What to Know About PTSD in Teenagers

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Common Is PTSD in Teenagers?SymptomsCausesDiagnosis and Treatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Common Is PTSD in Teenagers?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis and Treatment

The teen years can be an intense and tumultuous time. While it’s common for teens to bemoodyand irritable, sometimes they can develop mental health challenges that are serious and need to be addressed.

If your teenwitnessed a traumatic event or had a traumatic experience, you might be wondering if they may have developed PTSD. They might even be showing signs of PTSD, such as flashbacks to the event, nightmares, increased agitation, emotional numbness, or trouble concentrating in school.

Managing PTSD in a teenager can be very difficult for all involved, but just the fact that you are concerned is a positive and hopeful first step. Let’s take a look at PTSD in teenagers—its signs and symptoms, what causes it, and what treatment options are available.

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Unfortunately, children and teenagers are not immune from traumas and can experience PTSD as a result of a traumatic experience. It’s estimated that as many as 5% of teens aged 13 to 18 experience PTSD. Girls are more likely to experience it than boys. The prevalence of PTSD is about 8% for girls and 2.3% for boys.Some researchers estimate that PTSD is actually slightly higher in the teen population than in adults.

PTSD in teenagers is something to take seriously. While it’s true that symptoms of PTSD may be particularly high in the months after a traumatic event and recede after that, teens may experience these symptoms for years, if not treated.

Untreated PTSD can have severe consequences, including chronic sleep issues, depression, substance abuse, and struggles to work or function in daily life.Additionally, there are associations between PTSD in teenagers and increased suicidal ideation.

If you or a loved one are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of PTSD

Everyone experiences PTSD a little differently. Sometimes the signs of it will be more obvious; at other times, teens will experience the symptoms more internally and it will be more difficult for an outsider to identify symptoms.

Here are some of the most common signs of PTSD in children and teenagers:

How Do Symptoms of PTSD in Teens Differ From Adults?

Symptoms of PTSD in teens more closely resemble PTSD symptoms in adults than in younger children.

At the same time, teenagers with PTSD may participate in “traumatic reenactment” (the act of integrating characteristics of their trauma experience into their lives) more than adults. Teens may also show more aggressive behaviors and act on impulse more frequently.

Coping With PTSD

Some of the most common causes of PTSD in teens include:

The probability that a teen will develop PTSD is dependent on a few factors, including how intensely they were exposed to the traumatic event, how many traumas they have already experienced in their lifetime, any preexisting mental health conditions they may have, and how much support they have as they process their trauma.

Can You Prevent PTSD After A Trauma?

There is hope for teens who have PTSD. Proper treatment can help them process their trauma, learn to cope with it, andcome out of the experience with greater resilience.

Therapies that can successfully treat PTSD in teenagers include:

Teenagers may also benefit from medication, in addition to therapy. Medications used to treat PTSD in teens includeantidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)as well as anti-anxiety medications.

It’s important to keep in mind teens may have trouble talking about what they are feeling, or the traumatic event or experience that triggered their symptoms. Finding a mental health professional with who your teen feels comfortable is key.

Sometimes you will need to try a few different providers until you find one whose personality matches well with your teen’s.

What Is Trauma?

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If you are the parent or caregiver of a teenager who is showing signs of PTSD, it’s understandable that you would feelanxiousand upset about what you are witnessing, and want to do anything in your power to help your teen feel better.

The good news is that parents and caretakers have an important role to play in their teen’s healing. Not only can you help your teen find the care that they need, but research shows that teens who have parental support are more likely to fare well when faced with PTSD.

Thankfully, while PTSD in teens is serious and needs to be addressed, there are effective ways to treat it, and teens with PTSD can go on to live full and happy lives.

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6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Updated March 22, 2021.Barnett E, Hamblen J.PTSD in Children and Adolescents. National Center for PTSD. Updated September 16, 2019.Ganz D, Sher L.Suicidal behavior in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder. Minerva Pediatrics. 2010;62(4):363-70.American Psychological Association.The Effects of Trauma Do Not Have to Last a Lifetime. Updated January 16, 2004.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Updated March 22, 2021.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Understanding Child Trauma. Updated October 8, 2021.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Updated March 22, 2021.Barnett E, Hamblen J.PTSD in Children and Adolescents. National Center for PTSD. Updated September 16, 2019.Ganz D, Sher L.Suicidal behavior in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder. Minerva Pediatrics. 2010;62(4):363-70.American Psychological Association.The Effects of Trauma Do Not Have to Last a Lifetime. Updated January 16, 2004.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Updated March 22, 2021.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Understanding Child Trauma. Updated October 8, 2021.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Updated March 22, 2021.Barnett E, Hamblen J.PTSD in Children and Adolescents. National Center for PTSD. Updated September 16, 2019.Ganz D, Sher L.Suicidal behavior in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder. Minerva Pediatrics. 2010;62(4):363-70.American Psychological Association.The Effects of Trauma Do Not Have to Last a Lifetime. Updated January 16, 2004.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Updated March 22, 2021.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Understanding Child Trauma. Updated October 8, 2021.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Updated March 22, 2021.

Barnett E, Hamblen J.PTSD in Children and Adolescents. National Center for PTSD. Updated September 16, 2019.

Ganz D, Sher L.Suicidal behavior in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder. Minerva Pediatrics. 2010;62(4):363-70.

American Psychological Association.The Effects of Trauma Do Not Have to Last a Lifetime. Updated January 16, 2004.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.Understanding Child Trauma. Updated October 8, 2021.

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How Do Symptoms of PTSD in Teens Differ From Adults?#

A Word From Verywell#

How Do Symptoms of PTSD in Teens Differ From Adults?

A Word From Verywell