PTSD vs CPTSD: what’s the difference, Symptoms, Treatment, and How to Get Help

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) are trauma-related mental health conditions that can develop after experiencing or witnessing overwhelming events. If you've been looking for answers about the reasons for post traumatic stress disorder, what C-PTSD is, or how long PTSD episodes last, this blog offers a comprehensive guide to understanding symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how PTSD compares to other mental health conditions such as depression, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder.


TL;DR

  • PTSD and C-PTSD are trauma-related conditions with overlapping but distinct features.

  • C-PTSD includes symptoms of PTSD plus emotional dysregulation, negative self-view, and relationship difficulties.

  • Common causes of C-PTSD include abuse, neglect, accidents, or prolonged exposure to stress.

  • PTSD episodes can last minutes to hours, but the condition itself may persist for years without treatment.

  • Treatment includes trauma-focused therapies like EMDR, IFS, Schema Therapy, and somatic work.

  • PTSD is listed in the DSM-5; C-PTSD is formally recognized in the ICD-11.


What Is PTSD?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a sudden and short-term terrifying or life-threatening event. This may include natural disasters, sexual assault, or a car accident.

Symptoms of PTSD

  • Reliving the traumatic experience: Nightmares, flashbacks, and other intrusive memories are common.

  • Avoiding people and situations: You may avoid specific situations, people, or activities that remind you of the traumatic event or keep yourself preoccupied to avoid thinking about the event.

  • Changing old beliefs and feelings about yourself and others: You may see the world in a different light, not be able to trust others, or believe you're no longer safe, for example.

  • Being on alert: Hyperarousal refers to constantly being on alert or jittery. For example, you may have a hard time sleeping or concentrating. You could also be unusually startled by loud or unexpected noises.

  • Experiencing somatic symptoms: These refer to physical symptoms that don't have a clear physical cause. For example, when something reminds you of the traumatic event, you may feel dizzy or nauseated. You could also have persistent headaches, feel fatigued, or have aches and pains.

Other possible symptoms include:

  • preoccupation with the traumatic event

  • panic attacks

  • insomnia

  • irritability

  • thoughts of death and suicide

  • hallucinations and delusions

  • low motivation

  • heavy alcohol and substance use

Reasons for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Trauma that overwhelms the nervous system can lead to PTSD. Risk factors include:

  • -Severity and duration of the traumatic event

  • -Lack of social support

  • -Childhood trauma or abuse

  • -Pre-existing mental health conditions

  • Ongoing threat or stress (e.g., domestic violence, war zones)

What Is C-PTSD and Its Meaning?

C-PTSD stands for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It refers to the psychological impact of chronic, repeated trauma—particularly in early life. This includes emotional abuse, neglect, captivity, or long-term exposure to instability.

C-PTSD usually involves more severe symptoms because it develops from experiencing repeated trauma over months or years.

When a traumatic event is prolonged or persistent, like repeated abuse or torture, or the initial PTSD symptoms go unresolved for a long time and there are more traumatic instances, more severe symptoms may develop.

C-PTSD includes all the symptoms of PTSD plus additional features:

  • Difficulty regulating emotions: You may have intense emotional reactions and have difficulty calming yourself, or you may not have or express emotional responses to situations that merit them.

  • Persistent negative beliefs and feelings about oneself and changes in identity: Feelings of guilt, shame, or worthlessness may become recurrent.

  • Trouble forming or maintaining relationships: feelings of mistrust or awkwardness in relationships. You may start withdrawing from others, or depending on the traumatic event, you may engage in relationships that may hurt you or cause distress.

  • Changes in consciousness and self-awareness: Forgetting details of the traumatic event or feeling detached from your emotions or body (dissociation) is common in CPTSD. Even if you remember the event itself, it may feel as if it happened to someone else or was just a dream.

  • Loss of systems of meanings: "Systems of meaning" refer to your spiritual or philosophical beliefs about the world. For example, you may feel conflicted about your faith, humanity, or the meaning of life.

