Instant Help Solutions Series

The PTSD Survival Guide for Teens

by Sheela Raja and Jaya Ashrafi

Published 29 March 2018

Your trauma doesn't need to define you. In The PTSD Survival Guide for Teens, trauma specialist Sheela Raja-along with her teen daughter Jaya Ashrafi-offers evidence-based skills to help you find strength, confidence, and resilience in the aftermath of trauma.

If you've experienced trauma or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the world can seem like a very frightening place. You may even question your own deeply held beliefs, as well as the motives of others. It's important for you to know that you aren't alone, and there isn't anything wrong with you. Many teens have suffered traumatic events, and there are solid skills you can learn that will help you recover. So, how can you begin healing and start building the life you were always meant to lead?

In this compassionate guide, you'll find skills based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you tackle anxiety and harmful avoidance behaviors; manage negative emotions; cope with flashbacks and nightmares; and develop trusting, healthy relationship -even if your trust in others has been shaken to the core. You'll also learn more about the diagnosis and symptoms of PTSD and understand what kind of help is available to you.

Whether you've been diagnosed with PTSD or are simply living with the aftereffects of a traumatic event, you shouldn't have to suffer alone. This book will help you to find strength within so you can move forward.

The Resilient Teen

by Sheela Raja

Published 15 July 2021

10 powerful skills to help you manage stress, bounce back from difficult situations, and rewire your brain for happiness and success! Being a teen today is stressful. That’s why you need real tools to help you cope with all of life’s challenges—from small stressors like homework, social media, and dating to serious trauma resulting from bullying, school shootings, violence, and now—pandemics. The key to dealing with all of these difficult events is resilience—the ability to recover from setbacks or trauma, and forge ahead with emotional strength. The best thing about resilience is that it can be learned. This book will help you learn how to be resilient, so you can weather life’s storms and reach your goals. In The Resilient Teen, psychologist, teen expert, and trauma specialist Sheela Raja offers ten skills grounded in key principles from psychology and neuroscience to help you manage difficult emotions, recover from difficult situations, and cultivate a sense of joy—even in the face of setbacks and modern-day stressors. You’ll learn essential strategies for self-care, how to establish a healthy lifestyle, and how to set limits on technology. You’ll also discover how mindfulness can help you deal with stress and challenging emotions in the moment, tips for building better relationships with family and friends, and tools for dealing with disappointment. Most importantly, this book will show you how to increase your own sense of joy, purpose, and meaning—even when things seem less than awesome.