PTSD vs. CPTSD – No Competition: Why Some People Develop PTSD and Others Don’t

 PTSD vs. CPTSD – No Competition: Why Some People Develop PTSD and Others Don’t

In the world of trauma, two acronyms are often thrown around: PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and CPTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). While both terms refer to the profound emotional and psychological impact of trauma, they are distinct in how they manifest and affect individuals. But what if we stopped using the word disorder and instead called it Post-Traumatic Stress Response or Post-Traumatic Stress Injury? This small shift in language could have a profound impact on how we approach healing and support for those navigating trauma.

As someone passionate about trauma-informed care, I’ve witnessed firsthand how trauma affects people differently. It's important to understand that trauma is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Some individuals process and cope with trauma in ways that allow them to return to a sense of safety, while others carry the weight of their experiences in a more enduring and complicated way.

In this blog, we’ll explore why some people develop PTSD, others develop CPTSD, and what the impact of language, like Post-Traumatic Stress Response, could have on how we view and treat trauma.

What is PTSD?

PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health condition that can develop after an individual experiences a traumatic event or series of events. These events are often unexpected, life-threatening, or emotionally overwhelming. Common experiences that can trigger PTSD include natural disasters, physical or sexual assault, military combat, serious accidents, or violent personal attacks. It is important to say that the reaction and response can be a result of witnessing something such as an attack or a car accident, too.

The symptoms of PTSD typically fall into four categories:

• Intrusive Memories: Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts that keep bringing the trauma to the forefront of the mind.
• Avoidance: Steering clear of places, people, or situations that might remind the individual of the trauma.
• Negative Changes in Thoughts and Mood: Feelings of guilt, shame, numbness, or hopelessness.
• Hyperarousal: Being easily startled, feeling tense or on edge, and experiencing difficulty sleeping.

PTSD can affect anyone who’s experienced a significant traumatic event, and the symptoms can be severe, affecting daily life, relationships, and personal well-being. While PTSD can be challenging to manage, with proper treatment, many individuals can recover and find healing.

What is CPTSD?

CPTSD, or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a more nuanced and often more debilitating condition. It typically develops after prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma, often occurring in situations where the individual feels trapped or powerless to escape. The type of trauma that leads to CPTSD is often chronic or repetitive in nature, such as ongoing abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional), neglect, or prolonged captivity (such as in abusive relationships, war zones, or childhood trauma).

While CPTSD shares many symptoms with PTSD, there are additional signs that set it apart:

• Difficulty Regulating Emotions: Individuals with CPTSD may experience intense feelings of anger, shame, or sadness that can be difficult to control or understand.
• Distorted Perception of Self: A deep sense of worthlessness, guilt, or self-blame that isn’t as common in PTSD.
• Difficulty in Relationships: Struggles with trust, feeling disconnected, or even feeling numb in intimate relationships.
• Dissociation: The feeling of being detached from one’s body or mind, often as a means of coping with overwhelming emotions or memories.

CPTSD can arise from a much more complex trauma history, such as childhood abuse, long-term domestic violence, or repeated exposure to war. It’s important to note that CPTSD doesn’t just affect your mind—it deeply impacts how you perceive yourself, relate to others, and interact with the world around you.

Why Do Some People Develop PTSD and Others CPTSD?

Now, here’s the most intriguing part: Why does one person develop PTSD after a traumatic event, while another may develop CPTSD or even none at all? The short answer is: it depends on a wide range of factors, including the type, duration, and severity of trauma, as well as an individual’s unique history, biology, and resilience.

Let’s explore some of the key factors that contribute to whether someone develops PTSD, CPTSD, or neither:

1. Type of Trauma

The nature of the trauma plays a significant role in determining whether someone develops PTSD or CPTSD. For example, a one-time traumatic event, like a car accident, may lead to PTSD. However, someone who experiences ongoing, repeated trauma over months or years, such as abuse or domestic violence, is more likely to develop CPTSD due to the prolonged nature of the harm.

2. Childhood and Early Life Experiences

Our early experiences shape how we cope with trauma later in life. Early attachment issues, neglect, or abuse can affect how we handle stress and danger as adults. Someone with a history of childhood trauma or a lack of secure attachments is at higher risk of developing CPTSD because their foundational sense of safety and self-worth has already been compromised.

As a nurse, veteran and veteran spouse, I’ve seen how early life experiences influence a person’s resilience and ability to recover from trauma. Trauma in childhood can leave a lasting imprint that impacts how one processes later life stressors.

