What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs describes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a psychiatric disorder that occurs after an individual has experienced an event that caused them harm or was potentially life-threatening. The may suffer from stress and re-live their negative experiences with flashbacks or nightmares. An individual may feel detached and have difficulty in sleeping. Their symptoms may impact significantly on their daily life.

Signs Of PTSD In Teen Girls

An adolescent girl with PTSD may have experienced traumatic events in either their childhood or adolescence that has triggered a recurring reaction. This may come in the form of flashbacks at the teen repeatedly re-experiences the event. A young woman may also experience an exceptional physical response brought on by triggers that remind them of the traumatic event. Physical responses may include a pounding heart, sweating, and nausea.

Hidden Traumas

Although a PTSD response may occur immediately following a traumatic event, there are some occasions where this response is unexpected. For example, the traumatic event may have occurred many years earlier and the girl may develop a deep-seated disorder relating to this incident. Related stimuli may then resurrect this memory during the turbulent years of adolescence.Each year, there are almost three million reports of PTSD made to protective services.

Of these cases, neglect accounts for 65%, physical abuse is 18%, a further 10% have experienced sexual abuse and mental or psychological accounts for 7%. In some circumstances, the neglect is actually a misperceived event, but in other instances, it is a hidden molestation. It is sometimes difficult to get to the root of the PTSD and parents trying to force information out of their teen can create an impassable rift.

Trustworthy Treatment For Teens

It is important that parents find a group that specializes in specific issues. These may include addiction, depression, trauma, grief, anxiety or loss. These are some of the common issues related to PTSD in teen girls. Solstice does not just focus on the PTSD but also gives attention to the collateral effects. To transcend PTSD, mindfulness is essential as teen girls who have experienced trauma have not had the time to develop simple skills.

The Person-Centered Approach

Solstice is a residential girls’ school with an intimate feel that facilitates a strong education. The low teacher-to-student ratio and small classes allow for intimate interactions, relationship building and also therapeutic and direct education. Each individual is important and no one falls through the cracks here. There are separate groups to deal with separate issues. This is important to prevent teens adopting the clinical issues of their peers. For example, the substance abuse group is separate to the groups for self-harm and addiction and discussion relating to substance abuse are not allowed outside of the group. This can also help the girls to define their identity or sense of self and build their self-esteem.