First, have you read the FDS reading list from the subreddit? I'm not even done it yet and I found FDS in 2019. It's a good curriculum of books even if you at least read notes on the books included.
I think it depends what you find to be the worst part of your cptsd. In Pete Walker's CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving he mentions the core wound for cptsd being emotional neglect, but was that the case for you? If so, what kind of emotional neglect did you suffer? Was it parenting based, abusive relationship based, school based, friendship based, work based, etc?
When I first learned what cptsd was I started modeling my "triggers" into a chart and thought mapping where they came from, how I used to deal with it, and my new options as an adult. I organized my self regulation therapy tools and coping mechanisms next to each trigger along with relevant statements to remember about things I can't change or that are facts regardless of my feelings. Once I did this it kind of pointed me in the direction of books I needed to read to gain perspective and insight on what I'd specifically gone through. I was trying to reduce my stress from triggers by doing underlying therapy work on my past, understanding how to avoid unnecessarily being triggered, and most importantly how to identify people who would always trigger me. Breaking down the feelings and taking agency over the situation is what got me through to the other side I think. I'm not perfectly controlled by any means but I've improved, and will continue improving.
That said, some books I've read other than Pete Walker that I've read that helped me in no particular order are:
Body keeps the score - van der kolk
Why does he do that - lundy bancroft
The gift of fear - gavin debecker
Adult children of emotionally immature parents - lindsay gibson
It didn't start with you - mark wolynn
Psychopath free - jackson mackenzie
Attached - amir levine
I'm still working through all the FDS books, and this isn't a complete list of what I've read from the list. Some of the books definitely fall under "death of the author" for me since some authors have come out as conspiracy theorists or bigots but in terms of strictly education I am willing to hear the relevant information that was and remains correct. Reader discretion is needed obviously.
Thank you so much this comment is spot on I havt finished the whole fds book list on trauma I should now I look back it was emotion neglect definitely and ppl breaking my boundaries down when I was in my early 20s . I loved how you mapped your emotions and the triggers . Avoding triggers and specially ppl who trigger us has been a huge challenge for me and it’s something I would like to work on . I allowed toxic ppl who triggered the shit out of me way to long it’s something i would like to work on that I have a choice to cut them off being in chaos feels way too familiar and I want to work on thus to identify why iam not leaving the situation . Thank you for the recommendations and your experience will definitely try emotional charting ! 🥰
I've been really loving Richard Grannon's YouTube channel. He's very intelligent and explains CPTSD and narcissism in a very factual and practical way. Extremely in depth I've been using some of his techniques and reducing emotional flashbacks. It's increased my self awareness regarding my emotional regulation 10 fold.
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First, have you read the FDS reading list from the subreddit? I'm not even done it yet and I found FDS in 2019. It's a good curriculum of books even if you at least read notes on the books included.
I think it depends what you find to be the worst part of your cptsd. In Pete Walker's CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving he mentions the core wound for cptsd being emotional neglect, but was that the case for you? If so, what kind of emotional neglect did you suffer? Was it parenting based, abusive relationship based, school based, friendship based, work based, etc?
When I first learned what cptsd was I started modeling my "triggers" into a chart and thought mapping where they came from, how I used to deal with it, and my new options as an adult. I organized my self regulation therapy tools and coping mechanisms next to each trigger along with relevant statements to remember about things I can't change or that are facts regardless of my feelings. Once I did this it kind of pointed me in the direction of books I needed to read to gain perspective and insight on what I'd specifically gone through. I was trying to reduce my stress from triggers by doing underlying therapy work on my past, understanding how to avoid unnecessarily being triggered, and most importantly how to identify people who would always trigger me. Breaking down the feelings and taking agency over the situation is what got me through to the other side I think. I'm not perfectly controlled by any means but I've improved, and will continue improving.
That said, some books I've read other than Pete Walker that I've read that helped me in no particular order are:
Body keeps the score - van der kolk
Why does he do that - lundy bancroft
The gift of fear - gavin debecker
Adult children of emotionally immature parents - lindsay gibson
It didn't start with you - mark wolynn
Psychopath free - jackson mackenzie
Attached - amir levine
I'm still working through all the FDS books, and this isn't a complete list of what I've read from the list. Some of the books definitely fall under "death of the author" for me since some authors have come out as conspiracy theorists or bigots but in terms of strictly education I am willing to hear the relevant information that was and remains correct. Reader discretion is needed obviously.
I've been really loving Richard Grannon's YouTube channel. He's very intelligent and explains CPTSD and narcissism in a very factual and practical way. Extremely in depth I've been using some of his techniques and reducing emotional flashbacks. It's increased my self awareness regarding my emotional regulation 10 fold.