In essence, the main difference between PTSD and C-PTSD is that the former can be caused by a single or short term traumatic experience (such as a tour of duty), while with the latter, the experience is longer term. Yet can also be caused by an ongoing stressful situation, such as a childhood spent in an unstable or unhappy home. We often think of trauma as something that develops after one upsetting, shocking or dangerous event, such as an attack or accident. 'Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you' - Gabor Maté ‍ Yet what exactly is C-PTSD? How can you tell if you might have it? And most importantly, what kind of help and therapy is available? ‍ What is C-PTSD? ‍ And even today, many people with Complex PTSD don’t even know that they have the condition, meaning that they aren’t getting the support they need. Previously, people with the condition were often mislabelled with a range of other issues, including personality disorders. Tara’s story is not uncommon - in fact, it is only in recent years that there has been a growing awareness and understanding of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But now that I know what the issue is, I know how to manage it and move forward. Why was I having mood swings? Why would I suddenly spiral into deep despair for no real reason? Why did life seem to be more challenging for me than it did for my friends, for instance, staying in a job or romantic relationship long term? At first, my GP diagnosed me with depression, but that didn’t fully explain my symptoms to me. Before I knew what was wrong with me - about three years ago now - I just couldn’t understand why I was struggling so much. ‘There’s the time before you find out you have C-PTSD and the time after it. However, these past few years have been a much more hopeful time for her. As a result, by the time she entered adulthood she already felt exhausted, burned out and lost, plus had a deep sense of somehow being different from others. Sometimes, her home environment could be stressful and many of her emotional needs were not met. She believes that this was caused by growing up in a home where both parents had mental health issues and serious life pressures. She also has Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise known as C-PTSD. Tara is 35, has a job that she enjoys in publishing and loves to travel. Whether it’s my boss being short with me or a friend not responding to a text, it doesn’t take much for me to spiral into all the feelings of shame, abandonment and fear that are core to C-PTSD’.

And that’s because for me, there can be triggers everywhere, in every interaction. I’m talking about jobs feeling unsafe, friendships feeling unsafe and, worst of all, even love feeling unsafe. And I’m not just talking about dangers like road accidents or diseases. ‘Sometimes I just feel as if the whole world is unsafe.

Complex trauma pete walker