Complex PTSD, is caused by severe abuse suffered within a captivity situation, over a prolonged period of time, where the victim has no viable of perceived means of escape.
One example of captivity trauma, is childhood abuse from caregivers. This can be prolonged neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, scapegoating, gaslighting abuse etc. I have suffered them all.
Due to the immature and developing brain & psyche, abuse in childhood is far more damaging and life impacting, than in adulthood. As per trauma experts like Prof. Bessel van der Kolk, and as per increasing research via neuroscience.
Other examples of captivity abuse are prolonged domestic violence, kidnapping, enforced sex workers/prostitution, sex trafficking, prisoner of war etc.
My captivity abuse was both within childhood and as an adolescent and spanned 20 years and has impacted my entire life, and every area of my life.
See my Website for more information @ http://www.healingfromcomplextraumaandptsd.com/
My Website is recommended by many mental health professionals and clinicians, as well as many complex trauma survivors.
Healing From Complex Trauma & PTSD/CPTSD 
September 1, 2013 at 3:21 am
thank you for sharing this. I cant imagine the pain. I have had some bad experience as a child I don’t like to talk about, but thank for sharing here
April 27, 2014 at 2:21 am
i think anything as a child is a captive experience because a child never feels they can escape from their home situation. It doesnt have to mean being physically held down.
December 12, 2014 at 11:55 am
Totally agree with you Dana.
May 16, 2014 at 12:02 pm
I hope you don’t mind, but I put a link to you blog on my last post. I thought it could help others.
May 26, 2014 at 9:55 pm
Unfortunately, I completely relate to this.
July 17, 2014 at 3:35 pm
I have been following your Facebook for a while now and so excited to find your blog. I can relate to so much of this, as a survivor of domestic violence. Thank you for your inspiration.
October 10, 2014 at 12:01 am
Mine spanned over 31 yrs. My grown daughter is a complete emotional wreck as a result of growing up with him and I have been diagnosed with C-PTSD with sleep disorder. I stayed because I thought it was the right thing to do. Now I also have those regrets. I have only been away from him for 5 yrs and the effects remain strong!
June 25, 2016 at 5:02 am
I was with a narcissistic sociopath for 33 years … the effects are horrible … I also thought I was doing the right thing, after all I had made a commitment and had 2 children. Now I know that the reason he asked me to give up my business and stay home to raise them was his need to control, isolate and keep me home and not have the freedom to find out what he was up to which was serial adultery.
March 11, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Let’s talk about it!
March 14, 2015 at 3:44 pm
They are actually doing some scientific research that backs up what we have known for years. It may help in getting doctors to educate themselves so they can help their patients.
Please give this a peek:
June 27, 2015 at 2:01 pm
I would take a beating any day .Over verbal abuse . The ramifications are life lasting .I am 53 and I still suffer from them
August 4, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Growing up a girl of separated parents in Franco Spain was not easy. I grew up with sexual emotional physical abuse and neglect even though the grand aunt that took me in lived relatively well…I was the target, the child alone all these men dumped their shame on. 20 years trying to heal, resolve my life, heal the messes i left behind…and counting. Touching shame now…worst emotion ever. Hopes are smaller than when i started recovery yet i have to keep going. Thanks for the page.
December 28, 2015 at 4:08 am
I too have a long history beginning in early childhood of repeated trauma (neglect, physical, sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse, later in life financial abuse in addition)…It has totally altered and damaged my health, my career lost, family lost, inability to have children, lost standard of living…vulnerability to repeated abuse. I work very hard every day to do as well as I can…it is not easy. I often feel a lot of pain, loneliness, anxiety and depression. I try to stay connected as well as I can to anyone who is healthy in my life…and to what sustains my spirit. It is difficult much of the time. I do have the occasional period or day when I feel happy, supported, uplifted and hopeful…those days are amazing and give me hope to keep going. I have had more of these days over the past 5-7 years…as I have continued with healthier supports in my life and practicing skills/tools for managing the CPtsd symptoms.
My heart goes out to anyone who is dealing with this cptsd…
June 8, 2016 at 9:49 am
Your life sounds just like mine was. Got it all, struggling still at almost 62.
July 18, 2016 at 7:55 am
That if I can’t control my emotions; my emotions will control me. No damn more! The last 37 yrs have started to age. Me quickly!!
January 10, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Thank you Lilly for all you do to help others, I hope your time away from social media is proving to be healing. Love & Light
💜☯️💜