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Relational Trauma

Repeated, chronic and harmful interactions with a caregiver or someone influential in a persons life. It could be an active harmful act or the absence of having needs fulfilled. Examples include: emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, betrayal, rejection, inconsistent or unpredictable caretaking, feeling controlled, parentification, enmeshment, chronic conflict, chronic criticism, and conditional love.

The relationships that should have provided safety, connection, and support instead become sources of pain, fear, neglect, anxiety, confusion, or emotional deprivation. Because the trauma occurs repeatedly over time, it affects not only a person's sense of safety but also their emotions, self-worth, identity, relationships, and nervous system.

Complex-PTSD

A condition that can develop after experiencing prolonged, repeated, or chronic trauma, particularly when the trauma occurs in relationships where a person feels trapped, powerless, or unable to escape.

Key symptoms of C-PTSD include those of PTSD (anxiety, depression, stress, hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares and avoidance, struggling to concentrate or sleep, ect.) as well as:

  1. Affective dysregulation – difficulty managing intense emotions, such as anger, fear, shame, or sadness.

  2. Negative self-concept – feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or deep shame.

  3. Interpersonal disturbances – difficulty forming or maintaining close relationships, mistrust, or fear of abandonment.

  4. Dissociation – feeling disconnected from oneself, others, or reality.

  5. Somatic symptoms – chronic pain, fatigue, or other physical symptoms without a clear medical cause.

Healing

Healing from C-PTSD and Relational Trauma is about helping the mind, body, and nervous system learn that the danger is over, it’s safe to build trust in yourself and others, and developing healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.

The healing process consists of five stages:

  1. Safety – Establish physical, emotional, psychological and relational safety.

  2. Self-Awareness – Understand ones triggers, beliefs and self-concepts.

  3. Rebuild the Relationship with Oneself - Develop self-compassion, self-worth, and self-trust.

  4. Process Trauma - Work through traumatic experiences using therapeutic modalities

  5. Integrate Connection - Build healthy, secure relationships with yourself and other

Outcome

The result for working through C-PTSD rebuilds five things that trauma disrupted:

  1. Safety – "I am safe enough now."

  2. Self-Regulation – "I can manage my emotions and nervous system."

  3. Self-Trust – "I can trust myself."

  4. Self-Worth – "I am valuable and deserving of care."

  5. Connection – "I can develop healthy relationships with myself and others."

When these areas are strengthened, the nervous system shifts from surviving to living, allowing greater freedom, authenticity, connection, serenity, and fulfillment.

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