TEENS AND POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the primary causes of self-medicating substance abuse behaviors that can lead to teen alcohol abuse and addiction and/or teen drug abuse and teen drug addiction. Recognizing and seeking treatment for PTSD and addiction, allows an individual to focus on the process of changing behaviors, improving coping skills, finding solutions to problems, and working through the process of addiction recovery.

The DSM-IV-TR, defines traumatic events as: “Traumatic events that are experienced directly include, but are not limited to, violent personal assault (sexual assault, physical attack, robbery, mugging), being kidnapped, terrorist attack, incarceration, natural or manmade disasters, automobile accidents, military combat, or being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.” P.463. Perception of a traumatic event not mentioned above is also relevant, as we all perceive events in our lives differently. Witnessed events are considered traumatic. Divorce, either as the child of divorce or the marital partner of a divorce, can elicit PTSD, as well as contribute to abandonment issues. The DSM-IV-TR, aka Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is the manual by which mental health professionals diagnose and review criteria for treatment.

Source: Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR; 2000
Written by: K. Corcoran
07/17/10