As many as 40% of people have or will experience a traumatic event during their children and teenage years. While most of those individuals will recover from the event in due course, others will continue to struggle to cope with the experience and the harmful memory of the trauma for weeks or up to years. When the trauma lingers, teens may develop what is known as PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD in teens is more common than you may think. If your teen has experienced loss or grief, or another traumatic event in their childhood, learn how our trauma therapy program can help them today by reaching out to our compassionate team online or calling us at 888.291.2309.
Teens and PTSD
PTSD in teens is real and extremely common and may require professional care to overcome. Focused trauma therapy works for teens because it has the capacity to uncover, and attempt to make sense of, the traumatic experiences teenagers have had and are suffering from. Some of the most common forms of trauma leading to symptoms of PTSD in teens include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Childhood neglect
- Death of a parent, sibling, or friend
- Tornado, hurricane, or living through other acts of nature
- Surviving a car accident, train, or plane crash
Teens may find themselves overwhelmed and feeling alone while trying to cope with the lingering after-effects of the traumatic experience which have adversely shaped their young life. Trauma therapy for PTSD in teens helps to ensure that they know that they are not alone, that their trauma and the related emotional turmoil suffered are valid, and asserts that they can overcome a traumatic past to live a happier, healthier life into adulthood.
PTSD Symptoms in Teens
When it comes to teens and PTSD, there are some common symptoms of PTSD in teens. Whether you know of the trauma your teen is struggling with or not, you can keep an eye out for changes in your teenager’s behavior and performance at school and work. Should you notice the following PTSD symptoms in teens, the trauma therapy at Imagine Fort Collins can help guide them through the pain and learn effective ways to cope and recover.
- Avoiding situations that make them recall the traumatic event they experienced
- Having nightmares or flashbacks about their trauma
- Repeating or recalling the trauma through play, words, or actions
- Acting impulsively or aggressively
- Feeling nervous or anxious
- Emotional numbness
- Having trouble focusing at school, work, or during other commitments
Treating PTSD in Teens
If your teen is exhibiting PTSD symptoms, the odds are in your and their favor that they will decrease and disappear over time. However, you should consult with a mental health professional for an assessment and to discuss teens and PTSD treatment options when symptoms do occur. Thankfully, PTSD is treatable, so you should never hesitate to find the compassionate help your teen needs and deserves to receive. Some of the possible treatments for PTSD include:
- Cognitive-behavior therapy
- Medication
- Group therapy
PTSD symptoms frequently co-occur with other types of mental health disorders, and/or can lead to other issues, such as:
- Substance use
- Risky behaviors
- Self-harm
All of these additional concerns need to be addressed to not only overcome the trauma but to protect your teen and guide them toward the path of a full and lifelong recovery.
Learn More at Imagine Fort Collins
If you are observing symptoms of PTSD in teens in your life, contact Imagine Fort Collins today using our secure online form or call us at 888.291.2309 to learn more about how our skilled, caring medical professionals can use trauma therapy to help.