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What helps me feel safest is being in the wilds with my two dogs.

I feel exactly the same way, but I only have one dog. No people for miles equals no threats and few concerns — just tranquility, relief, freedom and thoroughly enjoying the moments as they pass by.

What I find interesting is that I've known people whose big fear is being alone in the wild. They're afraid of, I don't know, bears, coyotes, snakes, getting lost, running out of water, breaking their legs and never making it back to civilization, and who knows what else. Even though I can empathize because I have my own irrational fears, it really helps put thing into perspective to know that their fears, like my own, are subjective, relative and largely irrational.

Hmmm, now that I think about it maybe I should be afraid of breaking my legs and being eaten by bears when I'm out in the wilderness. I mean it could happen. Then again, probably not.   

Is there anyone else in this forum who came down with CPTSD late in life on account of cumulative work-related stress?  I did suffer from some child abuse but not enough to cause CPTSD, only some neuroses which I had long had successfully treated.

Well, I know at least one other person — me.

Like you, there was ongoing trauma in my childhood, which, in my case, led to a lifetime of generalized anxiety and social phobia, but not CPTSD symptoms. The stage was set for me to be pushed into CPTSD by a work situation — a new supervisor who, for some reason, viewed me as her main competition and who has gone to great lengths to sideline, bully, belittle and humiliate me. I've been trapped with this incompetent, manipulative narcissist for three years now and it's been impossible (so far) for me to find a replacement job at 63 that comes close to matching my current salary.

Luckily, I found a good psychologist who rapidly diagnosed most of the problem — even though he was reluctant to use the term CPTSD. With time, lots of help, medication, meditation and long walks and exercise, I think I'm finally on the mend.

You're right about how the CPTSD can trigger other problems — both emotional and life altering in ways that are unexpected and often make little sense. For me it's been nightmares, imagined illnesses, constant hypervigilance and a marriage that is suffering.

On the positive side, after long talks with my psychologist and lots of study and reflection, I finally understand what's taken place and also where the forever-present generalized anxiety and social anxiety originated, which provides ammunition to defeat all of it. I wish I had known this 40 years ago, but better late than never. It's been a very rough three years of acute CPTSD, but I think I will emerge from it a better, stronger, more balanced (and much less neurotic) person than I was before. I honestly think you will too. From what you've written, you don't seem like the kind of person to give up.