The Role Of PTSD In Adolescents
Post- traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is not a new concept. Most of what is known about PTSD is known through studies with adults. Although, not near as much is known about how PTSD affects children and adolescents. However, knowledge on PTSD in adolescent and children has greatly expanded within the last two decades. When studying PTSD, you must know what is classified as a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something that threatens injury, death, or the physical integrity of self or others and also causes horror, terror, or helplessness at the time it occurs. Anything can cause a person or child trauma. In community samples, they found that two thirds of children experience a traumatic event by the time they were 16. Although,
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Each child though may deal and respond with their experience in a different way. Not all responses though are bad. Some can mimic adaptive behaviors to help themselves deal with what they went through. When being treated for PTSD, counselors must be careful to asses each child, to provide the best route to recovery.
However, a lot of children and adolescent that have PTSD do not receive the help that they need, are never diagnosed, or are diagnose but still do not receive proper services to help them recover. There are many way that counselors use to help children recover, but some have not been passed for use. Other methods like cognitive-behavioral, though, have shown to be effective. Although, trust between the therapist, child, and parent, along with a safe and quiet environment, are the foundation for recovery.
Seeking help from a professional for PTSD, is the best way to make sure a child or adolescent gets the right help that is specific for them. Supporting the child is necessary, supporting the family, as well as the community can have a huge positive impact. It is also great to provide education to those around the child for a faster and healthier recovery. Understanding the child’s cultural background and helping them to return to a normal role is key to bring the child out of their traumatic
Each child though may deal and respond with their experience in a different way. Not all responses though are bad. Some can mimic adaptive behaviors to help themselves deal with what they went through. When being treated for PTSD, counselors must be careful to asses each child, to provide the best route to recovery.
However, a lot of children and adolescent that have PTSD do not receive the help that they need, are never diagnosed, or are diagnose but still do not receive proper services to help them recover. There are many way that counselors use to help children recover, but some have not been passed for use. Other methods like cognitive-behavioral, though, have shown to be effective. Although, trust between the therapist, child, and parent, along with a safe and quiet environment, are the foundation for recovery.
Seeking help from a professional for PTSD, is the best way to make sure a child or adolescent gets the right help that is specific for them. Supporting the child is necessary, supporting the family, as well as the community can have a huge positive impact. It is also great to provide education to those around the child for a faster and healthier recovery. Understanding the child’s cultural background and helping them to return to a normal role is key to bring the child out of their traumatic