Panic Attacks in Children - From Symptoms to Cures

Heart-wrenching, isn't it, to see one's child suffer anxiety, especially panic attacks. Of course a modest amount of anxiety may be necessary at the right ages to teach certain valuable lessons about avoiding real danger and overcoming fears. And young children go through a stage where they need to feel secure with a parent; separation anxiety in the first week of school or so is an example of the conflict between the needs for security and growth in independence.

But at what point does anxiety in children become a problem that needs more definite and specific treatment than everyday parenting skills normally address? The answer may be variable and require parental discretion, but there are signs and symptoms that clearly suggest a child's stress level is out of the ball park. Panic attacks in children is one such sign.

I. Panic attack symptoms in children

When among his or her peers or parents, a child at some point of development may feel ashamed to display signs of undergoing a panic attack. Nonetheless, some signs are hard to hide. If in any case, a parent witnesses a child in the throws of an attack, some common symptoms include the following:

Obvious facial expressions of terror
Face indicates lack of blood
Crying or unexpected silence
Unusual perspiration
A dry tongue
Clammy hands
Trembling in some bodily area(s)
Rapid heart beat
Tingling or numbess
Faster breathing than activity level suggests or trouble with breathing
A sense of unreality or going crazy
Dizziness
Pains in the abdomen or throat
Nausea that cannot be explained as a reaction to sickness
Wantng to go to the bathroom
Tense muscles, perhaps in the upper torso or neck

Notice that some symptoms are observable, while others require a parent or guardian to ask age-appropriate questions or infer from what a child may say or do that a panic attack is occuring or occured. Also note that a number of the symptoms may occur for reasons other than anxiety or panic, on account of which consultation with a doctor is recommended.

Between attacks, or as a result of one attack, a child may show warning signs of heightened anxiety or depression such as:

Avoidance behaviors like a strong, new desire to stay out of school
A new, otherwise inexplicable pattern of headaches or stomach aches
A pattern of nightmares, insomnia, or oversleeping while not in a growth spurt
Decreased interest in favorite foods or fun activities
Inappropriate anger
A change to emotional withdrawal
Difficulty focusing or concentrating

Note especially any downhill changes in behavior patterns.

II. On causes of panic attacks in children

What influences the onset of panic attacks in children may hint at possible remedies. Sometimes a child will propose a perceived cause, but often like adults, children neither understand the nature of the terror that befalls them nor the reasons. Or they don't know how to put their experience into words. A loving parent or guardian is usually vital at early discovery.

Some possible causal examples follow. Is the child afraid of a bully, a sibling, an estranged parent or grandparent? Does the child fear that a parent or secure environment will be lost? If a new baby was recently born, does the child fear loss of parental affection? Have parents argued with each other heatedly in the hearing of the child, perhaps causing fear of loss ... or misplaced guilt? Even in the womb, children can learn fear when a mother feels stressed.

Is the child's schedule too demanding and stressful? Is the child required to go to bed regularly at an age-appropriate time of night? Are there environmental toxins in the home or neighborhood to which the child may be reacting? What about a reaction to a drug? Does the child react strongly to caffeine or have too much sugar in the diet? Is the child's lifestyle too sedenatary? Does the child have asthma?

III. Treating and curing panic attacks in children

When a child has panic attacks, the natural reaction of loving parents may be to comfort, sympathize with, and reassure the child. While the child's sense of security is important, comfort may also serve to reward expressions of anxiety and foster unhealthy avoidance behaviors in the child. Long term, parental comfort can encourage panic behavior.

Naturally also, one does not encourage children or anyone else to get recklessly into real danger. But neither is encouraging avoidance behavior an effective treatment at stopping panic attacks. On the contrary, facing fears is typically one of the most effective methods.

Neither adult nor child likes to face, even welcome a fear or panic response in the body. For children to face fears is often best approached differently than for adults because children do not have the same mental and moral development as adults. They are more vulnerable. A counselor or parent needs to teach the child about facing the fearful thing in a way that is true and that the child can understand. A balance of patience and firmness, gentleness and holding accountable is most effective. The child needs to mimic the confidence of the parent or counselor as well as experience overcoming anxiety for him- or herself.

There are also pharmaceutical drugs which can be used if necessary and prescribed by a physician or psychiatrist. However, risk of negative side effects especially in young children may be greater than in adults or older children. The same may be true of calming herbs or amino acids. Homeopathic remedies such as Rescue Remedy Kids may generally be safer.

However, a simpler and safer additional method of controlling panc attacks in children is the exercise of simple gratitude. If a child's attention can be redirected away from anxiety and toward things for which he or she is truly thankful, the new focus has a wonderful way of calming the mind. This only works if the child himself/herself is genuinely grateful and emotionally engaged rather than merely mimicking an adult's modeling or following a demand by rote. Nor should gratitude be used alone without other targeted remedies.

Properly, remedying panic attacks in children typically depends on individual child personality, practical situation, stage of brain development, and commonly effective techniques for stopping panic attacks. It is a reasonable hope that children can be cured of panic attacks.


------

Next, for more help and information on cures for panic attacks, sign up for the free report and email mini-course at Panic Attack Relief. The author is a long time health enthusiast interested in helping people overcome anxiety and panic attacks.