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cptsd
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6 years of CBT. Results? Passivity in realtionships, locked down at home, fear, loose of all my creativity. There Is a big problem? See a psychiatrist. So meds and meds. And I was an artist. Fucking t…
FA trying to be more secure, need some insigh on relationship to have "fresh eyes" on it and not just my insecure one — Hi, So, I'm FA and my partner is secure. We're living together and are together for 9month now, it's going good and we're doing our best in the healthiest way to navigate the complicated stuff (I hav…
Success Story: FA/Disorganized Attachment Healing Roadmap, Resource Recommendations — **Hello, fellow Fearful Avoidants! The below post has grown out of almost 3 years of research and healing this attachment style, which in my case was coupled with Relationship OCD (ROCD). ROCD is a vi…
Unsent letter to a prior ex, in the midst of a current breakup. — I am in a crash course on my own nervous system while in the midst of a breakup with a dismissive avoidant man I've loved for almost five years. I'd known about the anxious-avoidant trap for some time…
What I'm realizing: I relate closest to others with deep trauma and that is a troublesome recipe. — TW: addiction, suicide, physical and emotional abuse, CSA. I have CPTSD, routine struggles with depression and anxiety and the corresponding executive dysfunction. I grew up with an alcoholic parent…
Weekly Newcomer Questions, Support, Vents & Victories — As the community continues to grow and attract people who are just figuring this all out, we've decided to change the weekly thread focus to be more open and encourage newcomer questions and support. …
The pain of being unmet... — I'm never sure whether to consider myself anxiously attached, or mostly secure, because I generally do fine if I feel really loved in my relationship. But where I fall apart easily is when I don't. I …
A lot more people are hurt/traumatized than evil — A lot more people are traumatized/ in pain than are evil. And I won’t say that evil people simply don’t exist, they do, but there’s fewer truly evil people than there are hurt/traumatized people who d…
I desperately need to be held. — I don’t know what to do. How can I cope with this emptiness? Will I truly never find someone to love me and hold me? I’m always afraid for myself when I feel like this because I don’t want to attract …
DA healing update: searching my true self, my inner child finally seen — Some of you may know me at this point. I'm (40M) dismissive avoidant, my wife fearful avoidant (41F), together 17 years, married 13 years, 3 children. I've been working on my attachment style for 5 mo…
I (28F) am tired of constantly having to ask or tell my partner (28F) how to love/care for me. Do I just move on? — I’ll start off by saying, I completely understand we have to communicate with others on the ways we want to be loved and cared for. This isn’t that anymore. My gf and I have been together for a littl…
The phrase "you're so strong" is pissing me off. — ETA: TW tags and NSFW added. I apologise. Had a dysfunctional childhood, abusive stuff of all sorts, was struggling with major depression and being extremely suicidal in my teens, have been through a…
Does anyone else watch nostalgic content to regulate their nervous system? — As a millennial, I've discovered that watching nostalgic videos more so from the 90s has really helped me to regulate my nervous system. I don't understand the psychology behind it but it makes me wi…
Feelings of self hatred without my crystals — I am staying in my mother's house, and I tend to get feelings of self-hatred. I don't know if it's me or the house, but I wear protective crystals. It helps. I left the bracelets off for 24 hours, an…
Dissociation and disorientation to the year: people with CPTSD ever struggle with realizing how many years passed in survival mode? — Sometimes when I try to be present, I suddenly realize how many years have passed since the trauma. A lot of that time I was dissociated or just surviving. That realization can feel overwhelming. It…
Dream journaling is really incredible for recall and now helps me in therapy — I recall all dreams I journal down now. I’ve been lucid once maybe and still fail at that but the recall has massively improved since one week! I have cptsd so those dreams mostly suck but I can work …
Therapist told me I was a narcissist during a session, completely shutdown. — Hi everyone. I have been actively looking for a psychiatrist or therapist to take me seriously when trying to pick through cPTSD, and autistic shutdown. The services in my province (Canadian) only of…
