A traumatic event can occur at any time in a person’s life and can cause major disruptions if they don’t know how to process the feelings caused by the event. Trauma and anxiety can cause significant fear, stress, and panic attacks when an everyday event triggers them and causes a flashback. If your teen has experienced a recent trauma, enrolling them in teen trauma therapy in Seattle will ease their anxiety and help them process their feelings caused by the event.
At Imagine Seattle, we work closely with teens aged 12-17 who are struggling to cope with a past or recent trauma and need help moving past the event. Our behavioral therapists have experience treating all types of trauma, from a single event like a car accident to reoccurring trauma such as emotional or physical abuse. To learn more about our teen trauma therapy in Seattle, send us a message using our online contact form, or call 888.346.0473 to speak with our knowledgeable team.
Understanding the Relationship Between Trauma and Anxiety
The effects of a traumatizing event can have lingering side effects that last for several months to years if teens don’t talk with a trained therapist about their feelings. Trauma is defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that causes significant mental harm. There are three main types of trauma that can impact your teen’s mental health and well-being:
- Acute—This type of trauma is typically a singular event like a car accident, the death of a loved one, or a natural disaster.
- Chronic—Chronic trauma happens when the traumatic experience repeatedly occurs over a prolonged period of time. Types of chronic trauma include early childhood trauma, emotional or physical abuse, and in-person and online bullying.
- Complex—This trauma is characterized by intentional abuse by a parent or loved one and typically occurs over a long period. This can include sexual assault or incest, chronic neglect or abandonment, and medical abuse.
Anxiety due to a traumatic event will negatively impact your teen’s health and development. If left untreated, it can lead to worsening anxiety or depression and substance abuse. At Imagine Seattle, we can prevent this from happening by talking with your teen about the trauma and helping them work through their feelings. They will gain valuable coping skills to manage their symptoms while working on putting the traumatic event behind them.
The Benefits of Recognizing Your Trauma Triggers
Learning to recognize your teen’s trauma triggers can ease anxiety symptoms and prevent panic attacks from interfering with their education and development. Trauma therapy gives teens a safe space to talk about the traumatic event and learn how to stop letting their feelings cause a physical reaction.
Other benefits of recognizing your trauma triggers include the following:
- Teens learn healthy coping skills for controlling their racing thoughts and emotions and prevent them from causing rapid heartbeats, hyperventilation, and panic attacks.
- During group therapy, teens will practice their coping skills while learning how to communicate their feelings without causing any negative behaviors.
- In cases of severe anxiety symptoms or substance abuse caused by the trauma, medical staff will administer medications to minimize any withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Once their symptoms are more manageable, they will begin slowly reducing their medications to avoid any negative side effects.
- Family therapy is an essential part of any teen therapy program and gets parents and siblings involved with the recovery process. Families can talk with a therapist about any frustrations or feelings they have while learning about their child’s symptoms and how to create a supportive home environment.
Helping your teen recognize their trauma triggers can go a long way toward reducing the number of panic attacks they experience and improving their overall well-being.
For the Best Teen Trauma Therapy in Seattle, Choose Imagine Seattle
At Imagine Seattle, we support teen boys and girls who are struggling with anxiety, depression, or substance abuse caused by a single or recurring traumatic event. Our team understands the relationship between trauma and anxiety and can give your teen the skills and confidence they need to manage their symptoms and lead productive lives.
Reach out to our friendly staff today by calling 888.346.0473 to discover all of the benefits of our teen mental health treatment center. You can also fill out our online contact form and allow us to get back to you.