Trauma & Dissociation discussion
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The Complex PTSD Workbook
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October 2025 BOTM: The Complex PTSD Workbook by Arielle Schwartz
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Mod
I ordered the paper version which will arrive tomorrow.
Complex PTSD is "a learned stress disorder" according to the author. I like that simplified shorthand. I appreciate that she focuses on the reader developing a "compassionate understanding" of the symptoms, even though in my own experience, self-compassion was very, very difficult for me until about 10 years in. My own self-blame, shame, buried anger, etc took a long time to work through before I felt any self-compassion.
At this point in the book -- over halfway -- I'm reassessing my recommendation to make this the choice for October. The overall arc of Dr. Schwartz' book is to be used as a long term therapy tool; something one might return to over a period of years in recovering. I appreciate that she's not pushing quick solutions.
Mod
Yes, very slowly and with mindful practice. There were also turning points; when I truly understood in my heart and mind that what happened to me had NOTHING to do with who I was, and many years later when I did EMDR and saw my past through different eyes.
Mod
It’s early and I’ve liked most of what she said. I could’ve written the same. But this, I don’t. It discounts coping. Look, watch a soccer game. See when there is a penalty kick, outside the box. Guys lines up 10m from the kicker. They tend to cover their crotch. Don’t tell me that’s learned ineffective beliefs and behaviors. I guarantee, every one of those guys in the line has been hit in the crotch and the face several times over. It is simply stupid not to protect yourself. They don’t suffer from compulsive crotch covering syndrome. They recognize a situational threat and respond conditionally to it. There is nothing wrong with them. Any guy has has taken a shot in the crotch, versus blocking a blow with his hands, which is probably virtually all of them, can tell you the difference is simply night and day. I do not appreciate the degradation here. There is nothing pathologically wrong. It’s belittling.
I see your point, Steve. Great analogy. I would have phrased it "CPTSD is the result of systemic trauma. Many of the coping strategies you developed as a result - both beliefs and behaviors - are in fact, now counterproductive. Healing from CPTSD is about more than mind-set and changing old beliefs and behaviors." I could go on, but you get it.
The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole
by Arielle Schwartz (2017)
This is a workbook. It's about $9 US on Amazon (Kindle). You can go through a touch the screen on a phone/table, and type your words in as a note.
Publisher's Summary
A mind-body workbook for healing and overcoming Complex PTSD
Those affected by complex PTSD, or C-PTSD, commonly feel as though there is something fundamentally wrong with them―that somewhere inside there is a part of them that needs to be fixed. Facing one’s PTSD is a brave, courageous act―and with the right guidance, recovery is possible.
In The Complex PTSD Workbook, you’ll learn all about C-PTSD and gain valuable insight into the types of symptoms associated with unresolved childhood trauma. Take healing into your own hands while applying strategies to help integrate positive beliefs and behaviors.
Discover your path to recovery
Examples and exercises―Uncover your own instances of trauma with PTSD activities designed to teach you positive strategies.Expert guidance―Explore common PTSD diagnoses and common methods of PTSD therapy including somatic therapy, CBT, and mind-body perspectives.Prompts and reflections―Apply the strategies you’ve learned and identify PTSD symptoms with insightful writing prompts.
Find the tools you need to work through C-PTSD and regain emotional control with this mind-body workbook.