As a Codepedent I have bad routine, trying to change it now. — I am a Codependent. I realized one of the signs of healing is that you tend to want to sleep earlier. Before healing, when I was in CPTSD mode, which is all my life for the first 35 years of my life…
What We Really Need To Heal — Not sure if anyone else feels this way: but I'm kinda over all the "healing" stuff. Because it doesn't work. And I think there's too much pressure on survivors to "heal". The only way that we can …
Finally admitting I have an attitude of entitlement. — Need to get this off my chest: I’m realizing that at 35, I’ve spent a lot of my life operating with a mix of entitlement and a victim mentality. The short version is that growing up, I had a lot of t…
I realize Im not allowed to be anything less than above average with this condition. — I dont have a family who watches out for me. I don't have financial privileges. I'm by myself in this mess. Im not accepted regardless of how I am. - Other people will have a social life and people t…
Did anyone else find an odd sense of peace when COVID hit and we all had to self isolate? — Small confession: when the pandemic hit and we all had to self isolate, I found an odd sense of.. happiness? You wouldn't believe - (well maybe you guys would) how hard it is to explain my symptoms …
After 30 years of being a people pleasing, peace-keeping, manipulative, caretaking, dysregulated, codependency "addict," I've finally reached a point where I have enough control to simply STOP. In a very short amount of time, my whole entire life has changed. It's nearly impossible to describe. — The first part of this post is just context, and you can skip it all by scrolling down to **The Proof** I'm not going to go into much detail, but just for context: I experienced some pretty major chi…
I've noticed everyone wants someone with CPTSD to stand up for themselves until they actually do it. — I've been a very passive and pacifistic person for years, because I came from an abusive home. I never, ever wanted to inflict pain upon anyone because of the amount of pain I've experienced myself gr…
The best and 5 worst things I did after 5 breakups in 12 years chasing unavailable partners, and I just got marriaged on 2.14.2026 — I've been through 5 painful breakups over the last decades, all with the same pattern: I'd chase someone emotionally/physically unavailable—either a cheater or straight-up avoidant—who'd pull away jus…
I normally don’t like to talk about my issues outside of therapy because I just want people to see me as normal, but I’m 36 and still can’t get past the effects of trauma from my childhood. — I grew up with a mom who is obviously mentally ill, very likely borderline personality disorder at the very least. I grew up white trash in poverty surrounded by drugs and trashy people my whole life …
How to stop being a caretaker in a relationship — I didn't realise how much I was being a caretaker in a relationship and how it impacted my mental health. I feel really bad because I love and care about this person. He's grown up in a very abusive a…
Could use some compassion - I broke up with my ex of nearly two decades last fall. I was codependent on him for everything. — TW: a depressing and heavy post, self blame, neglect I left him last August after realizing we were holding each other back. I wanted to get married but he just… never proposed. At one point we did …
Does anyone else feel like they get emotionally injured in 70-80% of human interactions, just by simply talking? — I’ve realized that 70-80% of my human interactions feel like a boundary violation. It’s like these encounters activate my "festering wounds." Even simple conversations feel intrusive and leave me feel…
I finally found a job I can handle and I’m so happy about it — I’m 27, diagnosed with CPTSD, and keeping a job was nearly impossible for the longest time. I never made it past 6 months of working before having a mental breakdown and needing to quit. For the last …
People with CPTSD what are things that people just don’t get about it? — There was a time when my ex-best friend told me, “I don’t understand why you’re so depressed. All you have to do is pull yourself together and get up.” Her words hurt me so bad, and she didn’t even t…
[Partner] Wife’s suppressed severe trauma surfaced. She’s in extreme ‘flight’ mode, refusing therapy, and I am burning out. Need honest outlooks. — \*\*Added some new context at the end Hi everyone. I’m hoping to find some perspective, hard truths, or shared experiences from those who have navigated severe PTSD/CPTSD dynamics. I am completely e…
