Many do not know that panic attacks in children are considered as a major psychological problem which may just involve a lack in communication skills. In child counseling, one of the most important factors in the child’s psychological and emotional balance is the parent-child communication. A lack in this communication can be the reason why there are panic attacks in children. Parents must know what this may involve so they could help their children deal with issues without panicking.
Children Are Stressed
No matter how parents ignore it, the fact is that children are stressed out. Maybe the stress are not the same as those which parents face every day, but definitely panic attacks in children can be triggered by their own stressors. It is important for the parent and the child counselor in school to monitor what these stressors are.
Children Can Be Cruel
Children in schools today face their own level of societal stress. The peer pressure can be very hard to deal with, especially when it is these same peers who are being cruel. The pressure can be anything from economics to how thin someone is, how tall the other is, the sexual orientation of one, the grades of the other, even to the clothes worn in schools. Children compare themselves with others and in schools there are the cliques who are more successful and may be cruel to those who are not so successful. If the stress gets to be too much, this will obviously trigger panic attacks in children.
As Young As 10 Years of Age
According to some studies, panic attacks in children as young as 10 years old are more common than one would think. In fact, adults who have been diagnosed with Panic Disorder may have experienced their first panic attack at this age.
Recognizing Panic Attacks in Children
Many have asked how they can recognize panic attacks in children. Unfortunately, it is the lack of communication skills which can go against both child and parent in this case. Many adults simply do not understand that panic attacks in children can happen much less recognize what they are. Many parents, and unfortunately, teachers, write the symptoms of panic attacks in children as a demand for attention, being spoiled brats, acting out and just being plain stupid. This is a really sad case of miscommunication, but unfortunately, this is the plain truth.
Symptoms of Panic Attacks in Children
The symptoms of panic attacks in children are basically the same with the adults: there is an overwhelming feeling of doom, dizziness, nausea, headaches in many cases, trembling and an increase in heart rate. In many children, they may even exhibit breathing problems or hyperventilation, in some, a pseudo-asthmatic attack. There have even been some cases where the panic attacks in children have only one symptom: coughing.
Other Signs of Panic Attacks in Children
Other signs of panic attacks in children may include violent behavior, extreme sadness, being unreasonably mad at the world, over sleeping, lack of sleeping, mood shifts, loss of appetite, and sudden increase of appetite. Many children exhibit their own signs and symptoms of panic attacks in children but they all mean one thing: that the stress levels may have reached their maximum and the child can no longer deal with them.
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- peer pressure of children
