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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) are mental health conditions that can develop following exposure to traumatic events. These conditions affect how people think, feel and function after surviving or witnessing events that were frightening, threatening or overwhelming.
Reviewed by Phillipa Brown, AHPRA-registered Psychologist
Understanding post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) are mental health conditions that can develop following exposure to traumatic events. These conditions affect how people think, feel and function after surviving or witnessing events that were frightening, threatening or overwhelming.
Trauma can result from a single incident or from prolonged and repeated exposure to distressing experiences. While not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD or CPTSD, for those who do, the effects can be significant. With the right support, recovery is possible.
What is PTSD and How is it Different from CPTSD
PTSD can develop after a single traumatic event such as a car accident, assault, natural disaster, military combat or sudden loss. It is marked by:
- Intrusive memories or flashbacks
- Nightmares or distressing dreams
- Avoidance of reminders or situations connected to the trauma
- Heightened alertness or being easily startled
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Strong emotional or physical reactions when reminded of the trauma
CPTSD is a related condition that can develop after prolonged or repeated trauma, often during childhood or in settings where escape was not possible. Examples include ongoing abuse, domestic violence, exploitation or war. In addition to the symptoms of PTSD, CPTSD may involve:
- Deep feelings of shame or worthlessness
- Difficulty managing emotions or impulses
- Chronic feelings of emptiness or numbness
- Persistent difficulties in relationships and trust
- Distorted beliefs about the self and others
- A sense of being fundamentally damaged or broken
What Causes PTSD and CPTSD
These conditions arise when the brain and body remain in a state of threat long after the danger has passed. The trauma response is not just psychological—it affects the nervous system, memory processing, emotional regulation and sense of safety.
Risk factors include:
- Severity or duration of the trauma
- Lack of support following the trauma
- Pre-existing mental health conditions
- Repeated exposure to traumatic events
- Early childhood trauma or neglect
- Social or cultural barriers to accessing help
In Australia, PTSD affects around one in twenty people in any given year. It is more common in first responders, military personnel, refugees, survivors of abuse and people exposed to natural disasters or accidents.
Myths about PTSD and CPTSD
Myth: Only soldiers or first responders develop PTSD
Truth: Anyone can develop PTSD or CPTSD after trauma. This includes survivors of accidents, abuse, illness or grief.
Myth: People with PTSD are dangerous or unstable
Truth: This stigma is harmful and untrue. Most people with PTSD are coping with internal distress and deserve compassion and support.
Myth: Trauma only affects people who are weak
Truth: PTSD and CPTSD have nothing to do with strength or weakness. They are human responses to overwhelming events.
Why Seeking Help Matters
Untreated PTSD or CPTSD can affect every area of life, including relationships, work, physical health and emotional wellbeing. However, evidence shows that timely, trauma-informed care leads to meaningful recovery.
Support can help you:
- Reduce flashbacks, nightmares and panic symptoms
- Rebuild a sense of safety and control
- Process and reframe traumatic memories
- Improve emotional regulation and self-worth
- Strengthen trust and relational connection
- Re-engage with life in a meaningful way
How MeHelp Psychology Can Assist You
Our psychologists are trained in trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatments for PTSD and CPTSD. We offer a safe, supportive space to explore your experiences and work toward healing.
Our services include:
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Narrative Therapy to reprocess traumatic stories
- Stabilisation techniques for emotional regulation and safety
- Mindfulness and grounding strategies for flashbacks or dissociation
- Support for identity rebuilding and relationship repair
- Therapy tailored to childhood trauma and attachment wounds
Real-Life Example
Tina, 38, experienced childhood emotional abuse and multiple adult traumas. She struggled with nightmares, trust issues and a persistent sense of shame. With the support of a MeHelp psychologist trained in EMDR and trauma-informed care, Tina began to process her experiences, improve emotional regulation and slowly re-establish safe connections. She now describes herself as healing, rather than broken.
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
- Know that your reactions are valid and understandable given what you have experienced
- Practise grounding exercises when overwhelmed, such as focusing on your breath or using your senses
- Avoid self-blame and remember that recovery takes time
- Reach out to trusted support people or services
- Set gentle boundaries to protect your emotional space
- Consider trauma-informed therapy if symptoms are interfering with your life
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can PTSD or CPTSD go away on its own? Some people recover with time and support, but for others, symptoms persist. Therapy is highly effective and can significantly improve quality of life.
Is therapy online effective for PTSD and CPTSD? Yes. Many people find online therapy helpful, particularly when it is structured and supported by trauma-informed clinicians.
Do I need a formal diagnosis to get help? No. If you are experiencing distress or symptoms that affect your daily life, you can access therapy whether or not you have a diagnosis.
Can childhood trauma cause CPTSD later in life? Yes. Repeated or chronic trauma in childhood is a common cause of CPTSD and often affects adult relationships, identity and emotional regulation.