Anyone else from the US not motivated to survive a systemic collapse? — As a CPTSD survivor who already struggles so damn hard to get through the day -- physically, emotionally, psychologically -- I really don't have much motivation to "survive" whatever disaster is in st…
Does anyone else with CPTSD feel like they’ve become really hard to be around? — I feel awful even writing this, but lately I keep feeling like I’m just… miserable to be around. When I lived alone, I think I managed my CPTSD “better” because I could isolate, regulate, put on a fa…
Help me understand something...I am literally a victim of multiple gropings, physical abuse, a knife assault, rape and other crimes. How can I be "playing a victim role" if I am constantly placed in one? — What is up with people dehumanizing victims of trauma on social media and in real fucking life? For my very first relationship I was in a DV relationship and was beat for 3 years. I got groped as a …
What ACTUALLY helps heal a dysregulated/anxious nervous system? — I had an epiphany yesterday. My entire life I've been searching for the cause of my anxiety. Am I anxious about tomorrow coming? Was it something someone said? Is it an unfinished task? All my life I'…
Anyone here unable to work due to Cptsd? — Hey people, I had to stop working due to CPTSD symptoms after working in the medical field for 12 years. I was stable, or at least somewhat stable, during that time, despite the stress of working w…
Psychiatrist said "We all have some form of trauma" and she also said "blah blah" when I was sharing my trauma — Before anyone jumps in to say "try a different psychiatrist or therapist" you just need to find someone the "one". Well this is my 4th and I have concluded they all suck equally! Each new one was wors…
Some supportive words to all you going through this. — just as the title says, I wanted to share something with you all. A bit of trauma dumping. If you’d like to know how I was feeling a few weeks ago, you can look at my profile for my most recent post…
Have You Found Weed To Be Helpful For Your CPTSD Symptoms? — Hi there, I would like to know if anyone gets relief from weed, be it for depression, anxiety, worrying, inner tension, hopelessness... Whats your experience with it? Would you say it somehow increas…
I went to a Physical Therapy intake appointment today, and part of the protocol was asking "Do you Feel Safe at Home?"...........and apparently I said "no', but had no Conscious memory of saying that. OMFG. — I f'ing hate trauma bullshit CPTSD so f'ing much. I thought I was doing fine, wore my best workout outfit to my First PT apointment, so I didnt look like the hot mess that I feel like inside. I…
We need to address the truth that the majority here cant afford therapy — Yes its true. Not only is therapy super expensive(around 50€ an hour where Im from), but also most of the available therapists have no experience with cptsd and there are even less that have experienc…
Exhausted of healing — Does anyone relate to how exhausting trauma healing can be? Lately I haven’t had any big emotional processing moments (no heavy writing sessions, no major realizations) but the fatigue is still there…
Help Finding Fulfillment — So its been about a year and a half since my 6 six year relationship with my narcissisticly abusive ex ended and about 6 months since I went no contact. prior to the relationship I was already diagnos…
Anyone else here develop a brutal inner critic because of trauma? — Not sure if this is just a me thing or if other people with CPTSD deal with this too my brain can be exhausting sometimes like after a normal conversation i'll get home and suddenly my brain starts re…
I just watched a video on how ADHD makes us prime targets for abusive/narcissistic behavior, and I feel so defeated. — Hey everyone, I’m writing this because I really need to vent and see if anyone else here with CPTSD and ADHD has experienced this. I just finished watching a video by a creator named Danish Bashir a…
I was loved but I was emotionally neglected? — I was recently diagnosed with CPTSD, the cause being emotional neglect, but I don’t get it as I love my parents, they loved me and seemed like they cared for me, in school they’d always stick up for m…
The Drama of the Gifted Child - A must-read for those with CPTSD — Hello all, Today, I would like to share a book I had just finished reading: The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller. It took me a long time to finish reading, because of my intentional break…
Apparently, my therapist told the receptionist: "She keeps pushing on someone’s emotional wounds so they’ll keep coming back because she doesn’t have many clients" — As I was cancelling any further sessions with my old therapist today. (Already posted why here [https://www.reddit.com/r/CPTSD/comments/1s2nsut/i\_dont\_know\_how\_to\_trust\_my\_therapist\_again\_aft…
