If you have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, you may be offered therapies used to treat PTSD, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focusing on trauma or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). You will also be offered treatment for other problems you may have, such as depression or alcohol addiction. Psychotherapy involves talking to a therapist, either alone or in a group. It also includes the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
This type of treatment helps you identify negative thinking patterns and gives you tools to replace them with healthier, more positive thinking. Medications can help reduce symptoms of C-PTSD, such as anxiety or depression. They are especially useful when used in combination with psychotherapy. Antidepressants are often used to treat complex post-traumatic stress disorder, such as Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline).
PTSD treatments that can help patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder include trauma-focused therapies. Exposure therapy, for example, helps patients process trauma by confronting their memories in a safe space and practicing healthy coping mechanisms. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) uses eye movements guided by the therapist to process traumatic memories, reformulate them, and change negative reactions to them. Treatment should be performed by a licensed therapist who has specific training in the treatment of traumatic stress.