Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is the result of the slow accumulation of many small traumatic experiences over time. Resource scarcity, physical or emotional abuse, inconsistent or neglectful parenting, and needing to manage your parents’ emotions as a child can all contribute to the myriad symptoms of CPTSD, which include low self-esteem, hyperarousal, feelings of guilt or shame, and a chronically dysregulated nervous system.

On our most popular Being Well episode to date, @RickHansonand I discussed the mechanics of CPTSD with Pete Walker. On today's episode, I'm joined by my partner @elizabeth.ferreira to discuss the topic through a more personal lens. Elizabeth shares how CPTSD came about for her, what it can feel like, and how to create a compassionate environment with or without a therapist so you can safely process grief, learn to express your needs, and experience repressed emotions.

About our Guest: Elizabeth is a recent graduate of the Somatic Psychology program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and is currently earning hours toward her license.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love her new podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-therapists-a-witch/id1630572423

My Therapist's a Witch, Episode #1: https://youtu.be/Vr_37XAbhMs
Elizabeth's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqhMZNBr7cVbVTH46weuItg
Elizabeth's IG: https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_ferreira_somatics/

Key Topics:
0:00 Introduction
2:20 Elizabeth’s story
5:30 Trauma in the broader family system
9:00 A “normal” story
12:20 Loneliness, and the parts of us we leave behind
15:35 Repressed emotions
18:00 Adverse childhood experiences
21:50 Stepping out of adverse environments
27:00 Trauma work as grief work
30:00 Symptoms of Complex PTSD
36:20 How do you need to be comforted?
39:00 Creating the sense of safety
42:10 Somatic interventions
47:00 Being witnessed
49:20 Claiming your needs
52:15 Facing the dreaded experience
56:10 Accuracy vs. sensitivity
59:55 Hidden parts
1:03:00 Start by joining
1:07:20 Recap

Subscribe to Being Well on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5d87ZU1XY0fpdYNSEwXLVQ

Who Am I: I'm Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (https://amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (https://apple.co/38ufGG0). I'm making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.

You can follow me here:
🎤 https://apple.co/38ufGG0
🌍 https://www.forresthanson.com
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