How to Know If You Have PTSD

If you're wondering how to know if you have PTSD, consider the following signs:

  • Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about a traumatic event

  • Sleep disturbances or nightmares

  • Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled

  • Avoidance of reminders of the trauma

  • Negative changes in thinking and mood

  • Irritability, guilt, or emotional numbness

A formal diagnosis requires assessment by a psychologist, often using criteria from the DSM-5.

How Long Do PTSD Episodes Last?

PTSD episodes—such as flashbacks or panic attacks—can last from a few minutes to several hours. Their intensity and duration vary based on triggers, individual resilience, and coping mechanisms. The condition itself can persist for months or even years if untreated.

How Long Can PTSD Last? Does PTSD Ever Go Away?

PTSD can be chronic, but it is treatable. Without support, symptoms may persist for years. However, many people experience significant improvement or full recovery through therapy, support, and time. Early intervention improves outcomes.

PTSD Types

While the DSM-5 doesn't officially classify PTSD into subtypes, clinicians often differentiate between:

  • Acute Stress Disorder: Symptoms begin within 3 days and last less than 4 weeks after a trauma.

  • PTSD: Symptoms persist longer than 4 weeks after trauma.

  • Delayed-Onset PTSD: Symptoms appear months or years after the trauma.

  • Complex PTSD: Chronic trauma exposure with broader emotional impacts (recognized in ICD-11).

PTSD and the DSM-5

The DSM-5 includes PTSD under trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Key diagnostic criteria include exposure to trauma, intrusive symptoms, avoidance, negative changes in cognition and mood, and increased arousal and reactivity. C-PTSD is not in the DSM-5 but is included in the ICD-11.

How to Treat PTSD and C-PTSD

Trauma-focused therapies often referred to as the 'gold standard' treatments for PTSD and C-PTSD are evidence-based and effective. Options include:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)

  • IFS (Internal Family Systems)

  • Schema Therapy

  • Somatic therapies and sensorimotor psychotherapy

  • ACT and DBT for emotional regulation

  • Medication for anxiety, sleep, or depression as needed


PTSD vs Depression

PTSD and depression share overlapping symptoms such as sadness, numbness, and sleep issues. However:

  • PTSD is trauma-specific, with symptoms tied to a specific event or memory.

  • Depression can occur without trauma and is more pervasive in mood and energy.

  • PTSD involves hyperarousal and re-experiencing; depression often involves low energy and hopelessness.


C-PTSD vs BPD

C-PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can appear similar, but differ in origins and treatment:

  • C-PTSD stems from prolonged trauma; BPD may have genetic and environmental origins.

  • BPD includes a pattern of unstable relationships, identity disturbance, and fear of abandonment.

  • C-PTSD symptoms are more consistent with trauma narratives and shame responses.


C-PTSD vs ADHD

ADHD and C-PTSD can both involve attention problems, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation. Differences include:

  • ADHD is neurodevelopmental and lifelong, often diagnosed in childhood.

  • C-PTSD symptoms are trauma-induced and can vary in intensity over time.

  • ADHD involves distractibility and hyperactivity, while C-PTSD includes dissociation and hypervigilance.


Getting support and help for PTSD in Sydney

If you're seeking trauma-informed therapy for PTSD or C-PTSD in Sydney, Equilibrium Psychology offers evidence-based treatments tailored to your needs.


Why Choose Equilibrium Psychology?

  • Located in Sydney CBD, near Wynyard Station

  • Therapists trained in EMDR, IFS, Schema Therapy, and ACT

  • Support for PTSD, C-PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dissociation

  • No waitlists and after hours appointments available

  • Medicare rebates available with a referral


Next Steps

Worried about symptoms or wondering how to treat PTSD?

👉 Send an enquiry online, or

📞 Call our friendly team on (02) 9262 6156 to find the right trauma therapist for you.


*Last updated: August 2025*

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Gemille Cribb