Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD; also known as
complex trauma disorder) is a psychological disorder that can
develop in response to prolonged, repeated experience of interpersonal
trauma in a context in which the individual has little or no chance of
escape. C-PTSD relates to the trauma model of mental disorders and is
associated with chronic sexual, psychological, narcissistic (child) abuse
and physical abuse or neglect, chronic intimate partner violence, victims
of prolonged workplace or school bullying, victims of kidnapping and
hostage situations, indentured servants, victims of slavery and human
trafficking, sweatshop workers, prisoners of war, concentration camp
survivors, residential school survivors, and defectors of cults or
cult-like organizations. Situations involving captivity/entrapment (a
situation lacking a viable escape route for the victim or a perception of
such) can lead to C-PTSD-like symptoms, which can include prolonged
feelings of terror, worthlessness, helplessness, and deformation of one's
identity and sense of self.
Information taken from Wikipedia
According to psychotherapist Pete Walker, there are
four possible trauma responses that can develop as a
result of C-PTSD. They are as follows:
- Fight (narcissism)
-
Flight (obsessive-compulsive)
- Freeze (disassociative)
- Fawn (codependent)