The thing cPTSD steals most of us is time — Time to grow. Time to make mistakes. Time to figure out who we are. Time to try things. Time to plan for a future. Time to re-evaluate. Time to rest. Time to enjoy. Time to learn. Time to liv…
3 month lock in challenge? Done. Next 1? FREE WILL — Hi lovelies, Near the start of the year, I did a 3 month lock in challenge that is ending soon. My affirmation: Isn’t it wonderful. Some wins: \- visited Brazil for the first time & saw the para…
I was neglected from birth till, well, now, and have CPTSD for 28479227392 reasons related to my parents and to other experiences. I don't think focusing on blame is useful. I can't blame my one paren…
The post is well-written imho. It's factual but easy to understand to me I have to admit, I'm so caught up in this kind of "pain olympics" thinking that I felt lost in r/cPTSD. I'm glad they link thi…
Sorry, the more correct term is fearful avoidant leaning avoidant, and DA and FA are their own categories. However, there are a number of variations among FAs, including whether we lean anxious or avo…
Yeah, it's learning to be honest and open up to the therapist and developing a safe, nurturing relationship with them (often the first one we've had) that does the trick. You gotta do that somehow to …
Funnily enough, I had healed myself up pretty well toward secure….then I got in this relationship. lol These past few weeks have *really* triggered my AP. It definitely opened my eyes to my (clearly…
As a fellow CPTSD survivor who has worked in the field for 2 decades now (internationally), both clinically and therapeutically, I want to give you hope; it doesn't ever have to get to the point again…
Do you recommend any insightful books or workbooks with exercises to start for CPTSD while I find a good therapist match?
One that was recommended yesterday in the CPTSD sub was Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker. I added it yesterday. Tons and tons of good reviews.
Yes, I edited, and yes, my comment contains some judgement (besides mostly description and perception, ie. judgement-free language). Non-violent, 100% judgemental-free Rosenberg communication, to me…
I'm sorry for the stress you feel and everything about it. It sounds like your life now revolves around him: \- You continue to have regret and remorse about the past. \- You are actively checking…
I'm 37F AP and my partner of 5 years is 53M DA. We're now in the processing of breaking up because of the anxious-avoidant cycle. I myself want out of it. I'm tired of it, and I've been the one overgi…
What you are experiencing is limerance; this involves idolising another or a relationship because creating a fantasy in which you are happy and can control ( because it's not reality) feels safe. The…
What do you want out of this? That's the starting question. This person said they didn't want a relationship? Do you want a relationship? This person has free access to you whenever they like, how d…
If you do experiential therapy and work through developmental trauma / relational trauma / CPTSD followed by repatterning, your autopilot reaction will organically become healthier and balanced.
Text of original post by u/f1rstpancake: I am in a crash course on my own nervous system while in the midst of a breakup with a dismissive avoidant man I've loved for almost five years. I'd known abou…
Wow I am sorry. I have felt similarly before and it is such a terrible thing to experience. There was a time, even, where I was paranoid that I was NPD (despite being, if anything, the complete opposi…
Text of original post by u/f1rstpancake: TW: addiction, suicide, physical and emotional abuse, CSA. I have CPTSD, routine struggles with depression and anxiety and the corresponding executive dysfun…
Have you read CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving? It really made it come together to me that CPTSD is an attachment injury and therefore, yes.
People are not being gross here, they're just highlighting the fact that children are fully dependent on their parents and need a certain standard of care and attunement to not be fucked up. And a kid…
I think you would undoubtedly have cptsd too
Yes, there have been a few very rough patches that have left some cPTSD symptoms
Becoming part of this group definitely self-selects people who are already touched by the spark of insight and change. You can’t unring a bell. However, that doesn’t automatically place everyone in “m…
I have major anxious attachment which is def a CPTSD symptom. I know that self love is how to heal this, but like what specifically does that mean? What self love things do yall do to heal this?
