Heal Complex Trauma
Your resource for understanding, healing, and thriving beyond complex trauma
The Basics of C-PTSD.
When most people think of trauma, they imagine big, shocking events like an earthquake, a war, or an assault which is what we call “shock trauma” or “Big T” trauma. But complex trauma, or C-PTSD, is different. It isn’t about one single, life-threatening event. Instead, it’s the result of small, repeated experiences over time that shape us in profound ways.
I like to compare complex trauma to seaglass. When glass finds its way into the ocean, it’s tossed and tumbled by waves and sand until it loses its original shape. The sharp edges are smoothed out, and the clarity is replaced by a dull surface. Similarly, complex trauma can dull your sense of self. Maybe you had a parent who didn’t respond to your feelings, even if they loved you. After turning to them again and again without getting the support you needed, you might have learned that your emotions weren’t important or that you couldn’t rely on others to help you process them.
In the alternative, sometime complex trauma isn’t about what happened to you, it’s about what didn’t happen. It’s why so many people struggle to pinpoint the cause, even though they feel its effects deeply.
What is Complex Trauma?
A Closer Look at Complex PTSD.
Complex trauma is also called developmental trauma or relational trauma because it usually begins in childhood, during your formative years. Between birth and age 18, your primary caregivers are responsible for meeting not just your physical needs, but your emotional and relational needs as well. When these needs aren’t met consistently, it can disrupt key developmental milestones, like learning to trust others, forming a sense of identity, and developing interdependence.
For example, attachment styles, a concept many people are familiar with, are shaped by the trust (or mistrust) we develop by the time we’re just 18 months to 3 years old. If your caregivers didn’t meet your needs early in life, you might struggle with trusting others to support you as an adult. And because each milestone builds on the one before it, missing one can make it harder to meet the next.
Symptoms of Complex Trauma.
The effects of complex trauma often show up in subtle but pervasive ways. While everyone’s experience is unique, some common symptoms include:
• Difficulty trusting others: Feeling wary of relying on people or fearing being let down.
• Emotional dysregulation: Experiencing intense emotions that feel overwhelming or out of proportion.
• Low self-esteem: Struggling with feelings of shame, inadequacy, or self-criticism.
• Chronic anxiety or hypervigilance: Always feeling “on edge,” as if something bad might happen.
• Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships: Feeling disconnected, avoiding intimacy, or repeating unhealthy patterns.
• Numbing or dissociation: Disconnecting from emotions or feeling “checked out” to cope.
• Physical symptoms: Chronic pain, fatigue, or other unexplained health issues often linked to stress.
If some of these resonate with you, know that you’re not alone.
Complex PTSD is an adaptive response to unmet needs, and with the right support, healing is entirely possible.
Why C-PTSD is hard to pinpoint.
If you had a safe home, enough food, and caregivers who loved you, it’s natural to wonder why you might still struggle. The truth is, parenting goes beyond providing the basics. As therapist and author Kelly McDaniel explains, caregivers play a vital role in nurturing, guiding, and protecting their children emotionally. Even the most well-meaning parents may miss these needs for various reasons, often without realizing it. Pia Mellody explains that anything less than nurturing can cause trauma.
For example, a parent might have been emotionally unavailable because of their own trauma, work stress, or other life circumstances. These gaps don’t mean your caregivers failed completely—they simply mean your needs weren’t fully met, and that can leave lasting effects.
Understanding the effects of C-PTSD is a powerful first step on the path to healing. By exploring how it has shaped your experiences, you can begin to reclaim your identity and shift patterns that no longer serve you. Change begins with awareness, and healing is within reach.
I work as a traum therapist who lives and sees clients in Nashville, TN. I’m passionate about helping people heal from complex trauma. I’ve created this site to provide insights, resources and coping skills to help you through your journey of healing.
Curious about who I am and my journey into trauma counseling? Visit the About page to learn more about my background, credentials, and passion for helping others heal.
Hi there, I’m Weatherly.
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Complex PTSD deeply influences adult relationships, impacting trust, intimacy, communication, and emotional regulation. Discover common trauma-related relationship patterns and practical tools for healing and connection in this insightful guide.
The Difference Between PTSD and Complex PTSD
PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) share similarities but differ in key ways. While PTSD often stems from a single traumatic event, C-PTSD is linked to prolonged or repeated trauma, like childhood neglect or ongoing abuse. Understanding these distinctions can empower you to recognize symptoms, explore their impact, and begin the healing journey. Dive deeper into the unique challenges of PTSD and Complex Trauma and why they matter in recovery.
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