Panic Attacks In Children

vishal — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:26:33 +0000

By Dr. Stephen Antony, MD (Psychiatry)

Panic attacks in children are often missed or overlooked because most children lack the skills to understand panic attacks or they may feel fearful about communicating their panic attack experiences.

It is estimated that 12% (about 1 in of all 9th-graders have experienced at least one panic attack. These children are at an increased risk of developing panic attacks when they become adults, roughly about 20% of these children grow up to develop some form anxiety attacks.

There are many reasons for children developing panic attacks.

Causes of Panic attacks in children:

Unrecognized medical condition.
Medicine induced panic attack (if the child is on medications)
Genetic factors (family history of panic attacks)
Childhood trauma
Bullying at school
Injury (eg, accidents, surgery)
Illness
Issues and misperceptions about sexuality during puberty

Other stress factors:

Interpersonal conflict or loss
Family issues
Sibling rivalry
Divorce of parents
Use if stimulants, such as caffeine, decongestants;
Increased pressure for performance at school
Increased pressure to be brighter, smarter and better without any practical skills training

The symptoms of panic attacks in children are similar to those in adults, the symptoms include:

Difficulty in breathing
Rapid and racing heartbeat
Feelings of nervousness
Trembling/ feeling extremely nervous
Heart palpitation,
Terror that is almost paralyzing
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling of nausea
Choking sensation
Chest pain/ distress
Hot flashes or sudden chills
Tingling in fingers or toes
Fear, fright, or anxiety
Fear that you may die

Children suffering from anxiety disorders tend to manifest certain personality characteristics, you can watch out for these characteristics and see if your child exhibits any of them:

Unreasonably anger, sadness, or physical outbursts which may even include violence
Excessive sleep or decreased sleep
Many mood swings,
Decreased appetite
Avoidance of school

Treatment:

If you suspect that your child is suffering from panic or anxiety disorders, the first thing to do would be to get them to talk to an experienced child psychologist. Often panic and anxiety may be caused by unresolved conflicts.

Psychotherapy can teach the child effective coping and relaxation skills. Cognitive behavior therapy is known to be effective in treating panic disorders, it helps the child identify negative and harmful patterns of thinking and replaces them with helpful patterns of thinking.

Some children may need medication to help them overcome panic attacks, in such a case a consultation with a child psychiatrist is necessary, but it is important to remember that the child needs some form of professional help.

If you or someone your loved one is suffering from anxiety and wants to take control of the anxiety without medications, then take a minute and check this out. It will show the way:

http://www.linden-method.com

http://www.panicaway.com

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pacadmin — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 10:24:23 +0000