r/CPTSD

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About r/CPTSD

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is rarely discussed in public forums, even though healthy connection to others is an integral part of healing. This is a peer support community for those who have undergone prolonged trauma and came out the other side alive and kicking, but with wounds that need tending. This is also a place for friends and family of the victims to come for support.

The community at a glance

r/CPTSD is a Subreddit for Mental Health with roughly 485K members. It has been around since 2012. It uses a forum format for communication. It is the 10th largest community in the Mental Health topic page.

Roughly 106K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Looking For A, Therapy, and Trauma. Common discussion themes are Advice Requests and Pain & Anger. Product recommendations often mention books, books recs, and therapy.

On Reddit
Established 2012
485K Members

Community Topics

Community Features

Forum

This community has a forum

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +106K members
Growth: +27.9% / year

Member growth over time

All time (yearly)

  • 2013: 28 members
  • 2014: 40 members
  • 2015: 218 members
  • 2016: 2K members
  • 2017: 4K members
  • 2018: 14K members
  • 2023: 237K members
  • 2024: 64K members
  • 2025: 83K members
  • 2026: 82K members

Past year (monthly)

  • Nov: 10K members
  • Dec: 10K members
  • Jan: 10K members
  • Feb: 9K members
  • Mar: 9K members
  • Apr: 9K members
  • May: 10K members
  • Jun: 9K members
  • Jul: 9K members
  • Aug: 8K members
  • Sep: 8K members
  • Oct: 1K members

Themes

  • Advice Requests
    12 posts in the past month
    1. Were your results better with therapists you genuinely liked or didn't it matter?
    2. How to stop being controlling in group dynamics?
    3. I'm so conflicted about my relationship with my parents, and I don't know what to do about it anymore
    #1
    Advice Requests
    Were your results better with therapists you genuinely liked or didn't it matter? · How to stop being controlling in group dynamics? · I'm so conflicted about my relationship with my parents, and I don't know what to do about it anymore
    12
  • Pain & Anger
    10 posts in the past month
    1. I feel so below human that its made healing feel like self erasure
    2. Underemployed, flat broke, need to work more but consumed with 24/7 panic and crippling physical urge to flee when confronted with any new job
    3. cptsd has ruined my relationship
    #2
    Pain & Anger
    I feel so below human that its made healing feel like self erasure · Underemployed, flat broke, need to work more but consumed with 24/7 panic and crippling physical urge to flee when confronted with any new job · cptsd has ruined my relationship
    10

Topics

  • Looking For A
    24 posts in the past month
    #1
    Looking For A
    24
  • Therapy
    20 posts in the past month
    1. I’m debating getting other services, other than just therapy. (Tw: ED)
    2. I keep freezing during therapy
    #2
    Therapy
    I’m debating getting other services, other than just therapy. (Tw: ED) · I keep freezing during therapy
    20
  • Trauma
    17 posts in the past month
    1. Childhood sexual trauma
    2. I’m realizing that I chose my career (or it chose me) because of my trauma
    3. I had traumatic experiences a couple years ago - I'm still around people that bring up things that remind me of it
    #3
    Trauma
    Childhood sexual trauma · I’m realizing that I chose my career (or it chose me) because of my trauma · I had traumatic experiences a couple years ago - I'm still around people that bring up things that remind me of it
    17
  • Cptsd
    13 posts in the past month
    1. Therapists with CPTSD! Please give advice to a soon-to-be therapist!
    2. Where can I find support for CPTSD in Toronto?
    3. Is it normal to feel resentful of my parents while processing CPTSD?
    #4
    Cptsd
    Therapists with CPTSD! Please give advice to a soon-to-be therapist! · Where can I find support for CPTSD in Toronto? · Is it normal to feel resentful of my parents while processing CPTSD?
    13
  • Support
    11 posts in the past month
    #5
    Support
    11

