Panic attacks in children come with their own unique challenges and solutions.<\/p>\n
Read through to the end to learn how to effectively identify and assist a child having a panic attack.<\/p>\n
What is a Panic Attack?<\/strong><\/h2>\nBefore we go any further, it\u2019s important to clarify exactly what a panic attack is.<\/p>\n
People love to throw the term \u201cpanic attack\u201d around in a hyperbolic fashion:<\/p>\n
\u201cUgh, I thought the caf\u00e9 was closed! I was literally about to have a panic attack!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nA panic attack is much more than just a mild inconvenience or stressor. A clinical panic attack is a full-blown episode of extreme anxiety that usually lasts under 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
There is a big difference between a somewhat anxious child and a child having a panic attack.<\/p>\n
Generally speaking, panic attacks often include several of the following symptoms:<\/p>\n
\n- Fast, hard, or irregular heartbeat<\/li>\n
- Rapid, shallow, or irregular breathing<\/li>\n
- Feeling of imminent death or that something bad will happen<\/li>\n
- Tingling sensations or numbness<\/li>\n
- Racing or uncontrollable thoughts<\/li>\n
- Sweating, shaking, or trembling<\/li>\n
- Upset stomach or nausea<\/li>\n
- \u201cFight or flight\u201d instinct to escape<\/li>\n
- Fear that others will notice you are having a panic attack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Everyone experiences panic attacks differently, so your symptoms may vary a bit.<\/p>\n
Frequent or recurrent panic attacks may indicate the development of panic disorder.<\/p>\n
Check out the following resources to learn more about panic attacks or anxiety in general:<\/p>\n
\n- Everything you need to know about panic attacks<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Everything you need to know about anxiety<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What do Panic Attacks in Children Look Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\nPanic attacks in children share many similarities with panic attacks in adults, but also quite a few differences. To understand panic attacks in children, it\u2019s important to understand how a panic attack may be communicated by a child.<\/p>\n
I had my first few panic attacks when I was around 16 years old. Not only was my first panic attack terrifying, it was also extremely confusing and disorienting. At this point, I had never even heard <\/em>of a panic attack before. I had no clue that my physiological symptoms (irregular heart rate, difficulty breathing, etc.) could be due to anxiety. I genuinely believed I was dying.<\/p>\nNow, imagine how panic attacks in kids must feel. How difficult must it be for a 10-year-old, or even a 6-year-old, to explain what they are feeling in this situation? Because of how hard panic attacks in kids can be to communicate, it becomes the parents\u2019 job to recognize these panic attacks.<\/strong><\/p>\nHere\u2019s what to look out for:<\/p>\n
\n- They are exhibiting any of the normal adult symptoms of panic attacks<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re frequently expressing worry or showing anxiety<\/li>\n
- They strongly wish to avoid certain locations or situations<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re having difficulty concentrating<\/li>\n
- They are showing separation anxiety and acting clingier than usual<\/li>\n
- They complain of belly aches, or of feeling weird or unwell<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re crying more often for no obvious reason<\/li>\n
- They are eating less or exhibiting a decreased appetite<\/li>\n
- Their sleep becomes more difficult or irregular (do they seem more tired than usual?)<\/li>\n
- They seem more irritable, frustrated, or fidgety than usual<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It\u2019s important that you speak to your child\u2019s doctor any time you notice any of these changes. Other health concerns like arrythmia<\/strong><\/a> should be ruled out before assuming that the issue is childhood anxiety.<\/p>\n![\"Panic](\"https:\/\/dontpanicdothis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Panic-Attack-Symptoms-in-Kids.png\" "\\"Panic")
![\"Panic](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20924%20924%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" "\\"Panic")
![\"panic](\"\/\/dontpanicdothis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/panic-free-tv-mid-cta.png\" "\\"panic")
![\"panic](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20267%20780%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" "\\"panic")
![\"panic](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20337%20312%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" "\\"panic")
A panic attack is much more than just a mild inconvenience or stressor. A clinical panic attack is a full-blown episode of extreme anxiety that usually lasts under 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
There is a big difference between a somewhat anxious child and a child having a panic attack.<\/p>\n
Generally speaking, panic attacks often include several of the following symptoms:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Fast, hard, or irregular heartbeat<\/li>\n
- Rapid, shallow, or irregular breathing<\/li>\n
- Feeling of imminent death or that something bad will happen<\/li>\n
- Tingling sensations or numbness<\/li>\n
- Racing or uncontrollable thoughts<\/li>\n
- Sweating, shaking, or trembling<\/li>\n
- Upset stomach or nausea<\/li>\n
- \u201cFight or flight\u201d instinct to escape<\/li>\n
- Fear that others will notice you are having a panic attack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Everyone experiences panic attacks differently, so your symptoms may vary a bit.<\/p>\n
Frequent or recurrent panic attacks may indicate the development of panic disorder.<\/p>\n
Check out the following resources to learn more about panic attacks or anxiety in general:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Everything you need to know about panic attacks<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Everything you need to know about anxiety<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What do Panic Attacks in Children Look Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Panic attacks in children share many similarities with panic attacks in adults, but also quite a few differences. To understand panic attacks in children, it\u2019s important to understand how a panic attack may be communicated by a child.<\/p>\n
I had my first few panic attacks when I was around 16 years old. Not only was my first panic attack terrifying, it was also extremely confusing and disorienting. At this point, I had never even heard <\/em>of a panic attack before. I had no clue that my physiological symptoms (irregular heart rate, difficulty breathing, etc.) could be due to anxiety. I genuinely believed I was dying.<\/p>\n
Now, imagine how panic attacks in kids must feel. How difficult must it be for a 10-year-old, or even a 6-year-old, to explain what they are feeling in this situation? Because of how hard panic attacks in kids can be to communicate, it becomes the parents\u2019 job to recognize these panic attacks.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what to look out for:<\/p>\n
- \n
- They are exhibiting any of the normal adult symptoms of panic attacks<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re frequently expressing worry or showing anxiety<\/li>\n
- They strongly wish to avoid certain locations or situations<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re having difficulty concentrating<\/li>\n
- They are showing separation anxiety and acting clingier than usual<\/li>\n
- They complain of belly aches, or of feeling weird or unwell<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re crying more often for no obvious reason<\/li>\n
- They are eating less or exhibiting a decreased appetite<\/li>\n
- Their sleep becomes more difficult or irregular (do they seem more tired than usual?)<\/li>\n
- They seem more irritable, frustrated, or fidgety than usual<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It\u2019s important that you speak to your child\u2019s doctor any time you notice any of these changes. Other health concerns like arrythmia<\/strong><\/a> should be ruled out before assuming that the issue is childhood anxiety.<\/p>\n
- Everything you need to know about anxiety<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Everything you need to know about panic attacks<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n