About OOTS

[Kizzie]

Out of the Storm (OOTS) is an information web site and forum for adults who developed Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) due to ongoing relational abuse (emotional/physical/sexual) and/or neglect as children and/or adults.  While we use the diagnostic term Complex PTSD, many of us prefer the term "Complex Relational Traumatic Response" (CRTR) because it better highlights three things: first, that others are the cause of our symptoms; second, that we responded or reacted to the abuse/neglect in a such a way as to protect ourselves, and in some cases to survive physically and/or psychologically; and third, that the trauma is not necessarily in the past, for many of us it is ongoing. In short, it is not us, it's what happened to us that is key to understanding our symptoms. Survivors share 6 common symptoms which speaks to the fact that our responses are normal in the face of abnormal, traumatic behaviour directed toward us. It is not us being weak, overly sensitive, defective in some way or any of the other negative things we and others think. Not all of us make it, but those of us who do are truly survivors of the unthinkable and we deserve compassion, support, effective treatment and to be treated with dignity and respect.

This site was founded in the fall of 2014 by Kizzie, a Canadian who started out at our sister site Out of the FOG (OOTF).  OOTF is a site for people dealing with someone with a personality disorder, many of whom develop  that many members developed Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of ongoing exposure to PD behaviour. It was apparent that a separate forum was needed so those affected could learn about CPTSD/CRTR and focus on recovery. The wonderful OOTF Team assisted KIzzie in starting OOTS and they continue to support OOTS with technical and financial assistance. 

As it turned out, it was not just people who had been affected by someone with a personality disorder who came to the site, but many others who joined because as children and/or as adults they suffered ongoing relational trauma (i.e., sexual, physical or emotional abuse/neglect at the hands of someone who is known to the survivor). It is the accumulation of this interpersonal trauma which distinguishes CPTSD from PTSD. PTSD typically involves a single incident or shorter term trauma. 

The OOTS forum was designed according to adult learning theory and research conducted by the founder Kizzie and her colleague Dr. Rita Kop. Their study indicated the forum promotes informal self-directed learning, the construction of knowledge about the lived experience of Complex PTSD, and an increased sense of belonging and agency as was intended in its design.  Research Article: It's Not Just About Support: Self-Directed Learning in an Online Self-Help Group.

In addition to education, raising awareness and supporting relational trauma survivors, OOTS also advocates for more and better trauma informed services, treatment and support worldwide.