Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder* refers to those who have suffered prolonged, repeated trauma and abuse. This is often endured by those who have been in any totalistic, abusive, mind-manipulating group. Trauma is known to disrupt the chemistry in the brain.

A history of subjection to totalitarian control over a prolonged period (months to years) can result in CPTSD. Examples include hostages, prisoners of war, concentration-camp survivors, and survivors of some religious cults. Examples also include those subjected to totalitarian systems in sexual and domestic life, including survivors of domestic battering, childhood physical or sexual abuse, and organized sexual exploitation.

[NOTE: Not every survivor will exhibit all of the following symptoms.]

Alterations in emotional regulation, including: 

Persistent dysphoria (sadness)
Chronic suicidal preoccupation
Self-injury
Explosive anger or extremely inhibited anger (may alternate)
Compulsive or extremely inhibited sexuality (may alternate)

Alterations in consciousness, including:

Amnesia or hypermnesia for traumatic events 
Transient dissociative episodes
Depersonalization/derealization (feeling detached from one's mental processes or body)
Reliving experiences, either in the form of intrusive post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms or in the form of ruminative preoccupation)

Alterations in self-perception, including:

Sense of helplessness or paralysis of initiative
Shame, guilt, and self-blame
Sense of defilement or stigma
Sense of complete difference from others (may include sense of specialness)
Utter aloneness, belief no other person can understand, or nonhuman identity)

Alterations in perception of perpetrator, including:

Preoccupation with relationship with perpetrator (includes preoccupation with revenge)
Unrealistic attribution of total power to perpetrator (caution: victim's assessment of power realities may be more realistic than clinician's)
Idealization or paradoxical gratitude
Sense of special or supernatural relationship
Acceptance of belief system or rationalizations of perpetrator

Alterations in relations with others, including:

Isolation and withdrawal
Disruption in intimate relationships
Repeated search for rescuer (may alternate with isolation and withdrawal)
Persistent distrust
Repeated failures of self-protection

Alterations in systems of meaning:

Loss of sustaining faith
Sense of hopelessness and despair

Recovery from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:

Establishing safety
Empowerment of the survivor
Remembrance and mourning
Reconnection

Excerpted from Trauma and Recovery, by Judith Herman, M.D.

*Also referred to as complex post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Comment: Involvement in mind manipulating groups can also cause "anxiety in re-socialization." Diagnosis depends on the individual symptoms that appear, not the severity of the experience. Competent counseling by someone who understands trauma and/or cultic abuse is recommended when the former member is having difficulty in recovering.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy: If you are struggling with any kind of destructive behavior; i. e., suicidal behavior or self-injury, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been found to be helpful. This kind of therapy helps survivors to use tools to control moods that can go out of control very rapidly. As one child survivor (who underwent DBT) told us: "When you feel powerless, you feel hopeless. Once you realize that you have the power to change things in your life, you will not feel you have to wait for people to be good to you. You have the power to choose a better option."

EMDR: A number of survivors who have suffered trauma say they have been helped with a new procedure called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). However, therapists trained in complex trauma-related conditions (including mind control trauma) have told us that if the survivor is dissociative, this therapy can cause a flooding of memories. Please discuss this, and any other questions, with a qualified therapist.

Critical Incident Stress Information Sheets
Brief sheets for those who have experienced a traumatic event or critical incident (that which causes unusually strong emotional reactions). Includes: "Signs and Signals of a Stress Reaction", "Things to Try" and "For Family Members and Friends." (.pdf file)

Common Emotional Difficulties After a High Demand Group

How do I recover after exiting an abusive group? (Q&A)

Trauma Resources

Back to Articles For Those Who Were Emotionally and Spiritually Abused