Take the First Step
Your trauma does not define you. With care, safety and evidence-based support, it is possible to move beyond survival and into healing. You are not alone.
Book a confidential session with MeHelp Psychology today and begin your path toward recovery, strength and renewed hope.
What causes post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd?
There's rarely one single cause. Most of the time, post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd develops from a mix of life experiences, biology, and the environment a person grew up in. Stressful events, family history, and how someone learned to cope with big feelings as a child all play a part.
Understanding the "why" doesn't make the experience smaller — but it can take some of the self-blame out of it. What you're going through makes sense, given everything that came before it.
A psychologist can help you join the dots between what's happened in your life and what you're feeling now — and start to shift the patterns gently.
Supporting someone going through post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd.
Watching someone you care about struggle with post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd is hard. You might feel helpless, worried, or unsure of what to say. That's normal.
You can help by:
- Listening without trying to fix or rush them
- Taking what they say seriously, even when it's hard to hear
- Asking what kind of support would actually help today
- Looking after your own wellbeing too — you can't pour from an empty cup
- Encouraging professional support without pressuring them
If you're the one supporting them, you're allowed to seek your own therapy too — it doesn't take anything away from them.
The emotional impact is real.
The feelings below are common with post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd. They're not signs that something is wrong with you — they're signs of what you've been carrying.
Anxiety and feeling on edge. Always scanning for the next thing to go wrong. Hard to switch off.
Self-doubt. Second-guessing your decisions, memory, or read of the situation.
Low mood and tiredness. Tasks that used to feel easy take far more effort than they used to.
Shame. A sense that other people are coping better than you are. Shame eases in the right company.
Numbness or distance. Feeling foggy, disconnected, or like you're watching life from a step back.
Sleep changes. Trouble falling asleep, waking at 3am, or sleeping far more than usual.
You don't need a formal diagnosis to take what you're feeling seriously. The impact is real.
Why recovery takes time.
Healing from post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd is rarely a straight line. It moves in waves — clear one week, harder the next, then quieter again. That isn't a setback. That's the shape of healing.
Good therapy won't push you faster than you're ready to go. Pacing — not pressure — is how this work moves. Small, steady steps add up.
When to seek help.
You might consider seeing a psychologist if you notice any of the following:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD is affecting your work, study, or relationships
- You've been trying to cope on your own and it isn't shifting
- Sleep, appetite, or energy have been off for weeks
- You're using alcohol or other things to take the edge off
- A friend, family member, or GP has suggested you talk to someone
- You just want a space to make sense of what's going on
If you're in crisis right now
Call 000 if you or someone else is in danger. Lifeline on 13 11 14 is open 24/7. For family or domestic abuse, 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Treatment that works.
The most evidence-based help for post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd is talk therapy. Different approaches suit different goals — your psychologist will tailor things to you.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Works with the thoughts and behaviours keeping things stuck. Strong evidence across many conditions.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Helps you make room for hard feelings while still moving toward what matters to you.
Trauma-informed therapy
EMDR, schema therapy, and IFS help process past experiences gently, without re-traumatising.
Mindfulness-based approaches
Builds the ability to notice what's going on inside without getting swept up in it.
Schema and psychodynamic therapy
Works with longer-standing patterns from early life that show up in adult relationships.
Medication where helpful
Sometimes prescribed by your GP alongside therapy. Always your choice.
Talk to an Australian psychologist about post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd.
Every MeHelp psychologist is AHPRA-registered and Australian-trained. Sessions are online, bulk billed under Medicare where eligible, and available evenings and weekends.
AHPRA-registered
Every psychologist is Australian-trained and regulated.
Bulk billing available
Under Medicare with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Same-week appointments
Not three months on a public waiting list.
Evenings and weekends
Sessions fit around your schedule, online from home.
How to access support.
Most clients use a Mental Health Treatment Plan and signed referral so sessions can be bulk-billed under Medicare. NDIS, DVA, and private options are also available.
Book a GP appointment
Ask your GP for a mental health consultation. A longer appointment is best so there's time to talk through what's going on.
What do I do at the GP?Get your plan and referral
Your GP can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan and signed referral letter. MeHelp needs both before bulk-billed sessions can begin.
See documents requiredSend it to MeHelp
Upload your documents to our secure folder, email them, or ask your GP to fax them. We'll match you with a psychologist.
Send my planFrequently asked questions about post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and complex ptsd.
Ready to talk to a psychologist?
Same-week appointments. Bulk billing available. Online across Australia.
With a referral, or without.
Both get you to the same place — an AHPRA-registered psychologist, online. The difference is cost and a GP visit.
With a Medicare referral
Bulk billed — nothing to pay.
- Up to 10 sessions a calendar year
- Needs a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan + referral
- We bill Medicare directly
Without a referral
Pay privately — no GP required.
- No GP visit, no referral
- No session limit — go at your pace
- Often a first session this week
- Completely private — nothing shared