How To Help Your Child Cope With Panic Attacks
A panic attack can be scary for you and your child. If your child experiences panic attacks, it is important to seek help from your child’s health care provider to figure out what is causing them, and what can be done to prevent them. Children can also have panic attacks during sleep.
How do I know if my child is having a panic attack?
Panic attacks are usually triggered by intense fear, which can come from many different things in children, including fear of school, being sick, nightmares, or being in certain social situations. Most panic attacks typically last 5–10 minutes.
Panic attacks can appear differently in each child. However, during moments of panic attack, your child may:
- Feel like his or her heart is beating fast.
- Feel dizzy or faint.
- Feel nauseous or may vomit. He or she may also have diarrhea.
- Tremble or shake.
- Have numbness or tingling in the fingers and hands.
- Feel like he or she cannot breathe, or is breathing very fast.
Other signs of panic attack include:
- Chest pain.
- Sweating and having chills.
- A feeling of choking.
- Feeling very hot (hot flashes).
- Fear of losing control.
- Fear of dying.
- Fear of going crazy.
- Fear of having another panic attack.
What can I do to help my child cope with panic attacks?
It is important to seek help from your child’s health care provider to determine the cause of the panic attacks.
- Think about getting therapy or counseling to help your child cope with his or her fears.
- Talk with your health care provider about medicines to stop or prevent panic attacks.
In general, if your child is having a panic attack, you may comfort and help him or her by:
- Teaching him or her about panic attacks and helping him or her to understand that a panic attack is a “false alarm.”
- Identifying
things that distract from his or her fears, and helping him or her to focus on
those things when a panic attack strikes. These may include:
- Electronic devices.
- Listening to music.
- Playing a game.
- Talking about something that your child enjoys.
- Changing to a new activity, such as exercising, eating, or bathing.
- Assuring him or her that you understand his or her feelings, and offering to help him or her to get through it. Do not say or do anything that may make your child feel bad about his or her reaction. Remind your child that the panic attack will end, and that he or she will feel better soon.
Where can I get more support?
- Your child’s pediatrician or health care provider can recommend resources and child mental health counselors who can support you and your child with panic attacks.
- Your child’s teachers and school counselors can also provide ideas to help your child cope with panic attacks.
Where to find more information
- Local organizations that offer resources about panic attacks.
- Trusted sources online.
- Mental health
organizations, such as:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): www.nami.org
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): www.nimh.nih.gov
Contact a health care provider if:
- Your child’s panic attacks are causing him or her to miss school or avoid interacting with friends and family.
Get help right away if:
- Your child stops breathing or faints (loses consciousness) during a panic attack.
Summary
- Panic attacks are usually triggered by intense fear, and they usually last 5–10 minutes.
- Seek help from your child’s health care provider to determine the cause of the panic attacks and learn ways to treat them.
- To help your child during a panic attack, assure him or her that it is a “false alarm,” help him or her to find an activity to shift attention away from fear, and remind him or her that the attack will end soon.
