When people hear the word trauma, they often think of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But there’s also something called complex trauma, which describes a different experience. While complex trauma and PTSD share similarities, they are not the same. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a guide to help mental health professionals distinguish between mental health disorders, has struggled with PTSD versus complex trauma, which has resulted in people with complex trauma often being diagnosed as PTSD. There is significant overlap between the two distinctions.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD typically develops after a single traumatic event or a short-term series of events, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or assault. Common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma.
What Is Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma comes from repeated or long-term exposure to traumatic situations, often beginning in childhood. This might include ongoing abuse, neglect, or growing up in an unsafe or unstable environment. Over time, these experiences can deeply impact a person’s sense of self, relationships, and emotional regulation. However, people with complex trauma may also experience flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma.
What Is the Difference Between Complex Trauma and PTSD?
While both involve trauma, the main difference lies in the nature and impact of the experiences:
- PTSD can develop from a single event.
- Complex trauma develops from repeated, ongoing trauma, usually during critical developmental years.
- People with complex trauma may experience symptoms of PTSD, but they often also struggle with identity, trust, shame, and relationship difficulties.
Healing From Trauma
Whether someone is living with PTSD or complex trauma, therapy can help. Approaches like Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, and somatic therapies provide tools for processing memories, calming the nervous system, and rebuilding a sense of safety. Healing is a gradual process, but with the right support, it is possible to move forward and create a more stable, hopeful future.
