How PTSD, cPTSD and BPD Can Impact Relationships

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined as a fear-based disorder with several features necessary for a formal diagnosis which include: avoidance behaviors, re-experiencing, increased arousal and negative affect and/or cognition.1 Avoidance behaviors may include avoiding people, places or situations that could be emotionally ‘triggering’ of a traumatic event. For example, some veterans may avoid amusement parks or festivities that have fireworks or excessive noise as it may cause flashbacks or anxiety. Re-experiencing behaviors often include emotional flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or nightmares. Someone who has experienced an assault may have trouble sleeping or experience nightmares of their assailant long after a traumatic event. Negative affect or cognitions may additionally occur with PTSD which may include feeling detached, or blaming themselves for a traumatic event. Similarly, increased arousal is common with those experiencing symptoms of PTSD which may include aggression or self-sabotaging behavior. Self-medicating or self-defeating behavior is reported as a maladaptive coping strategy or a way to distract themselves from their emotional or psychological discomfort.  Whereas PTSD has the above features necessary for diagnosis, Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD) is often defined as a shame-based disorder, which includes the key features of PTSD plus three additional features, including emotional dysregulation, a negative self-image and interpe...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Borderline Personality PTSD Relationships & Love Trauma Avoidance Borderline Personality Disorder C-PTSD complex trauma Emotional Dysregulation Source Type: news