Living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) can often feel like an overwhelming journey. For those who experience it, putting their emotions into words is challenging. Symptoms like emotional instability, low self-worth, and feelings of isolation can make it even harder to communicate your experiences, leaving you feeling misunderstood. One way to overcome this barrier is by finding words that resonate with your emotions—whether through books, quotes, or other people’s experiences. These can provide a sense of validation and encouragement, offering the strength to navigate your healing journey.
Below are insightful quotes that speak to the pain of C-PTSD, the effects of childhood trauma, and the road to recovery. If you’ve experienced trauma, connecting with these words may help you feel understood, and they might even provide you with a sense of empowerment as you process your emotions. Professional therapy can also play a significant role in healing from trauma, offering personalized support and guidance.
What is Complex PTSD?
While you might recognize that certain traumatic events have significantly impacted your mental health, understanding whether you have complex PTSD can be difficult. In the U.S., many psychiatrists don’t commonly use the diagnosis, and it’s not included in the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes C-PTSD in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), providing a framework for many survivors to understand their experiences better.
First introduced by psychiatrist Judith Lewis Herman in 1992, C-PTSD usually stems from prolonged or repeated trauma, often in circumstances that violate a person’s trust or autonomy. These may include:
- Childhood abuse, whether physical, emotional, or sexual
- Domestic violence
- Experiences of enslavement, kidnapping, or imprisonment
- Being subjected to mass violence, such as in genocide or forced displacement
Whereas PTSD might develop after a single traumatic event (such as a car accident, natural disaster, or violent assault), C-PTSD emerges from ongoing trauma, leading to deeper emotional and psychological wounds.
Common symptoms of complex PTSD include:
- Emotional dysregulation: People with C-PTSD often struggle to manage their emotions, experiencing intense mood swings or emotional outbursts.
- Negative self-concept: Individuals may develop long-lasting negative beliefs about themselves, such as feeling inherently flawed, worthless, or unlovable.
- Difficulty forming relationships: Trust issues and self-worth challenges can make building and maintaining healthy connections with others difficult.
Words That Reflect the C-PTSD Experience
Feeling validated and understood can be a crucial part of the healing process for those with complex PTSD. Many people with this condition have endured invalidation or neglect, which can harm self-esteem and affect their ability to form meaningful relationships.
The following quotes aim to capture the experience of living with C-PTSD and offer a voice for those who struggle to articulate their feelings:
- “I have encountered many deeply distressed individuals whose lives are dominated by remembered or forgotten trauma, tirelessly seeking healing while facing the weight of their symptoms and a world that often doesn’t understand.”
— Carolyn Spring, Unshame: Healing Trauma-Based Shame Through Psychotherapy - “Trauma, unlike typical stress, fundamentally alters how you see the world and yourself. It shatters core beliefs like ‘I’m safe,’ ‘I can trust others,’ or ‘Life is good,’ replacing them with thoughts such as ‘The world is dangerous,’ or ‘There’s no hope.’”
— Mark Goulston, M.D. - “After trauma, the human system of self-preservation remains on high alert, as though the threat could return at any moment.”
— Judith Lewis Herman, Trauma and Recovery - “Living with complex PTSD can feel like going through life as a ghost of your former self. It affects every aspect of daily life, from emotional outbursts to struggling with social interactions you once found easy.”
— Sarahbeth Caplin, Someone You Already Know
Quotes on Childhood Trauma
C-PTSD often arises from childhood trauma, a particularly damaging form of abuse that occurs during critical periods of emotional and psychological development. This type of trauma can leave deep scars, influencing how survivors view themselves and interact with others.
These quotes offer insight into the long-lasting effects of childhood trauma:
- “A child who internalizes the wrongdoing of their abuser often does so to preserve an attachment to their parent. This ingrained sense of ‘badness’ may remain even after the abuse stops, shaping their identity well into adulthood.”
— Judith Lewis Herman - “Growing up in an environment where you’re constantly unsafe shapes your worldview in lasting ways. It teaches you to approach every situation with suspicion and tension; even the most normal aspects of life can feel unbearable.”
— Noreen Masud, A Flat Place - “Perhaps the most harmful outcome of childhood neglect is how we learn to silence our true selves. Many of us enter adulthood feeling that our thoughts and feelings are as unimportant to others as they were to our parents.”
— Pete Walker, Complex PTSD
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Quotes on Healing from Trauma
Although C-PTSD can create feelings of hopelessness, healing is possible. The path to recovery is different for everyone, but the following quotes offer encouragement and emphasize the potential for growth and resilience after trauma:
- “Healing comes from telling your story, exposing the abuse, and standing up for yourself. There is power in setting boundaries and loving yourself. Hold onto hope—recovery is possible.”
— Dana Arcuri, Soul Cry: Releasing & Healing the Wounds of Trauma - “Adults who were neglected as children can still experience the joy of love and intimacy. Whether through parenting or deep emotional connections, relationships can open new possibilities for trust and healing.”
— Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score
“Self-compassion is a muscle that strengthens with practice. The more we flex it, especially during difficult times, the more resilient we become.”
— Sharon Salzberg, Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves - “Recovery from trauma is not about returning to your old self, but embracing your new life—complete with wisdom, courage, and scars. It’s about living authentically despite the pain you’ve experienced.”
— Catherine Woodiwiss, I Believe You
Therapy Options for C-PTSD
While empowering words can offer emotional support, professional help is often essential for addressing the underlying symptoms of C-PTSD. Evidence-based therapies have proven to be effective in managing this disorder, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This widely-used approach helps people reframe negative thoughts and behaviors resulting from trauma.
- Exposure therapy: Gradual exposure to trauma-related memories or situations in a controlled environment can help reduce fear and anxiety.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This technique uses guided eye movements to help process traumatic memories.
For those with busy schedules, online therapy is an option worth considering. Research indicates that internet-delivered therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions, particularly for trauma-related conditions like C-PTSD.
Complex PTSD is a challenging condition, but through supportive words and professional help, healing is possible. Whether you find comfort in these quotes or seek therapy to begin your journey, remember that recovery is within reach.