This Smokey Thing Called Healing: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Recovery from Self-Identified C-PTSD

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) encompasses a set of symptoms associated with prolonged or chronic trauma exposure. Because it is a relatively new diagnosis, the healing or recovery process is not yet well understood. Very few studies have examined the unique elements of healing from C-PTSD, and theoretical models surrounding the process are lacking. The current study utilizes grounded theory methodology to investigate how individuals describe their recovery from self-diagnosed C-PTSD. Reddit (a popular social media platform) was used to gather narratives from individuals who identify with the C-PTSD diagnosis. Grounded theory analysis of these data suggested that recovery from self-diagnosed C-PTSD is a long-term recursive process with foundational pieces of initiating recovery and developing emotional regulation skills. In addition, therapy intervention and social support can act as scaffolding for a cyclical inner process that assists those recovering from self-diagnosed C-PTSD as they develop skills and explore emotional, cognitive, and spiritual parts of the self. Through exploration of the inner self, those with self-diagnosed C-PTSD navigate an iterative process of relearning skills and taking accountability to help integrate a positive self-concept and a sense of self-efficacy. These findings provide further insight into the recovery process for those who identify with C-PTSD symptomology. Additionally, implications for treatment and diagnostic considerations are discussed.