I’ve heard so many CPTSD myths that I just had to lay them out and bust them here.
CPTSD isn’t just a clinical term. For many, it’s a lived reality that gets twisted, watered down, and misunderstood.
Honest conversations about CPTSD matter. It deserves to be understood, not simplified, dismissed, or reduced to a checklist.
Myth #1: CPTSD and PTSD are the same.
Busted: No. CPTSD isn’t PTSD, it’s its own thing. It usually comes from long-term trauma, like repeated abuse or neglect, and rewires your nervous system in deeper ways. PTSD is a single storm; CPTSD? Whole hurricane season vibes. (I go deeper into explaining that here.)
Myth #2: No flashbacks? You don’t have CPTSD.
Busted: Flashbacks are just one part of it. With CPTSD you often feel emotionally numb, chronic shame and no self-worth. You have trouble trusting people, and relentless self-criticism. Pain doesn’t have to be loud or visible to be real.
Myth #3: People with CPTSD are just “too sensitive.”
Busted: Your reactions aren’t “too much.” Hypervigilance, anger, or shutting down. These aren’t flaws, they are survival responses your brain learned long ago and ways to keep you safe. It doesn’t mean you are broken and you definitely aren’t attention seeking.
Myth #4: Healing is straight forward.
Busted: Healing isn’t straight forward and it’s sure as hell not easy. It’s more like climbing a mountain, with sudden drops, sideways scrambles, and the occasional surprise win. Setbacks aren’t failures; they’re part of the journey.
Myth #5: CPTSD only happens to “extreme” cases.
Busted: Trauma isn’t one-size-fits-all. CPTSD can come from ongoing neglect, bullying, or just living somewhere unsafe, not only the dramatic abuse or war stories you see in movies.
Honest Conversations are Important
The more we actually talk about CPTSD and less about “just getting over it,” the less alone we feel. We need real conversations and more honesty, so people who haven’t lived it can start to get what it’s really like. The more understanding there is around CPTSD, the more those of us who live with it can feel seen, supported, and a little less like we’re carrying it all on our own.
If this resonates with you, share it, talk about it, or just sit with it for a minute. Your story matters, and every honest conversation helps us all feel a little less alone.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash