It can be difficult for adolescent girls to cope with the negative effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Severe PTSD symptoms can feel frightening. Many families find it difficult to manage their loved one’s condition due to a lack of understanding. Therefore, it is critical for parents or caregivers to seek professional support. Many families benefit from trauma-informed care and parent weekend workshops at Clearview Horizon Girls Academy. Through these services, families gain the strategies needed to overcome PTSD in teens. Weekend workshops give parents the skills for fostering personal development among all family members while gaining insight into their loved one’s condition. Trained facilities can provide the support needed for struggling adolescents as well as crucial resources for everyone involved.

What Is PTSD?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), It is only natural for a person to feel scared during or after experiencing a tragic event. The “fight-or-flight” response is the body’s way of protecting a person from danger. These uncomfortable fear-based symptoms usually go away over time.

However, an individual facing challenges for a prolonged period after experiencing a scary, shocking, or dangerous event may be at an increased risk of developing PTSD. NIMH states that not everyone with a PTSD diagnosis has gone through a dangerous event. Even learning about a loved one’s trauma can be damaging to one’s mental well-being. Symptoms of PTSD in teens can include experiencing the following:

  • Flashbacks
  • Night terrors
  • Avoidant behaviors
  • Extreme mood shifts
  • Disinterest in certain activities
  • Delayed development
  • Sensitivity, anxious feelings, or being easily startled
  • Poor academics

PTSD in Teens

NIMH indicates that approximately six out of every 100 individuals may experience PTSD. Additionally, men are less likely than women to develop PTSD in their lifetimes. Genetics also plays a major factor in a person’s potential to experience the ongoing symptoms of PTSD.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), national studies have analyzed PTSD in older children. Those studies found that adolescent PTSD closely resembles PTSD in adults. However, adolescents with PTSD are more likely than adults or children to act out with impulsive or aggressive behaviors. According to a report with 4,549 children from birth to age 17:

  • 60% of participants witnessed or experienced victimization within the past year.
  • 46.3% experienced physical assault
  • 10.2% experienced child maltreatment
  • Less than 6.1% experienced sexual victimization

The VA webpage discusses a study that included 14- to 17-year-old teen girls. This study found that 18.7% of teen girls reported past trauma related to sexual assault in their lifetime. Additionally, more than a third of participants witnessed parental assault. A national study asked around 4,023 adolescents from the ages of 12 to 17 if they had ever experienced trauma. About half of them admitted to sexual or physical assault.

The Importance of Seeking Professional Support for PTSD in Teens

Untreated trauma may manifest in several different ways. It is common for teens to develop co-occurring disorders such as substance use disorder (SUD), anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), or conduct disorder (CD). Many adolescents misuse or abuse drugs to self-medicate their symptoms. However, this solution is only temporary and can ultimately worsen an adolescent’s condition.

Unaddressed PTSD may interfere with many aspects of an individual’s life. A teen’s relationships with family, friends, and peers may be negatively affected. An adolescent may experience difficulty focusing in class and find it difficult to express themselves in certain situations. This is why it is important for parents to seek professional support for teens with PTSD. Doing so may even teach family members effective strategies to show support and better manage their teenager’s condition outside of the treatment center.

The Benefits of Seeking Professional Mental Health Treatment

Many families find it challenging to address the effects of PTSD in teens. Touring different treatment facilities can give parents and their teens a better feel of the environment to help them feel reassured. Sometimes speaking with a trained specialist can help families understand how different treatment modalities will be tailored to the adolescent’s needs. This tailored approach will increase the odds of a teen achieving a successful outcome.

Benefits of pursuing professional support include:

  • Reduced PTSD symptoms
  • Improved coping skills
  • Enhanced relationships
  • Increased self-esteem
  • Better productivity
  • Enhanced quality of sleep
  • Improved communication skills
  • Abstinence from drugs and alcohol

Moving Forward With Trauma-Informed Care at Clearview

Clearview Horizon Girls Academy provides adolescent girls with several emotional therapy options. Trauma-informed therapy can be a great choice for treating adolescents who are facing challenges with PTSD. This type of care not only addresses PTSD symptoms; additionally, a therapist works to discover the root causes of their condition. Trauma-informed therapy fosters deep healing and has a positive impact on the rest of a girl’s life.

This type of care can improve quality of life for girls experiencing persistent PTSD symptoms. Trauma-informed care promotes safety, trust, peer support, and collaboration to address past trauma and increase empowerment. This comprehensive method of healing from trauma can effectively help girls to overcome symptoms of PTSD.

Here at Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, we understand that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be hard to overcome. However, we have an experienced staff, boasting a collective expertise of over 60 years in adolescent therapy. We take on a meticulous and comprehensive approach to healing. Through around-the-clock interactions with our trained staff, the girls receive constant feedback and mentoring in their thinking and actions. Licensed therapists conduct thorough assessments to understand the nature and extent of each girl’s challenges, paving the way for targeted interventions such as trauma-informed care. If your daughter may be having symptoms of PTSD, call Clearview at 866-584-4788 to learn more about how our trauma-informed approaches can promote long-term recovery from PTSD.