What to Know About PTSD in Teenagers

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

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

Managing PTSD in a teenager can be quite difficult for all involved, but just the actual fact that you are concerned is a positive and hopeful first step. Let's take a peek at PTSD in teenagers—its signs and symptoms, what can cause it, and what treatment options are available.

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

Unfortunately, children and teenagers aren't immune from traumas and can experience PTSD as a result of a traumatic experience. It's estimated that as many as 5% of teens aged 13 to 18 experience PTSD. Girls are prone to experience it than boys. The prevalence of PTSD is all about 8% for girls and 2.3% for boys.2 Some researchers estimate that PTSD is obviously 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 the same time, teenagers with PTSD may be involved in “traumatic reenactment” significantly 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 may cause reckless, dangerous, or suicidal behaviors. A teenager who's in the midst of a flashback might end up in physical danger; for instance, they could lose control of their car or fall away from something they're standing on. More likely, however, is that untreated PTSD can cause additional mental health issues.