Many people will experience traumatic events in their lives, including teens. Some researchers estimate that as many as 40% of children and adolescents will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. While most people are able to "bounce back" from the event after a few days, weeks, or months, others struggle to cope with the experience and the memory of the trauma. These people, including children and teens, can develop what is known as PTSD, or Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Traumatic events often include physical violence, an accident, a natural disaster, war, or sexual abuse. Teens may have experienced these events themselves, or they may have witnessed them happen to someone else.

Whether a teen develops PTSD depends on many factors, including the severity of the trauma, how frequently it occurs, and how family members react to the event. A teen with PTSD feels that they are unable to escape the impact of the trauma. They try to avoid people or situations that remind them of the event. Sometimes they will experience memories or "flashbacks" of the event, or they may have nightmares about it that feel very real. These constant reminders make living day-to-day life a real challenge, especially for young people who might struggle to express what they're feeling and experiencing.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition brought on by exposure to a traumatic event. While all children can be expected to be upset after a very disturbing experience—such as witnessing or being a victim of violence, physical or sexual abuse, a natural disaster, an accident, or extreme neglect— children with the disorder don't bounce back. They develop a pattern of behaviors that includes dreams about the event, play that reenacts the trauma, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and detachment. PTSD can develop months after the event, and may seem oddly disconnected from it. Though PTSD-like symptoms are common among children and adolescents exposed to trauma, the disorder is rare in young people.

If a child has experienced a disturbing event or series of events, anxiety and some behavioral changes are a normal part of the coping process. PTSD might be considered if she becomes distant, recreates her trauma during playtime, regularly has nightmares about it, or experiences difficulty falling asleep. Young children may begin wetting the bed, become overly clingy with their parents, or even forget how to speak. Some children with the disorder will also develop separation anxiety disorder. Adolescents with PTSD may display self-destructive behavior and guilt.

PTSD is brought on by closely witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event that puts the child or loved ones in danger of serious injury or death. Risk factors that a child exposed to a disturbing experience will develop the disorder include the severity and immediacy of the trauma, and prior exposure to trauma, neglect, or other childhood adversity. Strong social support in the aftermath of the event is a protective factor that can moderate the impact on the child.

For a child to be diagnosed with PTSD, she must have experienced a traumatic event either directly, by witnessing it happening to someone else, or by hearing of it happening to a close family member or friend. Since many children who are initially anxious and distressed in the aftermath of a disturbing event will recover in a healthy way without intervention, PTSD isn't diagnosed until a few months or longer after the initial trauma occurs, although symptoms may manifest earlier or even several years later.

A teen who meets the criteria for PTSD shows symptoms commonly grouped in three areas: intrusive memories, such as bad dreams and play that reenact the event; avoidance and numbing, such as difficulty maintaining relationships, difficulty concentrating, and disinterest in formerly significant activities; and increased arousal, such as irritability, guilt, trouble sleeping, or fearful behavior. Children with the disorder often have stomachaches and headaches. The symptoms will cause significant impairment to ordinary functionality.

It's important to remember that if your child does exhibit trauma symptoms, chances are they will decrease and disappear within a few months. This does not mean, however, that you should not consult with a mental health professional for an assessment and to discuss treatment options when symptoms occur. PTSD is treatable, so never hesitate to ask for help and see what works best. Here are some common treatment options for children with Post-traumatic stress disorder.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy has proven to be effective in treating trauma and PTSD. This interactive psychotherapy technique that allows the patient to relive traumatic or triggering experiences in brief doses while the therapist directs their eye movements.

EMDR is thought to be effective because recalling distressing events is often less emotionally upsetting when your attention is diverted. This allows you to be exposed to the memories or thoughts without having a strong psychological response. Over time, this technique is believed to lessen the impact that the memories or thoughts have on you.

EMDR is thought to be particularly effective for those who struggle to talk about their past experiences and who are dealing with traumatic memories.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common forms of "talk therapy," and therapists can use a trauma-focused style of the therapy to work with children and adults. A trauma-focused CBT therapist helps a child identify and correct irrational or illogical thoughts they might have about the trauma itself or people and situations they encounter in everyday life. CBT also typically includes psychoeducation about relaxation and coping techniques for stress.