February 1, 2021
This article will focus on the final six symptoms:
- Feeling different from other people
- Feeling ashamed
- Feeling guilty
- Difficulty maintaining relationships
- Seeking out or becoming a rescuer
- Feeling constantly afraid
Let’s examine together each symptom and what it means to those who experience them.
The Final Six Symptoms of CPTSD
Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms listed above.
Feeling Different from Other People
Due to the causes of CPTSD, many who are living under its influence feel uncomfortable around other people. It may feel strange or distressing to be with others and one of the reasons is because the survivor feels they are different than other people somehow.
This description isn’t to say that survivors feel they are special than other people, but rather that they feel they don’t fit into any crowd. The loneliness that these feelings of detachment from other people bring is palpable.
One reason survivors feel out of place is they often feel they are damaged somehow and are unlikeable and weird.
Only after working hard with a therapist do people living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder begin to understand, at least on the surface, that they are not damaged goods.
Feeling Ashamed
Often those who live with the diagnosis of CPTSD feel intense shame about their bodies and their appearance. Some even feel they are stupid or crazy. However, none of these beliefs are true.
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