PTSD vs. Complex PTSD: What’s the Difference?
Most people have heard of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), but fewer are familiar with Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). While the two share similarities, they are not the same. Understanding the difference is an important step in finding the right support and path toward healing. At Body and Mind Collective, we help clients recognize the unique ways trauma can impact their lives and tailor care that addresses both PTSD and C-PTSD with compassion and integrative therapy.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a single traumatic event or a series of distinct traumas. Examples include car accidents, natural disasters, medical emergencies, or assaults.
Common PTSD symptoms include:
Flashbacks or intrusive memories
Nightmares
Hypervigilance (feeling on edge)
Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
PTSD symptoms often begin within a few months of the trauma but can last for years if not addressed.
What Is Complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD, or C-PTSD, develops after chronic, long-term trauma, often in situations where escape was not possible. Examples include childhood neglect, abuse, domestic violence, captivity, or ongoing emotional harm.
Symptoms of C-PTSD often include PTSD features plus:
Difficulty regulating emotions
Persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or worthlessness
Difficulty trusting others or forming relationships
Dissociation (feeling disconnected from self or surroundings)
Deeply ingrained survival responses (freeze, fawn, etc.)
C-PTSD reflects the way repeated trauma shapes the nervous system, creating patterns that affect both mind and body over time.
Key Differences Between PTSD and C-PTSD
Cause: PTSD is usually linked to a single traumatic event, while C-PTSD develops from repeated, long-term trauma.
Symptoms: PTSD symptoms center on reliving the trauma and fear responses. C-PTSD adds emotional regulation struggles, relationship difficulties, and identity wounds.
Healing Approach: Both require trauma-informed therapy, but C-PTSD often benefits from long-term, integrative care that addresses attachment wounds, nervous system regulation, and body-based healing.
Healing PTSD and Complex PTSD
At Body and Mind Collective, we use trauma-informed, integrative approaches to support healing from both PTSD and C-PTSD:
Somatic therapy to reconnect with the body and reduce dysregulation
EMDR to reprocess traumatic memories and reduce flashbacks
IFS (Internal Family Systems) to heal wounded parts of self
Yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness to regulate the nervous system and build resilience
Healing from PTSD and C-PTSD is not about erasing the past—it’s about helping the nervous system return to safety, restoring trust in yourself, and building a life where connection and peace are possible.
