L.N., a 16-year-old student, carried years of silent pain. Her father, who lives in France, repeatedly promised to bring her to visit him, only to disappoint her time and again. When she discovered he had purchased a ticket for her sister—but not for her—the hurt deepened. Afraid of his reaction, L.N. struggled to express her feelings. Instead, she wrote him a letter she could not yet bring herself to send:

“For a long time, I preferred to stay silent, pretend everything was fine, and hope that one day you would look at me with pride, or at least understand me. But growing up also means understanding that there are wounds that stay within us, even when we deeply love the person who caused them.”

As trust grew through therapy at NTHS, L.N. also disclosed a traumatic experience from her time at boarding school, where she and her roommate may have been assaulted while asleep. With compassionate guidance and support, the incident was reported appropriately, ensuring she was protected and heard.

“It is important to note that L.N.’s developing ability in therapy to avoid inappropriate self-blame may not only reduce her risk of depression but also the risk of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Individuals who feel guilt may repeatedly attempt to understand what they did ‘wrong,’ leading to recurrent thoughts and memories of the event, along with anxiety about similar situations in the future—core features of PTSD,” said Dr. Y, psychiatrist working with L.N.

Essentially, these earlier traumatic experiences—like the assault L.N. endured—were stored away as a protective mechanism, often partially suppressed. However, when a person is exposed to a new trauma—like the war—it can lower the threshold for past traumatic material to resurface. The brain, struggling to process current stressors, may pull older, unresolved experiences into consciousness. This is why L.N.’s resurfaced memories and dreams revolve around the original trauma, demonstrating how trauma exposure can amplify or reawaken preexisting post-trauma symptoms, a phenomenon well-documented in trauma studies.

In the aftermath of the Iran-U.S. war, L.N.’s trauma resurfaced through nightmares, anxiety, and painful memories. Through their ongoing conversations, counselling, and a safe, nonjudgmental space at NTHS, she is slowly learning that she is not to blame for what happened to her—and that she does not have to carry her pain alone.

“Together, we’ve found ways to cope with the challenges that arise, including bad dreams, nervousness, and other emotional struggles. This ongoing process reminds her that she is never alone in facing these difficult emotions,” said Dr. Y.