This is my first time posting here, because I literally only just discovered C-PTSD after 15+ years of therapy for GAD, depression, social anxiety…
Of course it is incredibly validating and partly a relief to finally understand my life and why I have struggled so much (knowing what I know now about C-PTSD and developmental trauma). And yet, I mostly feel a deep sadness. A sadness at realising just how emotionally neglected I was as a child and how much it’s still impacting me into adulthood. And also such sadness feeling like there’s so much more work to do in order to “fix myself” and heal from all the shame, fear and self-criticism I carry with me.
I am wondering if this is just part of the initial grief that comes with first learning about and resonating with C-PTSD? How long does the sadness last?
I’ve literally been told to stop thinking about it and that I’m only making myself feel sad by spending too much time on it. And while I wish I could just move on and get on with life, I’m thinking the nature of C-PTSD requires us to actually go deeper and process it all so that we don’t remain stuck with our struggles?
Please help :( I’d love to know about others’ experience first discovering C-PTSD and what happens from here.