PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder. A teen guide to understanding.

lolasquires7
May 6
2 min read

Updated: May 7

People experience a wide range of reactions when faced with traumatic events, one way the brain reacts to this, is called PTSD. PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is one of the ways the brain reacts to overwhelming trauma. This condition can affect someone's thoughts and feelings, and have an influence on their actions as well. PTSD is caused by traumatic events, some may even say it is caused by events that are outside of the human boundary of understanding, this could be experiencing war, abuse, or the loss of a loved one.

Certain sounds or objects can be linked to traumatic events in someone's brain, and when someone with PTSD experiences these it can trigger them. This can cause a variety of reactions, such as;

Flashbacks
Panic or anxiety attacks
Dissociation
Emotional outburst
Derealisation
Intrusive thoughts or memories

PTSD can affect children at school in many different ways, such as:

Finding it hard to focus
- Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts can distract from learning
- stomach aches, headaches, or fatigue with no clear medical cause can be caused by PTSD and distract from learning
Experiencing Social Challenges
- Difficulty trusting peers or adults.
- Problems with making or keeping friends.
- May misinterpret others’ behaviour as threatening.
Emotional Struggles
- Increased anxiety, fearfulness, or clinginess (especially in younger kids).
- Mood swings, depression, or emotional numbness.May appear emotionally “flat” or overly sensitive

Though it takes time, you can recover from PTSD through the right treatment, this could be;

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Especially effective for children and adolescents.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Helps reprocess traumatic memories.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy: Gradual exposure to trauma memories in a safe setting to reduce fear
SSRIs (e.g., sertraline, paroxetine) can help with anxiety, depression, and irritability (this must only be taken with a diagnosis and prescription)

Some other ways to help people with PTSD are;

Focusing on creating a safe and understanding environment, encouraging professional help, and providing emotional support. Listening actively, be patient, and avoid pushing them to talk about their trauma if they're not ready. Offering practical help like attending appointments or planning outings, and learning about PTSD to better understand their experience.