becoming a foundation for other traumatic experiences as they occur over a lifetime. Research shows that abuse early in life makes a child more vulnerable to victimization. They become caught in a cycle of violence and re-traumatization if abuse isn't acknowledged and treated. Because abuse occurs in the context of relationships, perpetrated by people involving interpersonal betrayal, they create difficulty with personal identity and relationships with others.

Trauma results in changes in the child's neurophysiological development that result in changes in learning patters, behavior, beliefs and thinking, development of identity, self-worth, and relationships.

Reference:

Christine A. Courtois, PhD & Associates

The term Complex PTSD aids with organizing and understanding the effects of long term abuse or trauma as one diagnosis. It is not stigmatizing since is recognizes the cause as outside the individual and not due to a character defect as attached to diagnosis such as borderline personality disorder!

These negative points of view have been held by many, if not most, mental health professional over the years, impacting their compassion for and treatment of traumatized individuals! As a survivor myself, I will not forget the way I've been treated more often than not by mental health professionals. Diagnosis such as BPD and malingerer only served to further traumatize me.

Watch for future articles about C-PTSD and a comparison of C-PTSD and PTSD.