Panic attacks in young children especially go on underreported much longer than any other group in the public. This happens because adults have a propensity to not understand what a child is trying to tell them, or actually dismiss the symptoms as a part of growing up, or the child being over dramatic. Panic attacks in these youngster can stem from another numbers of mitigating factors. It could be problems at home or school, general worry about their circumstances and day-to-day issues, and much the same reasons older individuals get panic attacks. No matter there reasons, panic attacks if left untreated in young children not only prolongs the suffering of the child at the current point in his or her life but also greatly increases the risk that they will evolve along with this problem into adulthood.
Symptoms that your child is having panic attacks are complaints of dizziness and worry along with fears that they are going to die, or issues with the world appearing funny or “unreal”. Also issues with feeling like they are not able to breathe properly, rapid heart rate and shaking are all also symptoms of panic attacks. Although in general, older children or adolescents are much more prone to experience panic attacks, very young children, especially after experiencing traumatic events, can get this debilitating disorder. A family history of panic attacks and an unstable home life also greatly increase the risk of them developing panic attacks.
Children that undergo frequent attacks are very adversely effected in social and home lives as well as their studies and even developmental processes. Other conditions can stem from the underlying panic attacks and they can develop an assortment of phobias such as the commonly displayed agoraphobia that can caused a distressed child immense fear leaving his or her parents in regular activities such as going to school or other places, even friend’s houses that they use to enjoy going to. General Anxiety disorder can also develop, this disorder is much like it sounds a general fear and worry that live on even when the child is not experiencing the dreadful symptoms of a panic attack.
Teens or sometimes even older preteen children may become very depressed or even suicidal. They also may turn to illegal substances like drugs or alcohol to numb the outcomes of the panic attacks. Diagnosing young children can often be very difficult for a family physician as they may see the child’s behavior as acting out, or not be able to understand what the child is trying to tell them and incorrectly attributing another condition to blame. Embarrassment also exists and even young children and they may be confused and feel they are to blame for their panic attacks, children often blame themselves for a lot of what goes on around them.
With your alertness as a patient though, in working with doctors the symptoms of panic attacks can often be lessened or resolved by many means that do not include medication, such as relaxation therapy and deep breathing exercises and trying to avoid the things that trigger panic attacks as much as possible.
If you have tried traditional techniques and still cannot seem to get any better with your panic attacks you may look into ways you can control them on your own with out as much outside help (though you still need support) or intervention. Relaxation techniques are a very important step in long term self treatment, they can be done alone at home and are proven to work in reducing stress and stopping panic attacks in their tracks. Take time to at least once a day practice them and although they won’t cure all your symptoms alone, in combination with other treatments and techniques they will help you immensely in easing anxiety levels and feeling better.
The first part of relaxation techniques is deep breathing. Deep breathing techniques can be used either as a short term response to when you are about to or experiencing a panic attack or used when anxiety levels are high to help lower them. Although they cannot get rid of the stemming fears that cause the panic attacks they can treat the end result, the attacks themselves and the fear that leads to them. Simply slowly let your lungs fill with air by breasting in through your nose and letting out a long slow breath from your mouth, repeat this for a few seconds, maybe 10 or so times in a row and you will begin to notice a calming effect emerging.
Positive thinking can also be very effective during the process of recovery or preparing for an anxiety filled day, this is only however, if a person actual believes what they are telling themselves, so try to think of a true statement that you can believe before having to go into that scary situation that you dread. Something like “If I have a panic attack I can always go sit in the bathroom or my car and breath until I feel better.” verses “I will be fine and love every minute I am there.” You can repeat positive phrases as much as you like to yourself, but unless you are actually believing them, your anxiety level will remain the same.
You may also wish to work on affirmations that you are doing better in your self help, count how many panic attacks you have had this week versus last and whether they were as severe, did you have to go home or leave any activities or did you use techniques to get through them? Consider rewarding yourself for things well done and make sure to stay on track with trying new techniques and repeating the things that seem to be working.
Something else that can work with all of these self help areas are distraction techniques, very simple things like reading a book or magazine or turning on the TV can immensely help those stress levels. And literally take you mind off of having a panic attack by entertaining it with something it finds relaxing. Even when in public, things like counting all the red cars on the road or imagining everyone in there underwear, seriously, can help in distracting you enough that you can get on a new wavelength.
Panic attacks are hard to understand for someone that has never experienced them, it is large a fear of the irrational, but that does not stop it from being a reality for a sufferer of the attacks. They themselves will know it is irrational, but that knowledge does not make the attack go away or help them feel any better. The most common mistake people make is trying to help a loved one or friend with an attack by shoulder shrugging nonchalance. Remember no matter how far from reality their fears are based they are still getting all the input from their brain that they are under attack and have something to fear.
So telling someone “what’s the big deal?” is the same as giving someone with a major snake phobia a pet boa constrictor to hold and then wondering why they run screaming out of the room. Your help needs to be actually helpful to merit the trust of someone suffering from panic attacks. One of the most basic easy things is just to talk to them in a calm and distracting way. Encourage them to breathe deeply and give them a remember-when story or even tell a joke. The brain can only hold out those feelings of panic so long and can cut them off if distracted by humor or happy thoughts.
Reassure them without critique. Simply letting someone know you are there and reminding them that these feelings will pass can be a huge help in calming them down. Fighting panic will only make them feel more of it so encourage calmness and relaxation. A human touch can also work wonders, so hold there hand or give them a pat on the back or even a back rub if you are comfortable enough with them. This will help to immediately center them and reduce the feelings on unreality and disassociation that they may be feeling.
It is important in being able to help that you learn as much about panic attacks as you can. You will never fully understand what it feels like, but you can get an idea of what exactly they are experiencing at the time of the attack and keep that in mind while helping them. It is not only at that time that they will need help also; many people live with the fear of when the next one is coming. Reassure them that no matter when it happens they can make it through and if you see them starting to stress change the subject. Do something fun to take their minds off it, also encourage them to get some kind of help, whether it is a full blown therapy session or to try a natural anxiety aid.
Do things at home that will decrease stress and anxiety, so as this will not cause and trigger more attacks or worsening of the symptoms. If you are involved in a relationship with some one who has this condition, light some candles and play some low key music, it will be both romantic and helpful at the same time.
