When people talk about panic disorder, they often think of adults suffering from panic attacks. This is a common misconception. The truth is that panic attacks children quite often. Children's feelings and personalities can be very fragile and impressionable, which makes them susceptible to panic attacks. In fact, the most common age for acquiring panic disorder is between the ages of 15 and 19.
Before the teen years, children who suffer from panic attacks or develop panic disorder normally have a stressor in their environment. This stressor causes anxiety. If it isn't addressed, the anxiety can turn into panic attacks. Like adults, the experience of a panic attack can truly scare a child. Being afraid of having another panic attack and having this fear and/or anxiety trigger the attack can develop panic disorder in a child. Stressors can be major life changes, such as moving home or switching schools, instability in the home or a violent environment.
During the teen years, the major life changes that can affect teens and can trigger panic attacks are often connected to the pressure felt by teens. Many of today's teens have to go through major changes between the ages of 15 and 19. Sometimes these are hormonal and physical changes that they can't deal with, other times it has to do with moving away to college and being away from home and feelings of safety for the first time. Also, some teens develop mood problems during the teen years. Mood problems are highly comorbid with panic disorders, and sometimes panic disorder develops as a secondary disorder to a mood disorder.
If parents are attentive enough, they should be able to notice if their child or teen has panic disorder.
Commonly, children who are suffering from psychological problems will exhibit changes in behavior. A child may no longer want to play with friends or go to certain places, while a teen may be less willing to socialize. Parents should also be on the look out for other signs of anxiety, such as insomnia (younger children tend to cry at night or have nightmares), or showing signs of worry.
Panic disorder in children and teens should be addressed as soon as possible to keep it from becoming a bigger problem and to prevent the possible development of other psychological disorders. Since panic in children is quite common, it is definitely something parents should be aware of. Protecting children from panic attacks and panic disorder, as well as addressing their problems while young will ensure that they will be able to cope better in life.
Finally, it is also quite common that events that happen in childhood do not affect the person right away. Rather, they affect the person in adulthood, and not necessarily in a way that is easy to connect to the original trauma. This is in fact the premise behind panic-focused psychodynamic therapy. It is the job of the therapist to find the original underlying problem and address it. For example, the divorce or rocky relationship of a person's parents can affect their personal relationships in the future. When a future relationship falls apart, it can stir up the suppressed feelings from childhood, causing a panic attack. It is the therapists job to reveal this insight and help the patient come to terms with the issue.
Before the teen years, children who suffer from panic attacks or develop panic disorder normally have a stressor in their environment. This stressor causes anxiety. If it isn't addressed, the anxiety can turn into panic attacks. Like adults, the experience of a panic attack can truly scare a child. Being afraid of having another panic attack and having this fear and/or anxiety trigger the attack can develop panic disorder in a child. Stressors can be major life changes, such as moving home or switching schools, instability in the home or a violent environment.
During the teen years, the major life changes that can affect teens and can trigger panic attacks are often connected to the pressure felt by teens. Many of today's teens have to go through major changes between the ages of 15 and 19. Sometimes these are hormonal and physical changes that they can't deal with, other times it has to do with moving away to college and being away from home and feelings of safety for the first time. Also, some teens develop mood problems during the teen years. Mood problems are highly comorbid with panic disorders, and sometimes panic disorder develops as a secondary disorder to a mood disorder.
If parents are attentive enough, they should be able to notice if their child or teen has panic disorder.
Commonly, children who are suffering from psychological problems will exhibit changes in behavior. A child may no longer want to play with friends or go to certain places, while a teen may be less willing to socialize. Parents should also be on the look out for other signs of anxiety, such as insomnia (younger children tend to cry at night or have nightmares), or showing signs of worry.
Panic disorder in children and teens should be addressed as soon as possible to keep it from becoming a bigger problem and to prevent the possible development of other psychological disorders. Since panic in children is quite common, it is definitely something parents should be aware of. Protecting children from panic attacks and panic disorder, as well as addressing their problems while young will ensure that they will be able to cope better in life.
Finally, it is also quite common that events that happen in childhood do not affect the person right away. Rather, they affect the person in adulthood, and not necessarily in a way that is easy to connect to the original trauma. This is in fact the premise behind panic-focused psychodynamic therapy. It is the job of the therapist to find the original underlying problem and address it. For example, the divorce or rocky relationship of a person's parents can affect their personal relationships in the future. When a future relationship falls apart, it can stir up the suppressed feelings from childhood, causing a panic attack. It is the therapists job to reveal this insight and help the patient come to terms with the issue.
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