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Introducing our new Integrated Psychiatric Services!
Learn more
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Dear Parent,
This month’s topic is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Coping with the aftermath of a traumatic event can be overwhelming, especially when it impacts your child. PTSD is a serious condition that can arise in children and teens who have faced a terrifying experience, such as a death in the family, a violent attack, an accident or prolonged bullying.
One can also have PTSD by simply witnessing a terrible experience. Though a traumatic event would seem obvious, it is possible that your child has seen an event of which you may be unaware. Understanding the signs and knowing how to support your child is critical to their healing journey.
This month, we explore what PTSD looks like in teens and young adults, and how to approach treatment options to ensure they feel safe, supported, and heard.
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Types of Anxiety Defined
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Post-traumatic stress disorder in teens and young adults can arise after traumatic experiences, leading to symptoms such as flashbacks, intense nightmares, or emotional distress. These symptoms may disrupt daily activities and relationships, often causing avoidance of situations that trigger memories of the trauma.
PTSD can manifest differently in teens, sometimes surfacing years later. It is more difficult for teens to express their sentiments verbally, so parents or other adults need to recognize behavioral changes, such as a decreased interest in activity, or a numbness or detachment from their everyday activities.
Watch our in-house expert, Stacey Dobrinsky, PhD, explain the signs of PTSD.
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Treatment typically includes trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), prolonged exposure therapy (PE), or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), in conjunction with exposure therapy. These therapies allow teens and young adults to process their trauma in a safe environment. CBT teaches skills to manage the distressing thoughts, while exposure therapy reduces avoidance behaviors that may limit their daily lives.
Grounding techniques, mindfulness, and self-care strategies help teens regain a sense of safety and control. Giving teens these coping skills can reduce their symptoms and support long-term recovery.
Collaboration among mental health professionals, parents, and school staff is also crucial to ensure teens receive the personalized care they need for healing.
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Insight from
a Professional
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Here are ways to model and support healthy self-care practices for your child:
- As a parent, you can support your child with PTSD by practicing what you learned in therapy at home to support long term recovery. Grounding exercises are excellent examples. See the 5-4-3-2-1 method below and the video in the ‘For the Teen’ section.
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Finding support with other parents of children with PTSD can also be very healing. Check out NAMI, the National Alliance of Mental Illness, which has a guide to support groups in your County. Social media also offers support groups, however, be selective of any group you may join to verify they align with your needs.
For the Teen or Young Adult:
When having a severe anxiety attack, the 5-4-3-2-1 method is one of the easiest mindfulness strategies to master to get back to calm. Here's how it works:
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5 things you can see
4 things you can hear
3 things you can feel
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
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Don’t take it lightly. Really concentrate on each individual sight, smell or sound. If there is no sound or taste, think of a song lyric you like. If there is nothing to taste, remember something spicy you ate, or even the taste of morning toothpaste. Soon, you will find yourself back in a safe, familiar environment.
Here is a 5-minute video of another grounding technique. Watching this and following the steps can help you keep calm when you feel anxious or if you feel panic coming on.
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A Note from our Director
I would like to acknowledge the remarkable strength and resilience parents demonstrate every day in parenting an anxious child. Parenting a child with PTSD is a journey filled with challenges, but also with profound moments of connection and growth. Remember, healing is a process and every small step forward is a victory. Your continued unwavering support and love are the cornerstones of your child’s recovery.
Please know that you are not alone. Our community is here to support you, to listen, and to provide the resources you need. Your courage and compassion remains a daily inspiration to all involved with this trying condition.
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Dina
Nunziato, PhD
Chief Clinical Officer
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Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 7:00-8:00pm ET Online via Zoom, Free
Presenter
Jayne Demsky, Founder of School Avoidance Alliance & Dina Nunziato, PhD, Chief Clinical Director Anxiety Institute
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Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 7:00-8:00pm ET Online via Zoom, Free
Presenter
Melissa Bildner, ADHD & Executive Function Parent Coach
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Integrated Psychiatric Services
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Anxiety Institute now offers Integrated Psychiatric Services for Connecticut and New Jersey clients, led by Dr. Omar Canosa, our Medical Director with expertise in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. Dr. Canosa specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and co-occurring disorders for ages 9 and older, providing consultation, assessment, and personalized medication management. These services are available within our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), outpatient therapy, or as standalone options. For more information or to schedule an evaluation, contact us at (844) 881-1846 or email psychiatry@anxietyinstitute.com. | |
Clinician Spotlight: Omar Canosa, MD | |
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Dr. Omar Canosa is our Anxiety Institute Medical Director. With 20 years of experience in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, his specialties include OCD, anxiety, depression, and co-occurring disorders. His approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the unique developmental needs of adolescents and young adults. Dr. Canosa is committed to addressing both the symptoms and underlying causes of anxiety and OCD, while enhancing each client's overall well-being.
Learn more about Dr. Canosa
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For clinical questions or referrals,
please contact our Clinical Outreach Specialists:
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Anxiety Institute is a clinical research center specializing in acute anxiety disorders that uses advanced, proven techniques while nurturing the patient in their local home environment. Utilizing the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments, our intensive services focus on treating teens and young adults, while coaching the parents who guide them. Locations in Madison, NJ; Greenwich, CT; and McLean, VA.
anxietyinstitute.com
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