Hello and Welcome to /r/CPTSD! If you are in immediate danger or crisis please contact your local [emergency services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers) or use our lis…
That’s good for handling it with the person. Then there’s the fantasy part…if it were me (and it totally was at one time) I’d be asking myself why the fantasy is necessary in the first place. If it’s …
The CPTSD is really helpful insight and I’m going to look more into that strategy you mentioned. I definitely think I need the fantasy to play out because of trauma surrounding rejection from when I w…
Hi all - this could be considered a graphic post. Just FYI. I wanted to introduce myself and say why im here. My first memory is of being used as a human shield by my dad when cops pulled a gun on him…
Hello. :) I’ve been dealing with CPTSD for a long time now, and one of my biggest struggles is making meaningful friendships, especially in-person. I’m commenting here because I’d like to find other p…
I just came across the follow up post that linked to this one. I signed up. I am familiar with attachment stiles and have anxious attachment, stemming from CPTSD)Borderline. I've read a lot, but haven…
Do you feel like people who care ie friends and family make cptsd worse by you recounting the situation blow by blow that you find humiliating? All in order for them to know where you’re coming from? …
Text of original post by u/Kyuuki_Kitsune: I'm never sure whether to consider myself anxiously attached, or mostly secure, because I generally do fine if I feel really loved in my relationship. But wh…
I guess being polyamorous, there's nothing stopping me from finding new love and connection. And maybe if I found someone who met me in these ways, it would feel easier to shift my focus. I have spen…
My wife struggles with eatting. The appetite turns off like a faucet while eatting. Talking with her it feels like it stems from cptsd. Has anyone experienced anything like this or have any recommenda…
What advice have you gotten from your therapist? Learning self soothing techniques and other healthy coping mechanisms is important. Getting to the root of the limiting beliefs that you hold about y…
i have trouble understanding exactly what deactivating means in terms of attachment theory, but when i read what you wrote i can't help but link it directly to CPTSD symptoms. now i don't know if you …
If you get traumatised enough to get cptsd/ptsd, end up on psychiatric drugs due to someone (especially avoidants) that you've cared so much for, you might understand the knock-on effects. I wish that…
Things going well, but is it too good to be true? About 6 weeks in, seen eachother 2-3 times a week and spent weekends together. Obviously I (F32) did not do a good job at taking it slow…oh well. Am …
I kinda wanna hear stories of other peoples longest bouts of heartbreak and grieving. I'm not that interested in the relationship or breakup itself, just the confusing and lonely road ahead. It's be…
Funny enough I am aware of my attachment but at times not aware I am activated. I do have cPTSD so idk if it’s part of that. I am learning more, but sometimes I feel completely blind to my own brain a…
Jesus, Jesus Christ, I'm so sorry that happened to you. It makes sense that your struggling with getting pulled into reactionary emotional state and behavior that rhymes with the horrendous pattern o…
I put my analytical brain in the box. Every time I do my box, the last two things I put in are my body and brain. My body lays down on a bed (so I don't fall asleep), and then once I'm settled, I take…
Op, you are awesome for this but i have a question: 1. Certain personality disorders by their actions inflict hurt or harm to others: Anti Social and to an extent NPD. When the result of the action i…
Hello and Welcome to /r/CPTSD! If you are in immediate danger or crisis please contact your local [emergency services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers) or use our lis…
As an autistic man in my 30's, i really wish i had the same, but with a woman. I wish i had a woman in my life who i could provide genuine support for, provide my love and empathy towards, take intere…
I am sending you virtual hugs! I struggle with very similar feelings. I’ve only had one physically intimate relationship, and it took me until I was 25. It ended very quickly, and ever since the…
Even with Cptsd people I never felt comfortable to just cuddle friends. There are actually cuddle parties events but I always felt put off by them. I know I need touch but that doesn't mean I feel com…
Thanks! well, i like being an AuDHD person, it contributes to the way i think about things, and how i naturally perceive reality in terms of possiblities that must be investigated, rather than "social…
I get where you're going with this, but here's the thing. I don't uphold myself to societal expectations, i actually reject them, i view them as a form of indoctrination that teaches far too many peop…
Hello and Welcome to /r/CPTSD! If you are in immediate danger or crisis please contact your local [emergency services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers) or use our lis…
There actually are "cuddle groups" where I live, that are organized professionally. I have a depressive friend who was chronically touch starved after his wife left him, and I convinced him to try som…