A panic attack is an intense feeling of fear and anxiety. This often happens if someone is feeling anxious about something happening in their life or is facing a difficult or stressful situation.
Panic attacks can be very scary, especially for children. But it can usually be prevented with treatment. It is important to know that panic attacks do not cause any harm, and although it may seem impossible at the time, the feeling actually goes away.
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a feeling of fear and anxiety that can suddenly overwhelm us and is usually accompanied by severe physical symptoms such as lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and an increased heart rate.
Many children experience panic in such situations, as if something bad is about to happen. Even when there is no actual danger, this feeling can occur.
What causes panic attacks?
It is not always clear what causes panic attacks in children or adults. What we do know is that feeling anxious about something or experiencing a difficult or stressful situation can trigger a panic attack. These situations include:
- Anxiety caused by a difficult experience at home or school
- Stress about things like exams, friendships or relationships
- death of a loved one
- A traumatic experience such as abuse or neglect
- A violent experience
Panic attacks in children and adolescents
Panic attacks often begin in adolescence, although they can also begin in childhood. These attacks can cause severe anxiety as well as affect the child’s mood or other activities.
Some children begin to avoid situations where they are afraid of having a panic attack. Teens may start taking alcohol or drugs to ease their anxiety. If these issues are not identified and treated, panic attacks in children can lead to future complications. For example, those children may suffer from severe depression and may engage in suicidal behavior.
Children who experience panic attacks usually respond well to treatment if diagnosed early.
Signs and symptoms of panic attacks
bodiesIf your child is experiencing a panic attack, they may feel that what is happening around them is out of their control. They panic that their bodies are in danger or even that they are dying! Attacks can cause various problems in our bodies. These include:
- Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, or difficulty breathing
- Feeling light-headed or faint
- Light seems brighter and more intense
- Rapid heartbeat and chest tightness
- Sweating more than usual
- Trembling and restlessness in the legs
- Tearfulness, as if they could not stop crying
- They seem to be stuck on something, as if they cannot move
- Feeling bloated or sick.
Ways to help your child cope
The first step in dealing with panic is to know what causes a panic attack. Ask your child how they feel and why they feel anxious or stressed. Is there a specific situation that creates a sense of dread in them? This knowledge can help your child think about what he can do to cope with those situations.
During a panic attack, your child may feel like he’s losing control. But there are things you can do to help him regain control and feel better again:
- the situation:the Sometimes it can seem easy to avoid situations or places that scare us. It seems natural. However, the habit of avoiding situations can exacerbate our anxiety. The goal is not to avoid situations that make us panic; the goal is to help your child learn to cope with how they feel in that situation.
2. Moving through the alphabet:food, Ask your child to name something for each letter of the alphabet. These can be animals, names, places, food, etc. This will engage a different part of their brain and divert their attention away from fear and anxiety.
3. Focus on breathing: Deep breathing (abdominal distension) is very soothing and helps in delivering oxygen deep into our lungs. Here’s a simple three-step process:
- Place your hands on your stomach
- Take 5 deep breaths, inhale for 5 seconds, and exhale for 5 seconds. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
- Explain that when your child breathes in, they gently inflate their stomach like a balloon, and when they exhale, the balloon slowly deflates again.
4. Find a safe place. If your child is feeling anxious about a situation, help them find a place where they can breathe and think calmly. This could be a place they are familiar with, like your home or their room. Or, an imaginary place—somewhere that feels peaceful, such as their favorite part of the park or by the sea.
5. Help them use their senses: Our senses are powerful tools for dealing with feelings of fear, anxiety, and stress. Here’s an easy way to teach your child to use them:
Ask your child to sit comfortably and breathe in and out slowly. Now ask them to name some things that are not painful. Ask them to name 4 things they can see, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste.
When to consult a specialist
In severe panic attacks, children or adolescents may be afraid to leave the house. If your child is experiencing severe symptoms of a panic attack, it’s time to seek help from your healthcare provider. They should first be evaluated by a family doctor or pediatrician. If no other physical illness is found to be the cause of the symptoms, they may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for evaluation.
Panic attacks can be stopped with treatment. If treated early, it can help prevent serious complications.
