PTSD: 8 Symptoms in Adolescents and Teens

by JoleneOct 31, 2013In Children, PTSD0 comments

PTSD is a reality for kids, and it's crucial for adults to recognize the symptoms. This post lists 8 symptoms of PTSD in teens and adolescents.

PTSD (also known as post-traumatic stress disorder) is a reality for children. Therefore, it’s crucial for caring adults to recognize the symptoms so they can advocate for early treatment for children living with the disorder. My recent guest post at Friendship Circle of Michigan listed symptoms specific to older children and teens.

Facts and figures compiled at the government’s National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) show that a significant percentage of children have been exposed to trauma and later developed PTSD.

PTSD: 8 Symptoms in Children and Teens

PTSD symptoms in adolescents and teens can be quite different from PTSD symptoms in babies, toddlers, and young children. Here are 8 symptoms to look for in older elementary-aged kids and teens:

Flashbacks
Physical reactions
Denial of event
Difficulty concentrating
Startle easily
A foreshortened sense of the future
Self-destructive choices, irritability, and impulsiveness
Depression or an overwhelming sense of sadness or hopelessness

To read more about each of these symptoms, read the entire Friendship Circle post, 8 Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Teens. If you want to learn more about PTSD in kids, the post also includes a list of books for further reading.

What Would You Like to Know about PTSD in Kids?

Are you wondering if your child (with or without special needs) is living with PTSD? What else would you like to know about the condition? Some of your questions may be answered in these posts:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Why I Advocate for Kids with PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Children: 5 Myths and Misconceptions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Kids: What Is It?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: 10 Causes in Children
PTSD Risk Factors in Kids with Special Needs
He Won’t Remember: Children and PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Sleeping Babies

If the above don’t answer your questions, leave a comment and I’ll try to write a post about it.

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By Jolene

Jolene Philo is the author of the Different Dream series for parents of kids with special needs. She speaks at parenting and special needs conferences around the country. She’s also the creator and host of the Different Dream website. Sharing Love Abundantly with Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, was released in August of 2019 and is available at local bookstores, their bookstore website, and at Amazon. The first book in her cozy mystery series, See Jane Run!, features people with disabilities.