Can a Disturbing Video Cause Trauma? Signs Your Teen May Need Professional Help

My 14-year-old daughter was exposed to a horrifying video from the beginning of the war. Since then, she has developed intense fears and physical sensations that she cannot clearly explain. I have tried to comfort and reassure her in my own ways, but nothing seems to help.

The situation is getting worse, and she is now struggling to go to school. It is important to note that before this happened, she was a happy, optimistic girl. The changes in her behavior and emotional state have been extreme.

What type of treatment would be appropriate in a situation like this?

Answer:

When we are exposed to a traumatic event, whether directly or through a video, story, or other disturbing content, the brain may struggle to fully process the experience.

In situations like these, the nervous system typically responds in one of three ways:

• Fight

• Flight

• Freeze

In your daughter's case, her response appears to be flight, meaning avoidance. She may be withdrawing from school, social situations, or everyday activities because part of her fears being exposed again to the terrifying images and emotions associated with what she saw.

What Happens in the Brain?

The brain receives information through the senses. When it encounters something deeply shocking or frightening, it may not be able to process the experience fully in real time.

As a result, aspects of the event — including the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and memories associated with it, can remain stored in a raw, unprocessed form.

When this happens, the brain may continue to interpret the experience as an ongoing threat rather than a past event.

In effect, the body's alarm system remains activated, as though the danger is still present. This can cause a person to repeatedly experience the fear, anxiety, and physical reactions that originally occurred during the traumatic exposure.

These reactions may include:

• Intense fear

• Physical tension

• Unexplained bodily sensations

• Avoidance of certain places or activities

• Difficulty returning to normal routines

• Increased anxiety about safety

Recommended Treatment Approaches

One treatment often recommended for trauma related symptoms is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).

EMDR is designed to help the brain process traumatic memories in a healthier way, reducing the emotional intensity and distress associated with them.

Another approach sometimes used is EMP (Eye Movement Processing), which similarly focuses on processing distressing experiences and reducing their emotional impact.

In addition, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can be highly beneficial. CBT helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs that may develop after a traumatic experience. It can also support a gradual return to normal daily activities and routines.

An Important Note

Given the severity of the changes you describe — particularly the fact that your daughter was previously functioning well and is now struggling to attend school, it would be wise to seek professional support as soon as possible from a therapist experienced in working with trauma in adolescents.

When trauma related symptoms are addressed early, many young people recover very well and are able to regain their sense of safety, confidence, and emotional well being.

Based on the guidance of Kochava Mizrachi, psychotherapist specializing in CBT, NLP, and EMP.