Childhood trauma can have lasting effects through a child’s teenage years and adulthood. Unfortunately, trauma is frequently misunderstood and goes untreated. For many teens, childhood trauma can lead to cognitive issues, trouble in school, and addictive behaviors. The best way to help teens struggling with unprocessed trauma is through a trauma treatment program designed to help adolescent brain development.

If your teenaged son is struggling with unprocessed trauma, PTSD, and triggers, Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® can help. Our North Carolina-based program treated adolescent men with holistic approaches to mental health and addiction. Call us now at 828.519.5047 to learn more about the benefits of our trauma treatment program.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is an emotional, physical, and psychological response to a life-threatening event. A near-death experience, sexual or physical abuse, natural disorder, or other traumatic event causes the body to release adrenaline, cortisol, and other chemicals to help it survive. This happens in the ancient part of the brain that once encouraged early humans to run from predators.

When a person enters this flight, fight, or freeze mode, their body either processes these chemicals at the moment or stores them as traumatic memories. As the chemicals become trapped in the body’s tissues, a teen can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over time, unprocessed trauma can lead to chronic stress, emotional dysregulation, and physical health issues.

Signs of Trauma in Teens and Young Adults

Traumatic events affect everyone differently. What may be traumatic to one person is quickly processed by another. Many teens can grow up suffering the effects of childhood trauma and do not know why they react the way they do. Symptoms of trauma include:

• Feeling on edge
• Emotional outbursts
• Self-medicating
• Feeling unsafe all the time
• Avoidance
• Strange responses to other’s actions
• Vivid nightmares

Trauma lowers a person’s stress tolerance. This means their body can go into fight, flight, or freeze easily. It is possible to reset the body’s ability to tolerate distress through trauma therapy.

Trauma and The Teenage Brain

Many people wonder how trauma changes their brain and affects developing adolescent brains. Trauma shuts down normal brain function, activating the sympathetic nervous system. This causes a fight, flight, or freeze and can change a person’s brain chemistry, which can be detrimental to teenagers because their brains are still developing. It can shrink the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for storing memories and telling memories from current events.

Trauma also diminishes the prefrontal cortex’s ability to learn and retain new information. This can lead to trouble in school, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and confusion. Teens living with unprocessed trauma have trouble making logical choices, often live with irrational fears, and have trouble discerning threats from non-threats.

Treating Adolescent Trauma in North Carolina

Untreated trauma and prolonged stress can have a significant impact on teenage brain development, often leading to long-term emotional, behavioral, and cognitive challenges. These changes can make it harder for teens to regulate emotions, build healthy relationships, and thrive in daily life. The best way to help your child is through comprehensive, holistic trauma treatment that addresses both the mind and body. If your son—or a young boy in your life—is showing signs of trauma, mood disorders, or developmental challenges, now is the time to call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®.

Why Foothills?

Our team specializes in providing compassionate care for adolescent boys struggling with trauma, mood disorders, disordered eating, and addiction. Located in the serene mountains of North Carolina, our program combines evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with unique approaches like equine-assisted therapy and recreational therapy for a truly holistic healing experience. These therapies not only help teens process their trauma but also build life skills, boost confidence, and reconnect with their inner strength.

Teen boys at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® form meaningful connections while spending time with our gentle and intuitive horses, exploring the natural beauty of our campus, and working closely with their peers during group sessions. Family involvement is a core component of our program, with family therapy sessions designed to mend relationships, foster communication, and create a supportive home environment for lasting recovery.

At Foothills, we believe in empowering young boys with the tools they need to heal and thrive in all aspects of life. Let us help your son take the first step toward a brighter future.

Get the Help Your Son Needs at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®

Don’t let trauma take over your son’s life. Call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® today at 828.519.5047 or use our online contact form to learn more about our programs and the effects of trauma on adolescent brain development.