Best treatment for C-PTSD ?

I'm interested in knowing which kind of treatment works best for those struggling with C-PTSD.
Specially when the trauma is caused by repeated psychological abuse and neglect in childhood.

I've tried different therapy modalities and medication, but I always end up getting stuck and going backwards.

I feel like I can't function like a "normal" person. I always end up sabotaging relationships, jobs, etc.
I'm self-destructive and I get easily overwhelmed by simple tasks.

I've had a few bad experiences in therapy due to the lack of knowledge/"validity" of C-PTSD.
I've gotten diagnoses like major depression, GAD, panic disorder and eating disorders in the past; but I belive these are all symptons/ consequences of a childhood trauma that has somehow shaped my personality.

I have a very hard time trusting people, which doesn't help in therapy either. I've had some therapists get frustrated with me in the past, and this makes me feel like I'm a lost cause; or like it's all my fault and I'll never get better.

I feel hopeless and desperate. I don't want to be like this for the rest of my life.
It's very painful because no matter how hard I try to get better, I always end up messing up and getting back to the starting point.

Which kind of treatment do you think works best for C-PTSD symptoms?
I'm interested in anything; from different therapy modalities, to activities, medication, or whatever.
Also, do you think it's actually possible to "heal" from this? I feel like even if some things could get better, I'll always be limited to some extent compared to other people...

I am sorry, but I can't answer this question. I guess I have the same problem as you do. I have only truly been working on my issues for a few years now, and it seems like my life is more messed up than it was before I started to truly fix it. I have a new T now who is a trauma experienced T, and my hope is that she will be able to help me to face all of the traumas I have had through my life. She told me that she had a trauma experience when she was a child, and that is why she does this now, but that I am her only 2nd patient that has had life long traumas. But I hope she will be able to help!!!!!!!

Sorry you're struggling.

I have similar issues, and it's tough.

Personally, I try not to think in terms of one simple solution. More a chipping-away. Slow and small improvements.

Inner child therapy was pretty helpful in the past.

I too think it's going to be a combination of things, not just one. Inner child therapy, talk therapy, art, somatic experiencing, yoga. This week there appeared a very interesting article in the Biolar section of this forum about the connection between physical balance and emotional balance. Researchers found out that people who have trouble regulating moods often have issues with keeping physical, balance, too because the same brain centres are involved. These days I've been emotionaly struggling and just for fun I tried standing on one leg. It was quite challenging but it had an unexpected effect-it actually calmed me down for a few hours!

I know it sounds ridiculous but I believe there might be some connection. Our trauma from childhood is often so deep, much deeper than words and thinking. I know for me, it's like a physical part of my body, so I'm trying and testing physical approaches, too.


I'm so sorry you're struggling. I feel very similar, too, if it helps you in any way, that you're not alone.

What I was trying to say wasn't that standing on one leg will save us. What I meant was that many partial helpful things can be very simple, surprising and things we haven't heard of yet. I don't think there's a magic cure

The best thing for me is more managing my symptoms than a "cure." I've done all kinds of stuff: CBT, DBT, talk therapy, art therapy, group therapy, etc. What I'm doing now is EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). I've done one session and it seems to help. It may not work for everyone, but I have distinct memories from multiple times in my life that I want to treat.

I thought the balance thing was interesting, but I can't stand on one leg because of weak ankles.

I've done schema therapy and EMDR, and both have been very very helpful. My life is hugely better now.

Schema therapy is quite long term and I think it's a therapy designed with more "complex" issues in mind.

I have done a combination of IFS/EMDR. IFS is another type of Ego State Therapy. Talk therapy does not work but it can help get you through the week but will never stop the flashbacks either visual or emotional.

More embodied forms of therapy seem most helpful to me: art therapy, embodied relational therapy, occupational therapy, yoga

No, it does not at all. If it works for you, stick with it. Thats the only thing that matters.

You are speaking my language (if that makes sense). I just mean that I completely understand how you feel. As I read your post I felt like I was reading about myself. You are so not alone in how you feel.

From what I understand that all depends on the individual. I believe different therapies work for different people (as well as depending on what your needs are). I have a friend who has been working with DBT (Dialectical behavior therapy) for a few years. She suggested it to me. I may try that or Cognitive behavioral therapy. I will also work on self care.

I also find this website to be helpful: https://www.healingfromcomplextraumaandptsd.com/

Exactly, self care has been so helpful! For me it's mostly cosmetic habits, like better hygiene, body lotion, hair care. I've always had a very negative approach to my body and doing these simple habits daily helps me love my body more. I'm not saying I don't struggle with self image because I do. But it does help. And feeling fresh and clean makes me more confident in contact with people.

Personally I have used a variety of cognitive coping strategies for many years to get me through from day-to-day (most of these self developed or drawn from NLP rather than CBT which I don't relate well to). However I am finding more and more that there are barriers on an embodied and affective level that cognitive approaches alone do not address (in fact they get in the way because I have always used rationalisation as a form of distancing and dissociation from my embodied self). This is why I use the therapies I stated earlier, but in particular only one of those - Embodied Relational Therapy - was specifically developed to work on armouring so I think is of great relevance to CPTSD survivors (being based explicitly in the body psychotherapy/Reichian tradition).

Isn't it though?! It really helps so much.

That's one of the reasons I like the site I mentioned. She has a blog where people talk about their self care struggles. I truly thought I was all alone! Hygiene was always a big one for me! I've gotten much better, but I take it one day at a time. I'm learning how to relax and take care of myself. Sometimes I'm so worried and taking care of others that I forget to eat. Self care is one of my hurdles.

The only thing that I have maintained throughout is the inner child work. If I don't listen or communicate with the inner child, my adult world will collapse. Major depression lifted when I started listening to the inner child, although it opened the door to the subconscious mind. That met experiencing C-PTSD where I have multiple flashbacks daily. I do mindfulness each day, from studying this condition, I'm told not to fight the flashbacks since it will backfire if I do and get worse with more anxiety and tension. EMDR I have had some success but it is then followed by more flashbacks, it never ends.

Admittedly, I'm a little nervous about flashbacks and what will come up as I begin to work through my trauma. I've been able to work with my inner child by rediscovering a childhood love of keeping a diary.