CPTSD is a cluster of defense mechanisms that showed up to protect you when there was no other option.
Unfortunately, they become symptoms of some sort, and eventually degrade to empty forms that that are automatic -without much gain. These automatic responses become outdated and irrelevant. Eventually harmful. Then it's forgotten that these are stress reactions and becomes easy to believe that the stress responses are evidence of who you are.....and other people forget you are not a cluster or reactions and symptoms. You believe it too. Then it becomes disordered and current suffering .....not a past form of survival.
And it becomes a pattern. A prison.
It can be changed. Awareness and repetition have the power to change anything.
Examples of Symptoms that began as Defense Mechanisms
Anxiety
Depression
Emotional Numbness and Disassocation
Expecting the Worst
Suicidal Ideation
Addiction
Self-Destructive Behavior
Familiarity and Tolerance for engaging in Abuse as a victim and abuser
Mood Swings
Abusive Behaviors to Others
Shame
Self-Doubt
Self-Absorption