TRAUMA, PTSD, & STRESS THERAPY FOR TEENAGERS
UNDERSTANDING TEEN TRAUMA AND STRESSORS: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS
As parents, it's vital to recognize the unique challenges your teenager faces in today's world and how traumatic experiences can profoundly impact their mental health and well-being. By fostering understanding and open communication, parents can play a crucial role in their teen's recovery journey and promote a safe and nurturing environment for healing.
It's important to note that experiencing trauma or stressful situations does not inevitably lead to the development of a disorder, since individual's responses to traumatic events can vary widely. However, if a teenager exhibits symptoms consistent with trauma-related disorders, it's essential to seek professional help from mental health professionals for assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment interventions tailored to the individual's needs.
The way in which teenagers experience trauma or stress can vary widely. It's important to recognize that trauma is subjective, and what may be traumatic for one person may not be for another. Additionally, some teens may experience multiple traumas or ongoing stressors, further complicating their experiences and recovery process.
WHAT CAUSES TRAUMA AND STRESS IN TEENS?
Teens can experience a variety of traumas and stressful situations, including:
- Physical or Sexual Abuse: This includes any form of physical violence, sexual assault, or exploitation.
- Emotional Abuse or Neglect: Persistent emotional mistreatment, or lack of adequate care and support from caregivers.
- Witnessing Violence: Exposure to domestic violence, community violence, or witnessing violent acts can be traumatic.
- Natural Disasters: Events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or wildfires can cause significant trauma.
- Accidents or Injuries: Serious accidents, injuries, or medical emergencies can have a lasting impact on a teen's mental health.
- Bullying or Harassment: Persistent bullying, cyberbullying, or harassment by peers can be traumatic for teens.
- Loss of a Loved One: The death of a family member, friend, or pet can be profoundly traumatic for teenagers.
- Serious Illness or Injury: Facing a life-threatening illness or injury, or witnessing a loved one's suffering, can be traumatic.
- Family Conflict or Divorce: High levels of family conflict, separation, or divorce can cause significant distress for teens.
- Forced Displacement or Immigration: Teens who have experienced forced displacement, refugee status, or immigration-related trauma may face unique challenges.
TYPES OF TRAUMA & STRESSOR-RELATED DISORDERS IN TEENS:
PTSD is a diagnosed in adolescents who have experienced, witnessed, (or learned about a traumatic event that occurred to a loved one) and subsequently exhibit strong trauma symptoms that persist for more than one month, causing significant distress or impairment in daily functioning.
RAD is an uncommon early childhood diagnosis that may develop in children who have experienced severe neglect, abuse, or disruptions in their early caregiving relationships. Symptoms impair the ability to relate interpersonally to others and to function in different areas of life.
ASD disorder occurs in response to a traumatic event and involves acute traumatic symptoms (like in PTSD). However, this diagnosis is given when the trauma symptoms persist for a minimum of three days, but not longer than one month. If the symptoms persist longer, it would be called PTSD.
This applies when there are significant trauma and stressor-related symptoms present that do not meet the criteria for any specific disorder, when there is insufficient information, or unclear symptom patterns to warrant a specific trauma and stressor-related disorder diagnosis.
This category includes disorders that do not fully meet the criteria for other trauma-related disorders but still cause significant distress or impairment. Examples may include adjustment-like disorders with delayed onset or prolonged duration, or complex bereavement disorders characterized by severe grief and mourning reactions.
Adjustment Disorders occur when, for example, a teen struggles to cope with a significant life stressor or change, such as parental divorce, relocation, or loss of a loved one. Symptoms may include depressed mood, anxiety, behavioral disturbances, impaired social functioning, and somatic complaints.
This disorder often develops in children and adolescents who have experienced neglect or repeated changes of primary caregivers in early childhood. Symptoms include indiscriminate sociability, lack of social boundaries, overly familiar behavior with strangers, and reduced fear of unfamiliar situations.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR TRAUMA AND STRESS-RELATED DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENTS
Possible outpatient treatments for trauma and stressor-related disorders in teens include individual therapy sessions with trauma-focused approaches, participation in therapy groups with peers, involvement in family therapy to address relational dynamics, psychiatric consultation for medication management, and incorporation of holistic therapies such as mindfulness or art assisted therapy.
These treatments can be obtained through community mental health centers, private practices, or specialized trauma treatment centers. It's crucial for teens and their families to collaborate with mental health professionals to develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to their unique needs and goals for recovery.
For adolescents with severe trauma symptoms, or difficulty to function in their regular daily life, residential treatment offers a comprehensive and structured approach that can be more effective than outpatient care alone. Residential treatment offers a combination of medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. They also focus on educational support, life skills training, and coping strategies to manage symptoms. Residential treatment can be particularly beneficial for teens who have not responded to outpatient treatments or who need a more intensive level of care.
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR TEEN TRAUMA & STRESS
For those teens needing more intensive support, our Build Bright Care Group residential facility provides a structured and supportive environment where they can focus entirely on their mental health and recovery. One of the key benefits is the access to round-the-clock care from our mental health professionals, ensuring immediate support during difficult moments. Trauma and stress related disorders in teenagers are challenging conditions, but with the right support and treatment, teens can manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.
Additionally, our residential treatment offers a comprehensive approach that combines individual therapy, group sessions, medication management, and experiential therapeutic activities all tailored to address the unique needs of each of our teens. This setting allows for the development of coping skills in a real-world context, enabling teens to practice managing their trauma and stress symptoms in a safe and controlled environment.
At our beautiful center in Los Angeles, teens are able to connect with peers facing similar challenges, fostering a sense of community, and understanding that they are not alone in their struggles. For parents, our residential treatment provides peace of mind, knowing their child is receiving constant, high-quality care while working towards lasting recovery.
At Build Bright Care Group, we are ready to help your teen. You can contact us today to learn more about our program and how we can help your loved one start the journey to healing.
Take the first step to a brighter future!
