Child abuse or neglect Prolonged bullying Stalking victimization Crises such as kidnapping or sex trafficking Domestic abuse Extreme violence such as military conflict, torture, or genocide campaigns Brainwashing A harsh environment Other types of mistreatment

Anger difficulties: Someone with CPTSD may have extremely inhibited anger, or explosive anger. They may alternate between the two. Depression: The person may show signs of persistent sadness, self hatred, and even suicidal thoughts. Anxiety: The person may be hypervigilant and perfectionistic. They may experience panic attacks. Blame: The person may blame themselves for what happened, fantasize about revenge upon the perpetrator(s), or obsess over blame instead of trying to fix a situation. Sexuality: The person may act impulsively in sexual situations, or have an extremely inhibited sexuality. (This is distinct from asexuality, which is a healthy and non-trauma-related sexual orientation. )

Forgetting experiences: The person might forget their traumatic experiences, and only remember them later. Reliving experiences: The person may experience “emotional flashbacks,” during which they re-live the intense feelings of a traumatic experience, either due to rumination or an outside trigger. Or they may experience PTSD flashbacks. Dissociation: The person may mentally detach themselves from the world.

Self blame: The person may feel shame, guilt, and self hatred. They may assume what happened was their fault. Feelings of powerlessness: They may feel helpless. Feeling different: The person may feel different from everyone else, and have trouble connecting to other people.

Isolation: The person may withdraw from human contact, feeling safer when they’re alone. Distrust: The person might struggle to form trusting relationships, feeling that anyone could turn on them at any time. They may even become hostile. Search for a rescuer: The person might wish that someone would swoop in to save them. Difficulty with close relationships: The person may have few or no close relationships, and these relationships could be disrupted by lack of trust. The person may re-enact their trauma by tending towards a victim role, or even victimizing others.

Seeing the perpetrator as all-powerful Obsessing over their relationship with the perpetrator Feeling that they have a special relationship with the perpetrator Idealizing or trying to appease the perpetrator Accepting the perpetrator’s belief system and rationalizations

Migraines Muscle aches and pains TMJ Stomachaches Chronic pain

Believing that the world is a cruel place Assuming most people will be mean to them Loss of hope or faith

Keep in mind that people with CPTSD can still have good days, happy memories, and close relationships with a few trusted people.

There was no physical violence The perpetrator was perfectly nice sometimes, or even most of the time You’re not sure it was abuse Other people experienced similar bad situations and weren’t traumatized (Some people are more vulnerable to trauma than others. ) The perpetrator really does love you Other people had it worse

Emotional dysregulation: emotions being heightened or flattened Negative self-concept Disturbed relationships (notably isolation)

It’s possible for people with CPTSD to have other disorders too. For example, one person with CPTSD might also have panic disorder and a phobia of needles.

Abandonment: People with BPD have an intense fear of abandonment, and they will desperately try to avoid being abandoned. People with CPTSD don’t necessarily fear being abandoned. Past relationships: People with BPD usually have a history of unstable and chaotic relationships, while people with CPTSD are more consistently withdrawn. Identity: People with BPD often have a very unstable sense of self. People with CPTSD usually have a more stable, but negative, sense of self.

Social fears and avoidance: Social fears in AvPD can be so extreme that normal tasks (like buying groceries or riding the bus) become difficult or impossible. They may avoid leaving the house when possible. People with CPTSD may be able to do these tasks, and only feel serious fear when an emotional flashback is triggered. Risk aversion: People with AvPD tend to avoid social risks. People with CPTSD tend to avoid anything that reminds them of their trauma (which may or may not involve social risks). Mood: People with CPTSD may experience mood swings, and extreme or inhibited anger. Mood swings are not part of AvPD. Sensitivity to criticism: People with AvPD are deeply sensitive to criticism. People with CPTSD may or may not be sensitive to it, depending on whether it is related to their trauma.

Cause: CPTSD is caused by adverse experiences in childhood or later. Autism is inborn, with signs being identified as early as the second trimester of pregnancy. [14] X Research source (However, autistic people are at higher risk of experiencing abuse,[15] X Research source which can further muddy the waters. ) Repetitive movements: Autistic people are typically fidgety by nature, including when they are calm, and may fidget for fun. People with CPTSD may only fidget repetitively as a stress response. [16] X Research source Social troubles: Autistic people experience social difficulties mostly due to social confusion and being misjudged by others. [17] X Research source People with CPTSD usually experience difficulties mostly due to fearfulness or moodiness. [18] X Research source Overwhelm: Autistic people may have sensory issues, and get overwhelmed due to too much sensory input. Sometimes this looks like a panic attack, and sometimes it just looks like being “sensitive” or “picky. " People with CPTSD may have panic attacks due to hypervigilance or a trauma trigger. [19] X Research source Sleep: Autistic people’s bodies may not produce enough melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep. Melatonin supplements often fix this. People with CPTSD struggle with sleep due to stress. Signs of autism: Autistic people will have developmental delays and quirks, and have intensely passionate interests. These aren’t part of CPTSD.

Even if it doesn’t turn out to be CPTSD, that doesn’t mean that the problem isn’t real or that trauma never happened. Doctors are usually (but not always) right. If you think there might be a misdiagnosis, speak up. They need lots of information to help give an accurate diagnosis.

There are not many CPTSD self tests available online to help you prepare. You may find it helpful to print out this wikiHow article, and circle or highlight every sign that the person shows. Write down symptoms even if they don’t match the profile of CPTSD. It’s possible that the person has something else instead of CPTSD, or something else in addition to CPTSD. Accuracy is important for getting the right help.

Because a person with CPTSD keeps reliving the trauma, healing can’t happen on its own. Getting treatment is important for recovery. [20] X Research source