Welcome to Back from the Abyss. I'm Dr. Craig Hecock.

There are a few spots left in my two psychotherapy trainings this summer.

The first one takes place here in Fort Collins from June 3rd to 6th.

It's called bringing therapy into med management,

and it's geared for psychiatric nurse practitioners and PAs who want to deepen their therapy skills

and practice more holistically and psychodynamicly.

The second workshop is called I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?

And this is an experiential deep dive on working with transference and countertransference with Dr.

Hilary McBride and she and I await you in the mountains east of Vancouver, June 18th through 20th.

See my website for details and registration info for both of these.

Today's story is one of classic DSM-style PTSD.

It's a story of both medical and parenting trauma, of facing the fear of annihilation and death.

But interestingly, as I think back on the seven seasons of Back from the Abyss,

we've almost never done a story on classic PTSD.

Our most common story theme by far is that of complex or developmental PTSD,

which, crazily, strangely,

what the heck, isn't even a formally recognized diagnosis in American psychiatry.

Why complex PTSD isn't in the DSM is a story unto itself.

But I continue to find it so bizarre that one of the most common presentations in my office and on this podcast isn't seen as a valid diagnosis by mainstream American psychiatry.

What is complex, also known as developmental PTSD? Complex PTSD is caregiver to child trauma. its early attachment slash love slash safety trauma,

which then profoundly affects the child's ability to find and maintain safety and connection

and healthy relationships.

...