When Trauma Doesn’t End: The Difference Between PTSD and Complex PTSD
You’ve survived something hard. Maybe something life-threatening, maybe something that chipped away at your sense of safety over time.
But the danger is over, and your body still acts like it’s not.
If this sounds familiar, you might be living with the effects of trauma. Two common ways trauma shows up are Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). While they share many symptoms, they don’t always come from the same kinds of experiences, and healing from them often looks different.
PTSD: After a Single Event
PTSD usually develops after one major traumatic event like an assault, serious accident, natural disaster, or sudden loss.
Common symptoms include:
Intrusive memories or flashbacks
Nightmares or vivid, distressing dreams
Avoiding reminders of the event
Feeling on edge, jumpy, or easily startled
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
People with PTSD often feel as if part of them is stuck in that single event, reliving it even when they know they’re safe.
Complex PTSD: When Trauma Is Repeated or Ongoing
Complex PTSD develops after prolonged or repeated trauma, situations where escape wasn’t possible. This can include:
Chronic childhood neglect or abuse
Living in a violent or unsafe household
Long-term relationship or workplace abuse
Captivity, trafficking, or prolonged medical trauma
Over time, the nervous system adapts to constant threat by staying in survival mode.
In addition to PTSD symptoms, people with C-PTSD often experience:
Deep shame, guilt, or a sense of worthlessness
Emotional numbness or sudden outbursts
Difficulty trusting others or feeling close
A shaky sense of identity (“Who am I outside of survival?”)
Feeling detached from one’s body or emotions
It’s not always about childhood; it’s about duration and repetition. Trauma that continues over months or years can change how you see yourself, others, and the world.
Why the Difference Matters
Understanding the distinction helps you find the right kind of care.
While PTSD treatment focuses on re-processing a specific event, C-PTSD treatment often starts with stabilization techniques such as learning safety, boundaries, and emotional regulation before directly processing trauma. Both conditions are treatable. With the right support, your nervous system can learn that safety is possible again.
Therapies That Help
At Turn the Mind, we use evidence-based approaches designed to meet people where they are:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): helps the brain process traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge.
Somatic Experiencing: focuses on releasing trauma held in the body and restoring a sense of safety.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): works with parts of the self that hold pain, fear, or shame, helping them integrate with compassion.
DBT and Mindfulness-Based Approaches: strengthen emotion regulation and self-validation, which are crucial for complex trauma recovery.
If you’re exploring therapy, you might ask:
Does this therapist understand complex trauma? Do they move at a pace that feels safe for me?
If You’re Not Ready for Therapy Yet
You can still begin gentle self-healing practices:
Practice grounding techniques (name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear…).
Build small daily routines that feel predictable and safe.
Connect with others who feel trustworthy; even one person matters.
Notice moments when your body feels calm, even briefly; these are signs your nervous system can return to safety.
Healing doesn’t require rushing. You can start exactly where you are.
Reflection Prompt
Take a quiet moment and ask yourself:
Do I feel like one specific event still haunts me — or does it feel like my whole story has been shaped by threat and survival?
When I imagine safety, does my body believe it?
What would “feeling safe enough” look like in my daily life?
There’s no right answer — only clues about where your healing can begin.
Next Steps
If this resonates, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our trauma-trained therapists at Turn the Mind help clients move from survival to stability, one step at a time. You’re welcome to reach out for a free 15-minute consultation — or simply explore more of our trauma-informed articles and resources at turnthemind.com/blog.
