I think my child is having panic attacks. What should we do?

In the movie From inside to outside 2Riley, 13, who recently started puberty, has panic attack during a hockey game timeout.

Anxiety (the emotion responsible for the panic attack) becomes completely crazy and Riley feels like she is losing control. After a while, Anxiety calms down and Riley’s panic attack subsides.

The film does a great job of capturing the experience of a panic attack. But panic attacks (and anxiety) don’t just happen to teenagers – younger children can have them too.

It’s critical to know what to look out for and how to respond when feeling anxious or panicky, as this will lend a hand you and your child cope better with these worrying symptoms.

What does a panic attack in a child look like?

A panic attack is a sudden, intense feeling of fear or discomfort accompanied by at least four of the following symptoms:

• feel very heated or frosty
• heartbeat
• dyspnoea
• feeling of tightness in the throat or chest
• exploitation
• tingle
• dizziness.

Panic attacks in children can last from a few minutes to 30 minutes.

Some children describe a panic attack as feeling trapped or threatened, that something terrible is happening to them, that they are losing control of their body, having a heart attack, or even dying.

Often the child does not realize that their symptoms are related to anxiety. This experience can be very frightening for children and others around them who do not know what is happening.

How common are panic attacks and at what age do they occur?

There is a common myth that panic attacks only occur in teenagers and adults, but tests shows that this is not the case.

Although panic attacks are less common among teenagers, they do occur in children. Research shows around 3–5% of children experience panic attacks.

They can start at any age, although usually occurs for the first time in children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years.

What causes a panic attack?

In some children, panic attacks can happen unexpectedly and for no apparent reason. These are known as “unannounced” panic attacks.

Other children may have ‘signaled’ panic attacks, meaning they occur in specific anxiety-provoking situations, such as being separated from a caregiver or giving a speech in class.

Panic attacks with signals tend to more common Children are more likely to have panic attacks than unexpected attacks.

Sometimes a panic attack can occur when a child’s physical symptoms (feeling anxious) become the focus of their attention. For example, if a child notices a physical symptom (such as shortness of breath) and starts to worry about it, this can make them feel anxious, leading to more anxiety or a panic attack.

If children understand that their physical symptoms are a sign of anxiety rather than a grave health problem, they can learn not to pay too much attention to them and stop the vicious cycle.

What can parents do right now to support their child?

If your child is breathing very quickly or hyperventilating, try to stay tranquil and encourage them to breathe normally.

Tell your child that these feelings are ephemeral and not hazardous. Focusing on your child’s rapid breathing or other symptoms can sometimes make things worse.

Try helping your child focus on something else by using the 3-3-3 rule: “Tell me three things you can hear, three things you can see, and three things you can touch.” Ask your child to say them out raucous.

If your child is complaining of somatic symptoms but is not experiencing a full-blown panic attack, try to understand and acknowledge the symptoms they are experiencing.

Once you are certain their symptoms are not a physical health issue, tell them everything will be OK, and then move on to something else. This will lend a hand redirect their attention and keep their anxiety and symptoms from escalating.

What next?

Once your child’s panic attack has passed, you can teach them about panic attacks. Explain that panic attacks are common and not hazardous, even though they may seem scary and uncomfortable, and are a ephemeral feeling.

An effective strategy for panic attacks is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique called “exposure,” which encourages children to face their fears. In the case of panic attacks, this may involve facing certain situations or objects that trigger the attack, or exposing them to the actual physical symptoms.

Exposure therapy is typically done with the support of a therapist, but there are an increasing number of programs that lend a hand parents conduct exposure therapy with their child.

Does my child having a panic attack mean he or she has an anxiety disorder?

If your child has a panic attack, it doesn’t mean they have an anxiety disorder. Panic attacks can happen to all children, with or without an anxiety disorder or mental health problem.

However, panic attacks are common occur in children with anxiety disorders or other mental disorders such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Panic disorder is a specific type of anxiety disorder in which panic attacks are a core feature. Panic disorder is not very common in childrenand occurs in less than 1% pre-pubertal children. It usually appears in adolescence or adulthood.

If your child has panic attacks frequently and unexpectedly, is persistently afraid of having more panic attacks for at least a month, or avoids situations that might trigger panic attacks, he or she may have an anxiety disorder.

If your child has panic attacks in response to certain situations or fears, such as separation from a caregiver, and these fears interfere with their daily life, this may indicate an anxiety disorder.

Where can I seek lend a hand?

If you are concerned that your child has an anxiety disorder, talk to your GP or psychologist about it.

You do not need a referral from your family doctor to see a psychologist, but your family doctor can issue one. mental health treatment plan allowing you to apply for Medicare reimbursement for up to ten sessions.

A range of options are also available online resources.