Dr. Ingela Thuné-Boyle
Health Psychologist
Online Therapy

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is most often associated with trauma that is chronic, repeated, and rooted in relationships. Unlike single-incident trauma (such as a one-off accident or event) CPTSD develops when a person grows up or lives for long periods in environments that feel unsafe, unpredictable, or emotionally overwhelming.

Something happened this morning that stopped me in my tracks and made me think about all the times I’ve been blamed for things I didn’t do, by people who simply couldn’t take responsibility for their actions. While walking my dog, someone behaved unnecessarily rudely toward us, then immediately apologized. A sincere apology. No defensiveness. No minimizing. Just ownership.

Research in psychology, neuroscience, and medicine has increasingly confirmed what many survivors have felt for a long time: the wounds of childhood do not simply disappear over time. Childhood trauma, whether through abuse, neglect, household instability, or chronic emotional stress, can leave lasting marks not only on the mind but also on the body. These effects are not imagined; they operate through clear biological and behavioural pathways

Some people with a chronic illness or with distressing physical symptoms may have experienced trauma in their lives, either as a direct result of their illness or at a previous point in their lives. Ongoing childhood abuse, for example, has been shown to be related to ill health in adulthood, where those who experienced a rough childhood are more likely to be diagnosed with a chronic illness later on in life.