When Professionals Fail with CPTSD

It can feel frustrating and invalidating when professionals fail to recognize Complex PTSD (CPTSD) as a real condition. The truth is, it’s not part of their training to understand it, and that’s a systemic issue. The medical and psychiatric industries have historically focused on diagnosing symptoms rather than addressing the root cause of trauma, and this is by design. These industries are built to prioritize treatments like medication and surface-level interventions, which keep people cycling through the system without addressing the deeper issues.

Assures Repeat Customers
CPTSD, which stems from prolonged trauma like neglect, abuse, or chronic relational harm, challenges the existing frameworks in these fields. It’s easier—and more profitable—for the system to ignore the profound effects of trauma on the brain and nervous system than to overhaul training and practices to focus on relational healing and trauma-informed care. By not addressing the root causes, they ensure a steady stream of patients and revenue, all while leaving those with CPTSD misunderstood and underserved.

A System Focused on Symptoms
It’s not that individual professionals are malicious; it’s that the system they work within was never designed to understand or support trauma survivors. CPTSD goes beyond their comprehension because their training focuses on symptoms rather than the systemic and relational origins of trauma and its neurophysiological effects. This lack of awareness perpetuates harm and neglects the very people who need the most support.

Support for Recovery
Fortunately, there is a lot we can do even without trauma-informed practitioners, such as through peer support, or educational resources that prioritize understanding and addressing the root causes of CPTSD. Change is happening, but it’s slow, and in the meantime, validating your own experience and finding the right support can make all the difference.

This post includes content generated by ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. The AI-generated content has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and relevance.

About Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Former tall ship sailor turned trauma awareness activist-artist Shay Seaborne, CPTSD has studied the neurobiology of fear / trauma /PTSD since 2015. She writes, speaks, teaches, and makes art to convey her experiences as well as her understanding of the neurobiology of fear, trauma theory, and principles of trauma recovery. A native of Northern Virginia, Shay settled in Delaware to sail KALMAR NYCKEL, the state’s tall ship. She wishes everyone could recognize PTSD is not a mental health problem, but a neurophysiological condition rooted in dysregulation, our mainstream culture is neuro-negative, and we need to understand we can heal ourselves and each other through awareness, understanding, and safe connection.

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