Panic Attacks Worst Facts in Children

Panic attacks have increased in these two years. You may be thinking why in these two years? The answer to this question is the pandemic. The Pandemic has been with us for the past two years. And this has affected more are the kids. Kids have never always been indoors. However, now when kids have become habituated to this life. Moreover, they are not ready to meet people, they get scared of things that they were not afraid of before. Many of the parents are unaware that the kids are suffering from panic attacks.

Many of us still don’t know what is panic attacks? Some know that panic attacks happen to adults. But the reality is that it happens both to adults as well as children. So what does this mean?

Meaning of Panic Attacks

• An anxiety disorder that is specific in nature
• These are attacks that happen suddenly in children
• Severe feelings of fear which are accompanied by physical signs too
• It feels that the person is getting a heart attack, but it’s a panic attack
• In this, the person feels like escaping from the situation
• Being afraid that this might occur again leads to the trigger of another attack

What are the causes of Panic Attacks?

We all wonder about the factors that lead to panic attacks. It’s essential that one knows the cause as then only we will be able to provide the right treatment or help the child or teen from it. Some of the causes are

• Stress
• Having a family history
• Traumatic events faced in life
• Life changes
• Substance Abuse
• Extreme levels of coffee intake

Signs and Symptoms

It’s necessary that we all know the signs as well as the symptoms. When we know then we will be able to help the children overcome it. However, there is so much lack of awareness that it happens in front of us and we don’t know what exactly is happening? And this becomes confusing and shocking looking at the person. Let’s look at the signs and symptoms mentioned below

• Extreme physical symptoms such as rapid heart palpitations, breathlessness, having pain in the chest, feeling dizzy,, sweating profusely, and also having feelings of nausea.
• They tend to feel that things are going out of control or there is an intense fear that they might die
• Feelings that everything is unreal
• They feel a great desire that they should escape from this situation
• The attacks, are repetitive and can get severe in a span of ten minutes
• Afraid of having this attack again
• Tend to avoid places where they had earlier suffered an attack or those places where they feel it will become difficult to get out from.

Panic Attack Diagnosis

Furthermore, it’s very important to know how the diagnosis of panic attacks is done in children. We just can’t assume things and treat children. There is a proper procedure followed. And we need to do that to make the right diagnosis. If anything goes wrong, then it can affect the patient for a lifetime. We need to be very careful. We can’t play with a person’s life. Let’s look at the signs and symptoms mentioned below

• Need to consult an expert
• Find out if there are no other causes for this problem
• Once we know there are no other causes, then check for the number of times the panic attacks have occurred
• Tries to find out if that child worries whether the attacks will happen again
• You should check if the child has feelings of going crazy or feelings of death when the panic attacks happen
• Extreme changes in the kid where he tends to avoid places or doesn’t go to the places

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Differences Between Panic Attack, Panic Disorder and Heart Attack

People get confused with these terms. It’s important that we know and be aware of it. The differences for each are as follows:

Panic Attacks

• This isn’t a disorder, but a symptom
• Episodic in nature
• Causes extreme fear
• Can be found in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well Substance Abuse
• Racing heartbeat
• Trembles, perspiration, or shaking
• The feeling of being choked
• Having pain in the chest or feeling discomfort
• Getting the feeling that things aren’t real
• Afraid of not being in control
• Tingling sensation or being numb
• Experiencing chills or hot flashes

Panic Disorder

• Recurrent as well as unexpected panic attacks
• One or more months of continuous anxiousness that there will be another attack
• It’s not a cause of other disorders

Heart Attack

• Pain or discomfort in the chest
• Jaws, shoulders, back, or arm starts paining
• Anxiety
• Breathlessness
• Perspiration
• Having lightheadedness
• Feelings of nausea or vomiting
• Getting cold sweat

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Treatments for Panic Attacks

It’s important that we get the right treatment. Medication and therapy are used for the treatment of panic attacks Cognitive Behavioral Therapy also known as CBT is helpful in reducing fear and is beneficial in changing one’s behavior.

Exposure with Response Prevention Therapy is useful too. It reduces anxiety slowly making the kids face situations that they avoided before as they had their panic attacks there.

Antidepressant medications have been useful in curing children. If these haven’t reduced the attacks, then anti-anxiety medicines are given.

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5 Beneficial Grounding Techniques Overcoming Panic Attacks

Grounding techniques are useful and help the child to calm down. It’s important we know them as we can teach the children to do it.

1. Memory Recreation: Show a picture of the child and then tell the child to look at the picture. Furthermore, tell the child to recall the picture which is shown to him or her.
2. Favorites: Tell the child to write about their favorites. Classify the favorites into foods, clothing, people, etc. This leads to positivity
3. Backward Spelling: Give words to children and make them spell them backward. Moreover, this will take time and they might make mistakes. It’s fine. But they will be distracted from their triggers
4. Instrumental or nature’s music: Music is very therapeutic. You can play instrumental music such as piano, guitar, etc. Also, the sound of the waterfall and birds chirping are very useful too.
5. Fragrance: Fragrance plays an important role too. You can light a candle that gives a good fragrance and take in the smell.

5 Worst Facts of Panic Attacks in Children

• Asleep: This happens when a person is sleeping too. The symptoms are the same as how one feels during the day when they have a panic attack. But the attacks which happen at night can affect you a lot during the day such as making you feel tired the full day, feelings of anxiety and also this will lead to sleep problems too.
• Panic Disorder: Panic attacks happen in panic disorder, but it’s not always necessary. It can co-occur with other mental health problems too. So, it’s important that there is awareness and not confuse both.
• Exercise and Food: It’s essential that food and physical activity give attention. As this has an impact on panic attacks. Studies have proved that arise in physical activity can decrease panic attacks. Food plays a crucial role too. Studies have shown that intake of caffeine, substances, etc. can increase the panic attacks
• Predictable or Unpredictable: Predictable panic attacks happen due to the triggers in the environment like entering a dark room a person who has a phobia of darkness will get a panic attack while unpredictable is there are no triggers happen in a jiffy and this is mostly found in panic disorders.
• Avoiding: Several individuals who have a panic attack, avoid certain places, people, and so on due to fear of getting panic attacks. Moreover, this doesn’t solve the problems. But increases them over time. As time passes these individuals avoid everything around them and this doesn’t solve the problem, but when there is a compulsory need to face it they might get a severe attack

As this gives you a wide knowledge regarding panic attacks in children. Parents, as well as teachers, don’t ignore these symptoms. Moreover, we all should know this in advance as we can use these grounding techniques and help the children in reducing the symptoms as soon as possible.

References

1. Panic Disorder In Children And Adolescents
2. Panic Disorder in Children and Teens - Conditions and Treatments | Children's National Hospital
3. Panic attacks in children - tips for parents on how to help your child cope - Priory