Today, we’re answering a question from local teens about teens developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, from abusive relationships.
This is Jessica Skultety, Community Outreach Associate at Safe+Sound Somerset. We are Somerset County, New Jersey's lead domestic violence response organization, providing services at no charge for survivors of dating and domestic abuse for over 40 years.
Today's question from local teens is: "Can teens develop PTSD from abusive relationships?"
Yes. If one partner uses abusive behaviors to gain power and control over their other partner, this can and often does have long-lasting, harmful effects. This can include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Some survivors or dating or domestic violence have described being in an abusive relationship to being in battle during a war. Plus, dating violence as teens is similar to adult domestic violence, so someone can be diagnosed with PTSD at any age. Also, children who witness domestic violence can be diagnosed with PTSD.
According to the National Center for PTSD at ptsd.va.gov, “PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.” People can develop PTSD from other events, too, including domestic or dating violence, the death of a loved one, community violence, and witnessing a life-threatening event of any kind.
The National Center for PTSD also says, “It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event.” If symptoms last for a while, that could be PTSD.
The National Institute on Mental Health at www.nimh.nih.gov, on their page about PTSD, mentions many other possible symptoms, which include:
· Flashbacks and bad dreams
· Avoiding reminders of the event, both mentally and physically
· Trouble remembering the traumatic event is another symptom.
Teens may be affected by trauma in similar ways to adults – though they might also “develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors…. Feel guilty for not preventing injury or death…. [and] have thoughts of revenge.”
Trauma can also affect people’s relationships and lives in many negative ways. There’s no right or wrong way to act or to feel after being in an abusive relationship. If you are looking for professional help, Safe+Sound Somerset offers counseling and PTSD treatment at no charge for children, teens, and adults in Somerset County, NJ who have witnessed or experienced dating or domestic violence. Counseling services like this are available all over the world, though in 2021, we are one of the only domestic violence organizations in the United States to offer PTSD treatment to survivors of domestic violence.
To speak with an expert about dating violence, call or text the Safe+Sound Somerset 24/7 confidential hotline at 866-685-1122 for supportive listening, information, and safety planning.
Want to “Ask Ava” a question? Visit our website at www.safe-sound.org/ask-ava. Thank you for listening today. Join us next time here on Ask Ava.