Flair

  • Question
    32 posts in the past month
    1. I'm Not Calm, and Because my anxiety is obvious somehow, in my Behavior it translates to People Judging me like I"m Crazy.
    2. How do you help with nightmares?
    3. Is it common to still dislike your family when they weren't intentionally abusive?
    #1
    Question
    I'm Not Calm, and Because my anxiety is obvious somehow, in my Behavior it translates to People Judging me like I"m Crazy. · How do you help with nightmares? · Is it common to still dislike your family when they weren't intentionally abusive?
    32
  • Vent / Rant
    31 posts in the past month
    1. Can anyone relate?
    2. I cut my brother off months ago, but the guilt eats at me every single day
    3. Can’t sleep, can’t be awake, just torment
    #2
    Vent / Rant
    Can anyone relate? · I cut my brother off months ago, but the guilt eats at me every single day · Can’t sleep, can’t be awake, just torment
    31
  • Discussion
    3 posts in the past month
    1. Grey's Bad Guide on How to Survive Work
    2. I have issues with romantic relationships
    3. Anyone need to trauma dump?
    #3
    Discussion
    Grey's Bad Guide on How to Survive Work · I have issues with romantic relationships · Anyone need to trauma dump?
    3
  • Need a Hug
    3 posts in the past month
    1. Don't keep it all to yourself. Let it out...
    2. I cannot tell if I'm actively sabotaging my future or doing what's best for myself
    3. Underemployed, flat broke, need to work more but consumed with 24/7 panic and crippling physical urge to flee when confronted with any new job
    #4
    Need a Hug
    Don't keep it all to yourself. Let it out... · I cannot tell if I'm actively sabotaging my future or doing what's best for myself · Underemployed, flat broke, need to work more but consumed with 24/7 panic and crippling physical urge to flee when confronted with any new job
    3
  • Resource / Technique
    2 posts in the past month
    1. What kind of yoga helps you ?
    2. Prompt created by Claude to present to my therapist
    #5
    Resource / Technique
    What kind of yoga helps you ? · Prompt created by Claude to present to my therapist
    2

Product recommendations

  • books
    37 posts in the past month
    1. best books for grief/acceptance phase of recovery?
    2. Best books on attachment theory/ finding out your attachment style?
    3. Best books for learning about fawn response?
    #1
    books
    best books for grief/acceptance phase of recovery? · Best books on attachment theory/ finding out your attachment style? · Best books for learning about fawn response?
    37
  • books recs
    23 posts in the past month
    1. best books for grief/acceptance phase of recovery?
    2. Best book for people with CPTSD that I never see recommended
    3. Can you recommend any accessible CPTSD books or articles, specifically for readers in African-American communities? Also, are there similar resources focused on individuals in prison? Looking for an engaging, non-academic tone, not studies.
    #2
    books recs
    best books for grief/acceptance phase of recovery? · Best book for people with CPTSD that I never see recommended · Can you recommend any accessible CPTSD books or articles, specifically for readers in African-American communities? Also, are there similar resources focused on individuals in prison? Looking for an engaging, non-academic tone, not studies.
    23
  • therapy
    16 posts in the past month
    1. What therapy has worked best for you?
    2. What is the best type of therapy for this?
    3. Can anyone recommend a good DID therapist that works remotely?
    #3
    therapy
    What therapy has worked best for you? · What is the best type of therapy for this? · Can anyone recommend a good DID therapist that works remotely?
    16
  • therapist
    10 posts in the past month
    1. Just got a therapist and not doing the best
    2. Best online psychiatry/therapy options?
    3. Best online psychiatry/therapy options?
    #4
    therapist
    Just got a therapist and not doing the best · Best online psychiatry/therapy options? · Best online psychiatry/therapy options?
    10
  • headphones
    3 posts in the past month
    1. Can anyone recommend headphones that totally block out sound 100%?
    2. Peace be with you all this weekend (recommend headphones and cc)
    3. Peace be with you all this weekend (recommend headphones and cc)
    #5
    headphones
    Can anyone recommend headphones that totally block out sound 100%? · Peace be with you all this weekend (recommend headphones and cc) · Peace be with you all this weekend (recommend headphones and cc)
    3
View full analysis on GummySearchSynced 10/2/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who is r/CPTSD for?
Best for Mental Health enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion.
Is r/CPTSD free to join?
This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
How many members does r/CPTSD have?
Roughly 485K members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
What platform is r/CPTSD on?
r/CPTSD runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
What topics does r/CPTSD cover?
On the Hive Index, r/CPTSD is organized under Mental Health.
How do I join r/CPTSD?
You can join r/CPTSD by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
What are the Mental Health communities like?
Communities for people navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, loneliness, trauma, and everyday mental health challenges. Find online support groups, peer support networks, and online therapy resources. Reddit has some of the largest and most active mental health communities on the internet, with Discord servers offering real-time peer support.
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Added 6/4/2026

Monthly Stats

19
Views /mo
(+46%)
19
Visitors /mo
(+46%)
1
Referrals /mo

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