Is there a link between Complex PTSD and Autism

[Fitzo]

That makes sense. For me then, I believe I have experienced C-PTSD throughout my life. I feel like there is much more awareness around PTSD and media coverage but C-PTSD is not discussed much.

No it's not discussed much yet but I think that will change as more becomes known about it. There is not even diagnostic criteria under the DSMV so I guess people will be reluctant to put much emphasis on something that can't be officially diagnosed. Hopefully that will not be too long coming as I suspect it affects far more people than we realise.

 

[Juliettaa]

I think if you have autism, you are more easily overwhelmed, so maybe you can get ptsd easier??

But that's just my guess

In this particular thread the discussion is mainly around C-PTSD which would not develop just as a consequence of being overwhelmed.

Developmental trauma, or Complex PTSD, results from a series of repeated, often ‘invisible’ childhood experiences of maltreatment, abuse, neglect, and situations in which the child has little or no control or any perceived hope to escape. Growing up in an environment full of unpredictability, danger, parental inconsistencies or emotional abandonment, these individuals are left with ’hidden traumas’ that disrupts not only their psychological but also neurological and emotional development.

Emotional Sensitivity / Childhood trauma｜Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) —Eggshell Therapy and Coaching

My C-PTSD is a consequence of sustained, repeated and prolonged abuse - physical, emotional and mental and indirect sexual abuse. My diagnosis was made by a multi disciplinary team of medical professionals.

As adults we have the choice to walk away, however putting that into action is extremely complicated due to FOG - fear, obligation and guilt and Stockholm Syndrome.

Professionals have expanded the definition of Stockholm syndrome to include any relationship in which victims of abuse develop a strong, loyal attachment to the perpetrators of abuse. Some of the populations affected with this condition include concentration camp prisoners, prisoners of war, abused children, incest survivors, victims of domestic violence, cult members, and people in toxic work or church environments.

Why Stockholm Syndrome Happens and How to Help

 

[AuBurney Tuckerson]

Well, I doubt it triggers Autism. Autism usually is how the brain develops and is wired before you're born. Now PTSD may be common in autistic people due to stress from the environment (I.e. being in very loud places with bright lights and intense odors while people are constantly poking or tapping you, and the food doesn't taste as appealing) That situation will definitely cause PTSD. Now, abuse, I can't relate to that at all, sorry.. The closes to abuse I can get to was being picked on and having to fight peers at school or having to fend off cyber bullies on social media. That's just about it. But abuse can trigger PTSD as wellwell, and I can say that autistic individuals are more vulnerable to PTSD because the world is a bright, smelly, loud place for us. Social rules are completely alien to many of us, and processing things are harder. I can agree to that.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

In this particular thread the discussion is mainly around C-PTSD which would not develop just as a consequence of being overwhelmed.

Developmental trauma, or Complex PTSD, results from a series of repeated, often ‘invisible’ childhood experiences of maltreatment, abuse, neglect, and situations in which the child has little or no control or any perceived hope to escape. Growing up in an environment full of unpredictability, danger, parental inconsistencies or emotional abandonment, these individuals are left with ’hidden traumas’ that disrupts not only their psychological but also neurological and emotional development.

Emotional Sensitivity / Childhood trauma｜Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) —Eggshell Therapy and Coaching

My C-PTSD is a consequence of sustained, repeated and prolonged abuse - physical, emotional and mental and indirect sexual abuse. My diagnosis was made by a multi disciplinary team of medical professionals.

As adults we have the choice to walk away, however putting that into action is extremely complicated due to FOG - fear, obligation and guilt and Stockholm Syndrome.

Professionals have expanded the definition of Stockholm syndrome to include any relationship in which victims of abuse develop a strong, loyal attachment to the perpetrators of abuse. Some of the populations affected with this condition include concentration camp prisoners, prisoners of war, abused children, incest survivors, victims of domestic violence, cult members, and people in toxic work or church environments.

Why Stockholm Syndrome Happens and How to Help

Yes, I agree. I have ptsd.What I'm saying is that we may be more PRONE to developing ptsd after trauma because of our natural inclination to getting overwhelmed easier than NTs.

 

[Jenisautistic]

In this particular thread the discussion is mainly around C-PTSD which would not develop just as a consequence of being overwhelmed.

Developmental trauma, or Complex PTSD, results from a series of repeated, often ‘invisible’ childhood experiences of maltreatment, abuse, neglect, and situations in which the child has little or no control or any perceived hope to escape. Growing up in an environment full of unpredictability, danger, parental inconsistencies or emotional abandonment, these individuals are left with ’hidden traumas’ that disrupts not only their psychological but also neurological and emotional development.

Emotional Sensitivity / Childhood trauma｜Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) —Eggshell Therapy and Coaching

My C-PTSD is a consequence of sustained, repeated and prolonged abuse - physical, emotional and mental and indirect sexual abuse. My diagnosis was made by a multi disciplinary team of medical professionals.