3. Social Support and Relationships

Social support is a protective factor when it comes to trauma recovery. Those who have strong, supportive relationships—whether with family, friends, or partners—are more likely to heal from trauma without developing the long-lasting effects of PTSD or CPTSD.

On the other hand, a lack of support or toxic relationships can make it more difficult to recover and increase the risk of developing CPTSD. The more isolated and unsupported an individual feels during and after trauma, the more likely they are to experience complex trauma.

4. Biological and Genetic Factors

There’s evidence to suggest that genetic factors play a role in whether someone develops PTSD or CPTSD. Some individuals may be more biologically predisposed to heightened stress responses or have a lower capacity for emotional regulation, which makes them more vulnerable to the impacts of trauma. It’s also important to remember that trauma doesn’t just affect the mind—it alters the body’s nervous system, hormone levels, and brain structures.

5. Coping Mechanisms

The coping strategies people use in response to trauma can heavily influence whether they develop PTSD or CPTSD. Healthy coping mechanisms, such as seeking support or engaging in self-care practices, can help protect individuals from the more severe impacts of trauma. However, avoidance, denial, or substance abuse can increase the likelihood of developing complex trauma symptoms, as these mechanisms prevent individuals from processing and integrating their experiences.

6. Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth

Some individuals are naturally more resilient and better equipped to process and recover from trauma. This resilience doesn’t necessarily mean that trauma doesn’t affect them deeply, but it allows them to experience post-traumatic growth—a transformation that leads to greater self-awareness, emotional strength, and even wisdom from their experiences. Those who possess higher resilience are less likely to develop CPTSD and may only experience PTSD symptoms temporarily before finding healing.

Healing from PTSD and CPTSD: A Somatic and Compassionate Approach

Healing from both PTSD and CPTSD is possible—but it requires more than just talking about what happened. These are not just “mental” conditions—they live in the body. That’s why healing must be deeply personalised, compassionate, and body-informed.

💠 Trauma-Informed, Somatic-Focused Therapy
Approaches such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), Somatic Experiencing, and Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) help individuals safely process trauma. But we now understand that trauma isn’t just stored in the mind—it’s held in the nervous system, in the tissues, in the body. As someone trained in somatic trauma coaching and nervous system regulation, I guide clients through gentle, intuitive practices that help them reconnect with their bodies, safely discharge stored stress, and reclaim a sense of safety from the inside out.

💠 The Body Keeps the Score (Bessel van der Kolk)
Research and lived experience show that trauma leaves a physical imprint. Chronic tension, dissociation, illness, and reactivity can all stem from unresolved trauma responses. Somatic work allows us to work with the body, not against it, helping to restore regulation, presence, and peace over time.

💠 Support Systems That See the Whole You
Healing is not meant to be done alone. Whether through trauma-informed coaching, peer support groups, therapy, or trusted relationships, being witnessed and supported without judgment is vital. I bring this ethos into every space I hold, offering a grounded, regulated presence to support others on their journey.

💠 Self-Compassion as a Daily Practice
Healing doesn’t happen on a straight line, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Learning to meet yourself with gentleness—especially when old patterns arise—is a crucial step. I believe in creating spaces where people are reminded that their trauma responses are adaptations, not flaws. And from that truth, we begin the real work of healing.

What If We Called It Post-Traumatic Stress Response?

Now, imagine if we shifted our language from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to Post-Traumatic Stress Response. The term “disorder” often carries a weight of permanence, a sense that something is broken or wrong with the individual. It can imply that trauma is something that irreparably damages a person, when in reality, trauma responses are deeply human and part of the body’s protective mechanism.

A response is something that can be worked with, understood, and healed. It suggests that the body and mind are reacting to a threat or stressor in a natural way. Just like you might have a physical response to an injury, such as swelling or redness, the nervous system’s stress response is simply the body’s way of signalling that something needs attention.

By changing our language, we could help eliminate the stigma around trauma and make it clear that healing is possible, and recovery is a matter of working with the body’s natural responses, not something to be “fixed.”

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between PTSD and CPTSD—and recognising why some people develop one while others develop the other—can help us be more compassionate and supportive of those around us. Whether you are someone navigating the effects of trauma or a loved one offering support, it’s important to remember that healing is possible. By shifting our language to see trauma as a response rather than a “disorder,” we can create an environment that encourages healing, self-compassion, and resilience.

As a nurse and trauma-informed coach, I’ve seen how much strength it takes to face trauma and how transformative it can be to heal. If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD or CPTSD, remember that there is no right or wrong way to heal, but there is always hope.

A famous quote we use in the work I do,

“Trauma is not what happened to you, but what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you,” ~ Gabor Mate.

With love, Caron 💗