cPTSD?

[Christonskiis]

Ok, I know it sounds ridiculous but I think I might have cPTSD after a relationship. I have been out of it for a year but I've just taken a screening test and it suggests a high impact on my life, which I would agree with.

So, how do I go about getting a diagnosis? Do I need a diagnosis to sort it?

Aware this probably sounds totally outrageous to a lot is people but I feel I should be much further on than I am.

Standard narc relationship with sexual abuse, some financial abuse. Just a bit of a mindfck really.

Any help appreciated.

I would say go to your GP but unfortunately unless it’s having a very extreme impact on your life you’re more likely to be prescribed anti depressants and a spot on a very long waiting list. Worth a try though, it may differ by area.

Otherwise, could you afford to go private for therapy?

Start with GP who will refer to local MH team where you'll be assessed by Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

I wrote a letter to my gp explaining the cause and my symptoms. Got diagnosed by my gp.

I applied for pip and use it to pay for a psychotherapist.

If you can afford it, go through https://psychiatry-uk.com/fees/. The consult is via video, costs £360, and you'll get a letter afterwards confirming the diagnosis and as well as recommendations for treatment. They sent it to my GP who contacted me afterwards to discuss. Cut out a lot of hassle.

Similar to a pp, I did a write up detailing my personal history and submitted it to the psychiatrist before our assessment. This helped tremendously with the diagnosis.

Best wishes. 💐

@PPinkFrogss I may actually be able to access therapy through my work.

Do you know if there is a specific type I should be seeking?

That sounds promising OP, I didn’t think of being able to get something through work!

There’s a range of therapies, I certainly won’t pretend to be an expert, I imagine you’d need an assessment and they’d be able to advise. It may also depend on what is available.

Again, definitely not an expert but I think CBT is an obvious one (and I believe generic “go to” therapy), I believe CPTSD is often misdiagnosed as BPD/EUPD so I imagine the similarities may make DBT useful? Also have a look at EMDR which is used for trauma.

There is a test which will indicate whether you have PTSD. I accessed help through local NHS self-referral for counselling. CBT helped a lot.

I would avoid CBT, lots of threads on here where people say it was a waste of time.
I would suggest seeing a psychotherapist.

I found a specific type of eye-movement CBT helped with PTSD. I can’t remember what it was callled.

CPTSD requires longer term treatment to establish a relationship with the therapist and stabilise the person before working with the trauma or doing things like EMDR.

Just to clarify, I had CBT 3, also known as Third Wave CBT and it really did help.

The GP isn't qualified to make that assessment

I've had CBT and it helped a little. Currently receiving EMDR therapy. It seems to be helping so far

Would a diagnosis help you? What are you looking to achieve? If it’s to avoid this type of relationship in the future the reading “why does he do that?” is a must read.

Worth noting that CBT can actually be harmful for cPTSD if you don't resolve the initial trauma first - EMDR is recommended 💐

Thanks all for sharing your experiences. I think I will look into therapy available through my work.

On one hand I know what he put me through can cause it, there's another part of me that says it wasn't that bad, he didn't hit me etc etc etc. I think I know what it was rationally but haven't fully accepted it was abuse if that makes sense.

I've educated myself on the ref flags etc so it's not so much avoiding it again, it's more getting out of where I am now.

But no I don't know if a diagnosis would help, although I imagine it would inform treatment options. I'm not sure though, this is all very new territory to me.

CBT is the only thing that’s ever helped me. I had PTSD (not cPTSD as far as I’m aware) and trauma focussed CBT was the thing that finally got rid of the symptoms especially the flashbacks and dissociative symptoms - EMDR helped a bit but not all that much, and psychotherapy was either useless or actively harmful. The NHS says that you should be offered EMDR or trauma focussed CBT if you are diagnosed with cPTSD, along with ongoing support.

Best wishes - I do hope you find the right treatment and support for you.

Thanks all. I'm in Scotland and it looks like I need to go through my GP rather than self refer so I will look into that on Thursday when I'm home after work travel.

I feel like a complete fool calling and saying I think I have PTSD, but I need to do it.

I remember feeling like a fool for saying I thought I had PTSD but the doctor did take me very seriously. There’s much better awareness around trauma and its symptoms these days. And if you don’t get a helpful response from the GP try another one. I suppose you can’t know it’s PTSD for sure without a professional diagnosis, but whatever it is, it’s messing with your life and distressing you and you need and deserve some support and definitely deserve to be taken seriously. All the best

I've been diagnosed with cptsd via long term cbt and dbt. I'm also diagnosed with psychosis so EIP fast tracked my therapy.

The dbt helped far more than cbt.

Don't fret about labels - bottom line is that you were abused and that needs to be addressed with professional help. Concentrate on that above all else.

Thank you.

I think I'm struggling most to accept it was abuse. Rationally I know it was but there is still some cognitive dissonance.