PTSD Symptoms in Children and Teens
According to the NIH, PTSD symptoms manifest differently in young children, school age children, teens, and adults. In addition, every child’s symptoms vary.
The following are guidelines of how PTSD manifests in children and teens:
PTSD Symptoms in Children
Because young children are pre-verbal, thoughts and feelings will be communicated through behaviors rather than words.
Young children (below 5)
•Reluctance to leave their parent or caregiver
•Shaking or trembling
•Becoming catatonic: sitting still or not speaking
•Wetting the bed
•Sucking their thumb
•Reverted behavioral development: acting like they're at a younger age
•New or unusual phobias such as the dark or small spaces
School-aged children (6-11)
•Aggressive behavior like fighting
•Isolating themselves or refusing to talk
•Developing irrational fears
•Losing interest in activities
•Unusually poor school work
•Feeling guilty for things that aren't their fault
•Complaining of nonexistent physical health problems
Adolescent PTSD Symptoms
Teens and preteens (12-17) aren't quite adults but they aren't children either. Depending on a teen's age and personality, he or she may express PTSD symptoms that either fall into the adult or child category. This may include
•Flashbacks such as memories reliving the traumatic event
•Substance abuse
•Symptoms of depression such as isolating or losing interest in fun activities
•Symptoms of anxiety
•Increased aggression, irritability, or hostility
•Suicidal thoughts
•Self-destructive, disrespectful, or dangerous behaviors
•Avoiding places and people that remind them of the traumatic event
•Insomnia, nightmares, or sleep disturbances
•Expressing wishes for revenge
•Expressing guilt for not preventing the event
How to Help Children and Teens Suffering PTSD
When I reviewed the prevailing mainstream treatments for children and teens with PTSD, I, sadly, discovered what I was afraid I would. Treatment recommendations include individual and group psychotherapy, relaxation training, revisiting the trauma narrative, EMDR, and psychotropic medications.
These recommendations are noticeably lacking the most vital element: magnesium.
I remind you: Trauma depletes magnesium, and magnesium depletion triggers HPA-Axis dysfunction and PTSD
And, most importantly, research proves that magnesium supplementation reverses the bio-chemical imbalance this is PTSD. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390811003054)