As adults we have the choice to walk away, however putting that into action is extremely complicated due to FOG - fear, obligation and guilt and Stockholm Syndrome.

Professionals have expanded the definition of Stockholm syndrome to include any relationship in which victims of abuse develop a strong, loyal attachment to the perpetrators of abuse. Some of the populations affected with this condition include concentration camp prisoners, prisoners of war, abused children, incest survivors, victims of domestic violence, cult members, and people in toxic work or church environments.

Why Stockholm Syndrome Happens and How to Help

This is why am wondering about whether I havePTSD or cPTSD

I was in bad situations one originally when how do I was born and another not originally at least not to me.

My mom was sick when I was born .

My grandmother and grandfather got custody of me when I was one .

My grandfather died when I was six .

During 2007 a few years later my grandmother and I had a fire in our apartment .

We had lived in a one bedroom apartment with my aunt and uncle .

We could’ve lived in a hotel but my grandmother said she chose not to at the time because it would’ve been better for need to go to school school if I stayed with them and I don’t know what other reason but I believe there was another one

All of us had a hard time and got frustrated Back then we had many different problems and I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder .

Then in 2014 Some incidents happened. That I mentioned tireless times .

I think I was 15 at the time or 14 .

How do you know who have read this before I was abused by what I would call nurses but probably were staff at the hospital.

Some other things were happening with a relative as well.

There was also a problem in 2016 but that’s another story .



my question is if the main thing that caused you to be traumatized was childhood abuse abused by an incident even if it was one incident .

Would be considered CPSTD?

I am currently writing this post of being exhausted so don’t mind if I sound a bit all over the place Also since I use speech to text is very difficult for me to editing and do all that stuff etc

I may edit this or add more later ..

 

[Nauti]

Cptsd is caused by ongoing, severe and debilitating trauma. As in childhood sexual abuse that keeps happening, physical and psychological abuse and violence as a child or when in a long term relationship. Terrible neglect and emotional and care abandonment, on an ongoing basis, things like that.

I am diagnosed with, specifically C(complex) post traumatic stress disorder from childhood (developmental) and adult trauma, domestic violence and abuse, parent with a disordered personality (cluster B type personality disorder, not diagnosed, but my inpatients trauma specialist psychiatrist thinks it sounds like Borderline Personality Disorder; BPD) multiple rapes and childhood sexual molestation and assaults (I am in a group therapy program for the childhood sexual abuse now) teenage homelessness, and more assaults and sexual predation and rapes, drugging, and long term adult domestic abuse.

I don't think there is a causal link, because, autism 1 is genetic, but it's possible that the extreme sensitivities and difficulties of having Autism, alone, ADD to the body of trauma that results in CPTSD or PTSD.

Often, it's not so much the traumatic experience itself that causes the development of PTSD, rather it's how the person gets supported, or rather DOESN'T get supported after the event(s) that makes all the difference. That's why childhood neglect on top of abuse, is so causal in CPTSD.

Some of the symptoms that encompass Autism are, in themselves traumatic, so if long term neglect is added on to the those painful and debilitating conditions, that just adds to, and can become "The straw that breaks the camel's back" so to speak, that IS the development to an enflamed amygdala and hypervilgilant nervous system, dissociative "coping strategies" (non voluntary) plus trauma induced cognitive distortions that make up CPTSD (plus all the comorbidities that result from a constantly over-aroused nervous system. The list is loooong, so long) .

This is a comorbidity (to the ASD) that requires long term cognitive behavioural, therapy (CBT), some kind of dialectic/relational therapy and usually some kind of drug treatment, as well (I favoured natural ethnobotanicals for many years and experienced positive results but now only use benzos sparingly and judicially). Eating Keto-nically is also bringing me favourable results, as has a variety of artistic mediums, used in a therapeutic way.

 

[Juliettaa]

I think if you have autism, you are more easily overwhelmed, so maybe you can get ptsd easier??

But that's just my guess

Yes, I agree. I have ptsd.What I'm saying is that we may be more PRONE to developing ptsd after trauma because of our natural inclination to getting overwhelmed easier than NTs.

I didn't read/view your first post as described in your second.

 

[Juliettaa]

my question is if the main thing that caused you to be traumatized was childhood abuse abused by an incident even if it was one incident .

Would be considered CPSTD?

@Jenisautistic - from what you've written, life seemed very unstable during your childhood.

I wouldn't like to offer an opinion whether anyone would be considered as having C-PTSD, so your question would really need to be asked of a suitably qualified medical practitioner.

Perhaps in order to raise your query further, could you put together a written timeline of events that you recall from your childhood to present to your doctor/therapist?

I found that as my memories surfaced, it helped me to make notes.

@Nauti - thank you for your in-depth post