If your son or daughter was the victim of or witness to a stressful or psychologically damaging event recently, it is possible for him or her to develop PTSD, just as a soldier returning from war might. Unfortunately, while soldiers returning from war are likely to be screened for symptoms before they are expected to return to their everyday life, teenagers do not always get the same benefit. Therefore, if you are concerned about how your teenager is coping with a traumatic event they experienced or saw, it is important to be aware of the following information about PTSD in adolescents and teens.
Understanding The Prevalence Of PTSD In Teenagers
It is important to note that recent research about post traumatic stress disorder, which is also known as PTSD, established that 18.7 percent of females between the age of fourteen and seventeen years of age had been the victim of an attempted or successful sexual assault. That same study, presented by the National Center for PTSD that about one out of three of those polled girls had observed a parent being assaulted. Those events are just a few of the events that can result in PTSD and if the issue goes untreated, the bright academic and professional future that you want for your teenager could be compromised.
Observing or being the victim of sexual assault, physical violence, or disasters are common causes of PTSD in people of almost any age. However, the National Center for PTSD also stated that amongst teens who have experienced one or more traumatic, triggering events, at least one out of every one hundred boys will develop PTSD and at least three out of every one hundred girls will do so.
Knowing What To Watch For If PTSD Is A Concern
Symptoms of PTSD are known to continue for a month or more and can include, but are not limited to:
If you have noticed a significant change in your teenager's behavior or habits after a traumatic event, it is important to speak with an experienced counselor or therapist about your concerns, especially if changes involve any of the above examples.Even if it turns out that your son or daughter does not have PTSD, dramatic and negative changes such as those listed above are rarely a good sign.
In conclusion, PTSD is more common in teenagers than many people know and its impact can reverberate for years.Therefore, if you are concerned that your son or daughter may have developed post traumatic stress disorder, the facts discussed above will be quite useful when you are forming a plan as to the best way to help your teen recover. For more information, talk to a professional like Lifeline.
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13 March 2017
I suffered depression for much of my life, and I lived with it for years before seeking help. I visited a psychiatrist and received an antidepressant prescription along with a referral to a counselor. I filled my prescription, but I put off making an appointment with the counselor. The medication began to help, so I decided that I didn't need to see a counselor after all -- or so I thought at the time. After a couple of months of medication, a close friend of mine died of an illness. I then learned that even though the medication helped my depression, I still had not learned the coping skills I needed to deal with traumatic life experiences. That even motivated me to seek counseling, and it helped me immensely. I created this blog to remind others that medication can help when suffering with depression, but counseling is also extremely important.