What to Know About PTSD in Teenagers

The teen years can be an intense and tumultuous time. While it's common for teens to be moody and irritable, sometimes they can develop mental health challenges that are serious and must be addressed.

If your teen witnessed a traumatic event or had a traumatic experience, you might be wondering if they may allow us PTSD. They may even be showing signs of PTSD, such as for example flashbacks to the big event, nightmares, increased agitation, emotional numbness, or trouble concentrating in school.

Managing PTSD in a teenager can be very problematic for all involved, but just the very fact that you're concerned is really a positive and hopeful first step. Let's have a look at PTSD in teenagers—its signs and symptoms, the causes of it, and what treatment choices are available.

How Common Is PTSD in Teenagers?
PTSD treatment is experienced by anyone who has been exposed to trauma, including witnessing violence, natural disasters, accidents, shootings, or being a victim of sexual or physical abuse. Traumas such as losing family members, divorce, and abandonment, can also cause PTSD.

Unfortunately, children and teenagers aren't immune from traumas and can experience PTSD consequently of a traumatic experience. It's estimated that up to 5% of teens aged 13 to 18 experience PTSD. Girls are more prone to experience it than boys. The prevalence of PTSD is approximately 8% for females and 2.3% for boys.2 Some researchers estimate that PTSD is actually slightly higher in the teen population than in adults.

How Do Outward indications of PTSD in Teens Differ From Adults?
Apparent symptoms of PTSD in teens more closely resemble PTSD symptoms in adults than in younger children.

At once, teenagers with PTSD may take part in “traumatic reenactment” more than adults. Teens can also show more aggressive behaviors and act on impulse more frequently.

Dangers of PTSD in Teens
PTSD is just a mental health condition that could lead to reckless, dangerous, or suicidal behaviors. A teen who's in the midst of a flashback might find themselves in physical danger; as an example, they could lose control of the car or fall off of something they're standing on. Much more likely, however, is that untreated PTSD can cause additional mental health issues.