Teens are very vulnerable to crime and, unfortunately, become victims of crime at alarmingly high rates. They experience all the same crimes that adults do—from robbery, sexual assault, and car theft to relationship violence, assaults, and bullying. How you—and other adults—respond can make a big difference in how your child copes with and recovers from the event.
Common Behaviors
Although many events can cause a young person’s behavior to change, some common reactions to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event include:
- Change in eating or sleeping habits
- Acting out: aggressive or inappropriate behavior
- Attention-seeking behavior
- Increased risk taking
- Deteriorating school performance
- Fear of attending school
- Poor peer relations, withdrawal
- Physical signs of stress: headache, stomachache
- Nightmares
- Anger
- Hopelessness
- Helplessness
- Loss of control or powerlessness
- Concentration difficulties
- Clinginess
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
