Troubled teenagers who experience an intense emotionally disturbing incident which may or may not involve physical abuse, can develop a condition afterwards known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) wherein painful flashbacks of the incidents cause apparent stress. The stress which becomes present after the incident can be sourced to the intense fear which develops within the teen after going through such a threatening experience.
A common cause of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is sexual abuse. Studies have shown that almost ¼ of girls in the United States have actually experienced some form of sexual abuse. The fraction is 1/10 for boys in the U.S. The abuse is hard to become aware of because it may not only be concealed by the perpetrator but the child abused as well because of his or her strong feelings of shame after the occurrence of abuse.
After an incident of sexual abuse, a teenager’s initial response may be to want to cleanse him/herself in order to be rid of the “shame” that was brought upon him/her. This makes it very difficult to get a hold of important physical evidence that may be needed in prosecution of the perpetrator.
The actual disturbing event of sexual abuse may be just the beginning for the sufferer. After the event itself may come the stress from intense emotions which take its toll on a teenager’s mind and body. Anything that may remind the teen of the incident can cause depression, irritability, apathy, or aggression. He or she may also have trouble sleeping, feel jitteriness, or lose interest in his/her hobbies. Your teenager may become a loner in order to avoid types of situations or areas.
Symptoms of PTSD
The following are symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that you may look out for:
* aggression
* problems with temperament
* school troubles
* social problems
* flashbacks (re-visiting memories of the disturbing incident)
* “living” in the incident more than the present
* improper sexual behavior
Diagnosis
If the abovementioned symptoms are present in your teen for longer than a month, he or she may be diagnosed with PTSD. It has been observed that the disorder may occur after 3 months of the incident, but it can manifest earlier or later. The co-occurrence of other disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, or substance abuse is possible.
Usually, a sufferer exhibits detachment, flashbacks, hyperactivity, and experiences difficulty focusing or concentrating.
Treatment Approaches
There are several treatment approaches that may be used with a teen suffering from PTSD. First a psychological assessment may be conducted. After this, a mixture of cognitive and behavior therapy may be used in order to impart coping methods to the victim. Exposure therapy may also be utilized in order to combat against trauma attacks.
Medication may also be applied such as sleeping pills in order to regulate a victim’s sleeping cycles (Benzodiazepine). Anti-depressants may also be used not just to deal with a victim’s depression but also with his/her flashbacks. Trazodone and Clonidine are also medications that may be used with PTSD patients.
