Complex Trauma Residential Treatment

Complex trauma, or the prolonged exposure to a traumatizing situation can cause deep psychological scars that may persist for years. Complex trauma is a type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can have devastating effects on a person’s life. Learn how a complex trauma residential treatment program can provide the support you deserve and guide you toward lasting healing.

What is Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma, also referred to as complex PTSD, is a condition that has its roots in chronic trauma exposure. The person develops a chronic stress response due to ongoing and repeated encounters with traumatic or abusive situations.

Complex PTSD differs from PTSD based on the frequency of the exposure to trauma. Where PTSD involves one disturbing or shocking traumatic event, Complex PTSD involves ongoing exposure to a traumatic situation.

Examples of prolonged trauma exposure include:

• Ongoing domestic abuse
• Human trafficking or sex trade
• Emotional, physical, or sexual childhood abuse
• Being kidnapped or imprisoned
• Prolonged physical torture
• Ongoing crisis situations
• Long-term caregiving for a family member who is mentally ill, has dementia, or has a chronic illness

Symptoms of Complex Trauma

Someone who is struggling with the effects of protracted abuse or trauma will exhibit classic PTSD symptoms. However, they will also have additional symptoms. These include a co-occurring mental health disorder or substance use disorder that result from the long-term trauma.

Symptoms of complex PTSD include:

• Nightmares or flashbacks
• Angry outbursts
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Feelings of shame and guilt
• Withdrawing from others
• Feelings of hopelessness and despair
• Low self-esteem
• Dissociation
• Sleep disruption
• Easily startled
• Symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
• Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships
• Substance abuse
• Stockholm Syndrome
• Suicidal ideation

Causes of Complex PTSD

What sets complex trauma apart from PTSD is the aspect of chronic exposure. Instead of a one-time traumatic experience, the person with complex trauma has endured ongoing trauma. Complex trauma can begin in either childhood or as an adult.

Childhood. Complex trauma often begins in childhood. A child who is exposed to abuse, neglect, or violence on a regular basis can later display the symptoms of complex trauma. When a child endures an adverse childhood experience (ACE) it can have a lasting affect on them. To endure multiple ACEs leaves the child feeling trapped and powerless.

Examples of ACEs include:

• • Childhood abuse
  • Family member dies by suicide
  • Housing instability
  • Mental health conditions in the family
  • Drug or alcohol abuse in the family
  • Chronic poverty or neglect
  • Living in an unsafe environment

Adulthood. Someone who had a normal childhood may find themselves exposed to ongoing or repeated abuse or trauma as an adult. This chronic stress has the same affect on the adult psyche, causing the person to feel powerless.

Examples of adult chronic trauma include:

• Being in an abusive marriage
• Being the victim of human trafficking
• Being a prisoner of war
• Being exposed to long-term combat
• Being kidnapped and held against their will

How Complex Trauma Impacts Daily Life

Living with complex PTSD takes a heavy toll on various aspects of life. It is especially damaging to relationships, as it impedes the ability to form connections with people.

Some of the ways complex trauma affects relationships include:

• Difficulty in forming trust bonds with others
• Mood swings put a strain on relationships at home and at work
• Trouble forming healthy attachments
• Difficulty expressing needs and feelings
• Trouble setting boundaries, which can result in codependency

Another way complex trauma can impact a person’s life is an increased risk of substance misuse as a means of coping. Also, complex trauma affects the way you function at work and can adversely hinder career growth.

Complex Trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder

One of the common affects of enduring ongoing trauma and abuse is dissociation. Dissociation is a protective mechanism that allows the person with complex trauma to detach emotionally from their current reality.

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is one way that dissociation manifests in someone who is subject to chronic stress and trauma. In fact, about 90% of people with DID had histories of abuse or trauma in childhood. DID features split or separate personalities – a primary identity and then other identities called “alters.”

Someone suffering from complex trauma may subconsciously develop DID as a way to manage or redirect the feelings of helplessness. While the person was exposed to chronic abuse or trauma, they experienced a profound loss of control. The alters play out the emotional trauma that the person is left with.

Residential Treatment for Complex Trauma

Complex trauma residential treatment encompasses an integrated program that includes both evidence-based trauma-focused therapies and holistic activities. A residential treatment program allows the person enough time to work through much of the trauma. In this safe, supportive space, he or she is able to devote all of their time and energy to overcoming the complex trauma.

There are several types of evidence-based therapies to assist the person on his or her recovery journey. These are therapies that have been closely studied and have been found to be useful for individuals with PTSD or complex PTSD. These include:

• CBT. CBT guides the person in reframing their negative thoughts that only reinforce the trauma.
• DBT. DBT helps the person to develop emotion regulation, mindfulness, relating skills, and distress tolerance.
• EMDR. This is a type of exposure therapy where the person describes the trauma while following an object back and forth with their eyes.
• Prolonged exposure. This type of trauma-informed therapy assists the person in gradually becoming comfortable discussing the trauma in a safe setting.
• Role-play. In role-play sessions, the therapist guides the person to act out or voice their feelings by standing in as the abuser.
• Internal family systems therapy. This therapy identifies sub-families within the psyche that may be in conflict.
• Psychodynamic therapy. This type of therapy takes a deep dive into childhood experiences and traumas to find the source of the complex PTSD.

Treatment for complex trauma may also include medications and holistic methods that assist in reducing symptoms of stress.

Robles Ranch Mental Health Complex Trauma Residential Treatment

Robles Ranch Mental Health is a primary mental health treatment center. If you are struggling with the effects of complex trauma, a residential treatment program can offer the transformative healing you deserve. To learn more about our program, please reach out to us today at (866) 840-3841.