What’s the Difference Between PTSD and Complex PTSD? (And Why That Matters for Healing)

If you’ve ever wondered what separates PTSD from Complex PTSD (CPTSD), or why treatment for one might not fully meet the needs of the other — you’re not alone.

Both are responses to trauma. But the kind of trauma, how long it lasted, and the way it shaped your nervous system makes a big difference in how healing needs to happen.

Let’s break it down.

PTSD vs. CPTSD: Same Nervous System, Different Story

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) usually develops after a single event or a few isolated incidents — like a car accident, a natural disaster, or a violent attack. It overwhelms the nervous system and activates your body’s threat responses: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. 

In contrast, Complex PTSD (CPTSD) develops from chronic, ongoing trauma, especially when that trauma is relational, often starting in childhood or unfolding in situations where safety and connection were supposed to be present, but weren’t.

So while PTSD is often about what happened to you in a specific moment, CPTSD is also about what kept happening…and what never happened (like consistent care, repair, or being comforted).

The coming sections will focus on

1. How PTSD and CPTSD impact the brain differently

2. Why treatment approaches need to be tailored for each

3. Tips for finding a therapist who truly understands complex trauma

4. Some of my go-to resources for support and healing