Have you ever wondered if your friend’s fear of loud noises or your desire to avoid certain places might be more than just typical teenage anxieties? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn’t just something that impacts veterans. Teens can also experience PTSD, and it can show up in surprising ways. 

Teens can sometimes experience events that are incredibly scary and overwhelming, causing them to develop PTSD. PTSD can show up in a matter of days after the event, or even months or years later. 

A traumatic event is one that causes feelings of intense fear, helplessness or horror. Traumas that can trigger PTSD in teens can include, but aren’t limited to:

• Parent divorce
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Witnessing violence happening to others
• Witnessing violence, such as shootings or neighborhood violence
• Bullying or emotional abuse
• Military family-related stressors
• Sudden loss of a friend or loved one
• Serious accidents that can cause risk of death or major injuries
• Life-threatening illnesses for themselves or a loved one
• Invasive medical procedures

By the time they are 16, over two-thirds of children will report they have experienced at least one traumatic event. An estimated 4% of teens aged 12-17 in the U.S. will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, according to the National Center for PTSD. Teen girls are more likely to experience PTSD than teen boys. While not everyone exposed to trauma will develop PTSD, there are some factors that can influence who may develop the condition:

• History of previous trauma
• Severity of the trauma
• Preexisting mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression
• Strength of one’s support system
• One’s coping skills

What does a PTSD episode look like for teens? 

Everyone doesn’t experience the same symptoms of PTSD, and teens can experience PTSD differently from adults. A teen’s experience with PTSD is as unique as they are. Symptoms that teens can experience with a PTSD episode may include:

• Reenacting the traumatic event
• Nightmares
• Withdrawing from others
• Flashbacks, like sounds, images, smells or feelings
• Physical symptoms, like headaches, muscle tension or other body aches
• Avoidance of things that remind them of the event
• Impulsive, risky, self-destructive or aggressive behaviors
• Irritability 
• Anger outbursts
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Depression
• Feeling nervous, jittery, or always on high alert and watchful
• Emotional numbing
• Low self-esteem
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feelings of shame, guilt or isolation
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

There is no single test to diagnose PTSD; however, a doctor or qualified mental health professional can do a comprehensive evaluation based on the PTSD diagnosis criteria in the DSM-5-TR.

How does PTSD affect teens?

PTSD can have a significant impact on a teen’s life. PTSD can cause side effects such as:

• Difficulty making and keeping healthy relationships
• Difficulty trusting people
• Problems at school
• Increased risk of substance use
• Self-harm behaviors
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Is there help for teens with PTSD?

There is help available for teens who are struggling with PTSD. The two most effective types of treatments for PTSD in teens are:

• Therapy — Therapy like an intensive outpatient program or partial hospitalization program can provide teens with a safe space to explore their experiences. Working with a therapist can allow teens struggling with PTSD to:

• Process trauma — Talking about the traumatic event with a therapist trained to help adolescents with PTSD can help them understand their emotions and develop healthy coping skills. 

• Challenge negative thoughts — Trauma can lead to distorted thinking patterns. Therapy can help teens identify and challenge these negative thoughts, replacing these thoughts with more positive and empowering beliefs.

• Develop healthy coping skills — A qualified therapist can equip teens with the tools they need to better manage stress, anxiety and flashbacks. Techniques like relaxation exercises and mindfulness can help them feel more in control. 

• Medication — While therapy is the cornerstone of PTSD treatment, medication can also play a supporting role. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — SSRIs are medications that can help regulate mood swings, anxiety and depression, which are common symptoms of PTSD. It’s important to note that the FDA recommends careful monitoring for adolescents and teens who are taking antidepressants like SSRIs. In rare cases, antidepressants can raise a teen’s risk for suicidality. 

• Medication management — Certain medications can help reduce nightmares, a frequent symptom of PTSD. Reducing nightmares can help teens sleep better. A psychiatrist can ensure that your teen is taking the right medication for their PTSD symptoms. 

It’s important to find the right balance for the most effective treatment for a teen experiencing PTSD episodes. Therapists and doctors can work together to create a personalized treatment plan for each teen. Medication isn’t a replacement for therapy, but it can be a valuable addition to help manage symptoms and improve a teen’s overall well-being. This improvement can help teens participate more fully in their therapy sessions. 

Embrace U can help teens struggling with PTSD episodes with personalized treatment

PTSD in teens can disrupt the way they experience emotions, think and interact with others. Through quality, adolescent-geared outpatient programs using evidence-based techniques, our qualified, licensed professionals at Embrace U can help you overcome the current challenges of PTSD episodes to work toward lasting mental well-being. Our intensive outpatient programing uses a combination of evidence-based techniques that may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Our compassionate mental health teams create personalized treatment programs that can help you learn more about what’s causing your mental health challenges and how to cope in healthy ways. Our programming is offered outside of school hours so you can get the comprehensive treatment you deserve without sacrificing school and your ability to maintain your routine. 

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.