Complex PTSD

When a child feels they are in danger or threatened by an event, this is called trauma. Trauma can occur multiple times in a child's life. Complex Trauma, when a child exposed to multiple traumatic events, interpersonal in nature.

Interpersonal, meaning they involve emotional/physical abuse or emotional/physical neglect. For example, a child that grows up in a home they did not feel safe in and their physical & emotional needs not met. The caregivers did not meet the emotional needs of the child. They had formed no bond with the child and regularly ignore the child or verbally or physically abused the child.

The child will then develop ways to cope in that environment and will carry these coping mechanisms into adulthood. These coping mechanisms may have served them well in the their home. The child may have developed high sensitivity or high alert to the moods of others. They may have been watching out for the mood of the adults around them are seeing how they might behave.

The child might hide their emotions, never showing fear or sadness or anger. These coping mechanisms or learned behaviours make sense when the child is in a dangerous or threatening situation. However, as the child grows into an adult, these behaviours may not be helpful in safe relationships, and they can be damaging to the relationship.

Children's lives revolve around their parents. They require a safe, loving, understanding environment filled with security, nurture, and support. Interpersonal trauma during childhood affects the child's attachment and can create an insecure attachment.

Interpersonal trauma affects a child's sense of safety. The child develops a poor understanding of boundaries as they don't learn about these during development. Because the child is not respected, and therefore, as a result of this, they create this sense of self. They don't stop loving their primary caregiver, no matter what the treatment.

They stop loving themselves.

They develop low self-esteem and self-worth and carry this with them into adulthood. As a result, they find it difficult to trust. Or on the other hand, it can result in the child/adult believing too quickly.

Many survivors experience rocky relationships and chaotic lives. They find it difficult, forming intimate relationships in adulthood, as their defences threaten to disrupt close relationships. Survivors of this type of abuse, find it challenging to complete education, remain in a job. They can struggle with finding meaning in life. They can find it challenging to stay in one place and hold down relationships.

Their lives are filled with chaos because their blueprint is chaotic; their childhood had many ups and downs. It is preventing them from forming safe, consistent relationships. They are surviving in crisis mode because they respond to repeated trauma; it's all they know.

The good news is, talk therapy works in building new boundaries, developing new coping mechanisms, and creating a supportive environment for adults of repeated childhood trauma. I have first-hand experience in this, and I can say therapy changed my life.

Complex Trauma - disruptions to a child’s sense of safety

• Unstable or unsafe environment

• Mental & Physical abuse

• Separation from a parent

• Illness

• Domestic violence

• Neglect