Menu Close

Our Programs & Activities Will Guide Your Teen Through Rehab

PTSD Can Happen to Anyone, Including Teens

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition triggered by a powerful traumatic event. While commonly associated with combat veterans, PTSD can happen to anyone who has witnessed or experienced a life-changing event. Also, the traumatic event can have occurred at any time in the individual’s life making PTSD one of the more challenging mental health issues to deal with. During a PTSD episode, a person may experience extreme emotions, sensory overload, and flashbacks of the triggering event. Fortunately, Destinations for Teens understands that post-traumatic stress disorder can affect adolescents as well as adults and that they need proper treatment and therapy as well. Thus, we provide therapeutic services to address PTSD in teens.

Events that Lead to PTSD

Any horrifying event can lead to PTSD. For example, some frequent events that produce post-traumatic stress disorder in adults and PTSD in teens can include:

  • War
  • Murder, rape, abuse, or assault
  • Car accidents
  • Hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters
  • Wild animal attacks

When exposed to stimuli that resemble the traumatic event, people with PTSD may lose control of their spacial and sensory perception and relive the thoughts and emotions they initially felt. The severity and frequency of these episodes vary from person to person and can interfere with daily life.

Symptoms of PTSD in Teens

After experiencing a terrifying event, a person can exhibit various symptoms, including:

  • Avoiding places, objects, or stimuli that resemble the triggering event.
  • Constantly feeling threatened or vulnerable.
  • Feeling stressed, on edge, grumpy, or angry.
  • Trouble sleeping or concentrating.
  • Numbness
  • Apathy toward former hobbies and activities.
  • Intense flashbacks or nightmares of the event.

Coping with PTSD in Teens

People cope with PTSD in different ways. Some may isolate themselves from friends and family and work long hours to avoid interactions. Others may turn to numbing substances including drugs and alcohol. Individuals may have trouble developing or maintaining relationships and fall into depression. Panic attacks may occur without warning. Often, young children with PTSD and PTSD in teens leads to acting out their emotions among peers. They may become violent and aggressive on the playground or boisterous in the classroom. Also, they may exhibit fear or anger in ordinary situations or inappropriate contexts. Because of this, one of the more effective forms of therapeutic treatment is art therapy. Using this, individuals can reproduce their trauma through drawings or writings and then work through it. As they approach adolescence, their symptoms begin to resemble those of adults.

Common Causes of PTSD

The powerful emotions triggered by an event can rewire how the brain processes certain stimuli and the associations it creates. However, not everyone responds the same way to the same event. Factors that influence the likelihood of developing PTSD include:

  • Personality
  • Proximity to the event
  • Preexisting conditions or phobias
  • Age
  • Experience

People who receive support and counseling after experiencing a traumatic event are less likely to develop PTSD. While PTSD symptoms usually manifest shortly after the triggering event, some people may not experience them for months or even years. The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan reports that between 40 to 60 percent of people who develop PTSD recover as time passes. However, roughly a third of PTSD sufferers continue to experience symptoms. (1) Counseling helps many people cope with PTSD. Support groups often host sessions that allow PTSD sufferers to share their feelings and relate to one another. Art therapy has also been shown to mitigate symptoms and facilitate recovery. Through drawing or sculpting, people with PTSD can distance themselves from the traumatic event and perceive in a new light. Also, holistic treatments can help individuals manage their stress and anxiety. For example, Destinations for Teens offers therapeutic services such as

Learning Valuable Coping Skills

While early treatment is best, anyone suffering from PTSD can benefit from therapy. Inpatient treatment programs offer peaceful settings where people can relax and learn valuable skills to manage PTSD symptoms and related issues such as substance abuse. But through counseling, support, and individualized treatment, you can regain control and live life to the fullest. So call us at 877.466.0620 to learn more about PTSD and how we can help.  


References:

  1. http://www.psych.med.umich.edu/mental_health/post-traumatic_stress_disorder.asp
  2. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-easy-to-read/index.shtml