Having a strong physical or emotional reaction to a distressing event is expected. However, teenagers who undergo a frightening or painful event are usually more impacted by such strong emotions. Generally, these reactions subside due to the healing and recovery mechanism built naturally within the human body. But it’s still crucial that parents or guardians understand how a teenager manages trauma and distress. The assistance you provide them now with managing and getting through a traumatic situation would ascertain how they handle crisis scenarios in the future.
What Could Be the Cause of Teen Trauma?
Teenagers could be deeply affected by international, national, or local tragedies or trauma involving their friends. Your teen would manage trauma differently compared to adults or younger children. Younger kid directly depends on their family, whereas several teenagers seek support from their peer group. To help distressed or traumatized teens, parents must understand how teenagers manage distress in the first place.
Open Communication at Home is Key
In the house, creating an environment that permits your teenager to talk openly about almost anything is vital. Wanting to protect your kid from the harsh realities of life is natural and understandable, but avoiding real talk would only make your teenager more anxious. When appropriate, talk to the kid and learn how they are doing. If a particular event is bothering the kid, do not expect the kid to react in a certain way. You may not agree with or understand their emotions, but you must accept and respect them.
Help Them Develop Perspective
A disturbing event could shake an individual’s belief in society in general. Teenagers could feel particularly anxious and overwhelmed. By helping your teen develop some perspective, you can resurrect things to a great extent. You may help regain normalcy by allowing your kid to discover an event’s details. While honest information is imperative, do not provide the kid with unnecessary additional data or gruesome details that could lead to even more distress. Finding the right balance between too much and too little information would be best. Also, consider limiting your teenager’s exposure to conventional media. Teenagers could become extremely wary of their friends’ opinions on their traumatic state. Explain to your teenager that friends, teachers, etc., who were not affected directly by the traumatic incident would forget the matter sooner rather than later.
Be Patient
During recovery, your teenager will experience challenging and strong emotions, such as sensitivity and moodiness. As the adult in the relationship, you should give your teen some space and time to regather themselves. If the kid has a strong viewpoint, do not argue with the kid. Such feelings are due to the distress they’re undergoing. Also, most often, your teenager may not fancy your support. Instead, they could turn to their friends, temporarily at least. Acknowledge this and step back gracefully. However, keep your communication lines open, so the kid knows you are available anytime they want your help.
If none helps, seek assistance from professionals, such as https://emdrhealing.com/. Reckless or harmful behavior, persistent state of depression, substance abuse behavior, lack of communication, exhibiting zero recovery signs, etc., are signs you need a professional to come to the party.
You must ensure your teen has the tools to cope with such a difficult time.
