Emotional Trauma and the Adolescent Brain

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There are many types of trauma that can effect an adolescent and without the proper treatment of the traumatic event the adolescent can have difficulty adapting and developing into adulthood. Kathleen J. Moroz, of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, defines trauma as a physical or psychological threat or assault to a child’s physical integrity, sense of self, safety of survival or to the physical safety of another person significant to the child. She goes on to list the types of trauma a child may be exposed to. Abuse of every kind, domestic violence, natural disasters, abandonment, serious illness or an accident are just a few traumatic events that can effect the development of a child. (2) When these events occur as an acute event or chronic exposure and are not treated appropriately, an adolescent can eventually put themselves in further chance of risk by the choices they make.

Traumatized teenagers often abuse substances to numb painful feelings and memories. The trauma causes physiological responses such as depression, aggression, anxiety, and sensitivity. These responses can lead to social problems, difficulty in school and sadly, even suicidality. The majority of traumatic events that effect adolescents is due to maltreatment at the hands of an authority figure, such as a patent or a caregiver. The psychiatric effects of child abuse has a wide range, some children may never develop issues after abuse while others can develop Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Andrea Parolin Jackowski, et all., in their article Neurostructural imaging findings in children with post-traumatic stress disorder: brief review, give their definition of this as:

PTSD is a complex syndrome that involves re-experiencing of sympt...

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...nts suitability for EMDR. This can take several sessions to ensure the clients development of recourses and strengths and to establish client safety.

References

Diseth, Trond H. Dissociation in Children and Adolescents as Reaction to Trauma/ an Overview of Conceptual Issues and Neurobiological Factors. Nord J Psychiatry. VOL 59. NO 2. 2005

Jackowski, Andrea Parolin et al.Neurostructural imaging findings in children with post-traumatic stress disorder: Brief review.Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 2009; 63: 1–8

Moroz, Kathleen J., DSW, LICSW. The Effects of Psychological Trauma on Children and Adolescents. Report Prepared for the Vermont Agency of Human Services Department of Health Division of Mental Health Child, Adolescent and Family Unit. June 30, 2005

Norden, Jeanette. Understanding the Brain. Virginia: The Teaching Company, 2007. Print/DVD.

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