Panic Attack in Children

Children may also suffer from panic attacks. There are several symptoms of panic attacks in children that parents need to watch out for. Read this article to find out more about panic attacks in children.

Does panic attack children? Dreadfully, the answer is yes. It is terribly distressing how innocent and guileless kids fall prey to panic attack’s gambit. Childhood which is supposed to be the time to be free, have fun, and play to one’s heart content has been tainted. With the evolution of our times, children are no longer strangers to family, peer, and societal pressures.

Children today are pressured to be more proficient .Whether it is at school, at sports or at home, they are expected to be the best among their peers; they are expected to compete in sports and secure a win; and, they are expected to maintain a socially outstanding image or else they will have bullying and discrimination to cope with. Aside from these, they also have to deal with family problems – parental divorce, domestic abuse, and financial constraints. These factors, which are too heavy for kids who are not physically, mentally, and emotionally ready yet for these kinds of problems, may lead them to develop anxiety symptoms and panic attacks.

Panic attacks in children are similar to that of panic attacks experienced by adults. These attacks are characterized by sudden, intense feeling of fear and accompanied by distinct physical symptoms. With children’s inability to fully verbalize what they are feeling, parents should pay close attention to their child’s activities, thoughts, and behavior. Symptoms to watch out for include:

• crying inconsolably
• sweating
• shaking
• feeling of choking
• nausea
• rapid heartbeat
• numbness or tingling sensations
• shortness of breath (like being strangled)

Apart from these symptoms, changes in behavior can also be observed, like:

• Poor school performance
• Inability to concentrate and focus
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Complaints of stomach ache and headache
• Violence
• Anti-social behavior
• Fear of leaving home or going to school
• Unreasonable anger
• Fearfulness
• Talks of death

Any of the above mentioned symptoms and changes in behavior could point towards a building of anxiety and strain in children which may bring about panic attacks.

Often, panic attacks in children occur at a specific time of the day. These attacks are usually noted when the child leaves for school, before taking a test, or during bedtime. To sack the feeling of fear, showing love, concern, attention, and understanding is unsurprisingly helpful. However, knowing the cause or the origin of the child’s fear is the best way to help dispel these attacks. Therapies like cognitive-behavioral and systemic desensitization are key instruments to the exposure of the real culprit. Anxiety medications and antidepressants are also essential in treating the symptoms propelled by panic attacks.

Parents play a big role in helping children cope with panic attacks. Parents must see to it that they are not asking their children to do some things which will only push their kids to the limit. Pressuring the children to do better in school or to excel in a certain field is not bad. But, when time comes that the things kids are being asked to perform are already beyond their capacity, panic attack starts to get into their system. When this happens, parents should make an effort to look for ways to figure out the root cause of the problem. It is also important that children suffering from panic attacks are being showered with more attention to help determine the best cure for their condition.