The Anxiety Disorder Child - When Should You Be Concerned?

Children Get Panic Attacks Too: How to Help an Anxiety Disorder Child

It is a common misconception that stress, anxiety and panic attacks only happen to adults, when things like work, family security and monthly bills give them reason to be tense and to worry. Kids, though, also have ample reason to be stressed. Exams, puberty, as well as the yearning to be liked and to be accepted in school can all contribute to a child's anxiety and tension. Most of the time, like the rest of the adult world, children can cope with different stressful situations and rarely do these instances develop into full-blown panic attacks. But there are times though, when we do encounter an anxiety disorder child and the attacks he experiences may even be more damaging than those experienced by adults.

The years before children and adolescents reach their teen years can be a very challenging period. Besides the different physical changes they are undergoing, children are just beginning to learn about the real world and are also wrestling with different new emotions such as jealousy, love and the need to be accepted by their peers. Often, kids are able to handle these emotions well and grow up into confident, successful adults. Sometimes, though, since children still don't have enough experience to properly deal with different stressors, anxiety disorders can develop and they can turn into an anxiety disorder child. If not treated right away the child may grow up bearing more serious disorders and phobias (fears).

An anxiety disorder child also exhibits the same symptoms as adults who experience anxiety attacks. He may have palpitations, feel flushed, have cold sweats and hyperventilate. His attacks may prevent him from enjoying the company of his friends, can interrupt his schoolwork and even make him moody and unpredictable. Early detection of an anxiety disorder child is the best way to help him fight anxiety attacks and prevent them from becoming more frequent or more serious. The following are some signs you can refer to, to see if your kid is developing an anxiety disorder.

• Separation anxiety. Most kids are scared of going to school for the first time and being separated from their parents, but these fears soon vanish when they meet other children and become comfortable in the school setting. Some children, though, still remain clingy and won't allow their parents to leave them in school by crying or by throwing a tantrum. This behavior, called separation anxiety, also occurs whenever the parents leave the child at home or any other place. Crying, tantrums, yelling and screaming are some ways by which a child tries to make his parents stay. A lot of events may cause separation anxiety such as a divorce, changes in routine or the fear of being alone.

• Social phobia. An anxiety disorder child with social phobia is extremely shy to a point that even speaking in front of the class causes him great distress. Sometimes, children with social phobia beg parents to let them stay at home just so they miss school presentations and other events that require them to be in front of a group of people. The symptoms of a panic attack often set in when the child with social phobia is with a group of people or if he is at the center of attention: he starts to shake, his heart races and he feels nauseous or dizzy.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Because children have a different perspective of the world, they often do not realize that they worry excessively about simple things. An anxiety disorder child with GAD might stay up all night stressing over a first date or he may fret too much over an exam that is still a month away.

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Certain unfortunate events may set a harmful cycle for children. An ugly divorce, for example, may cause kids to avoid and be scared of certain places that they used to go to as a family. A traumatic car accident may cause children to be extremely fearful of riding any kind of vehicle. Still others who were abused as children may experience recurring nightmares and might be unresponsive to and fearful of adults.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This is a common disorder in both children and adults characterized by recurrent fears or thoughts that in turn, cause them to do a particular behavior pattern or action repeatedly. An anxiety disorder child who is fearful of germs, bacteria and of getting sick, for instance, may insist on washing his hands every hour. Children with OCD develop certain rituals, believing that these rituals can keep something bad from happening.

Just because children face seemingly less stressful situations than adults, doesn't mean that they don't have panic attacks. Anxiety and stress can cause as much harm in a child as in an adult. But with enough love, care, respect and proper treatment, even an anxiety disorder child can grow up to be a happy, well-adjusted adult.

Children Can Have Panic Attacks

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By Angelica C

Yes, it's true. Children and adolescents can have panic attacks and suffer anxiety disorder. Like adults, our youngsters can experience anxiety and may be so overwhelmed with situations that panic attacks occur. Stressful events like starting school, neighborhood transfers, recent loss of a loved one, separation and divorce or family's financial crisis can trigger the onset of the attacks.

Though panic disorder does not need specific triggering factors, these stressors play a vital role in anxiety disorder development if anxiety and stress levels of our child are left unchecked.

Anxiety disorder among children is marked by poor performance in school, less developed social skills, and frequent tantrums. It is diagnosed in people who suddenly experience these panic attacks, without any particular reason or cause. These people not only experience these panic attacks out of the blue, but they would also continually fear the possibility of having another episode.

This abrupt onset of overwhelming fear comes with physical symptoms like palpitations due to feelings of imminent doom, sweating, uncontrollable trembling, and difficulty in breathing, dizziness or nausea and chest pains. These are also accompanied by sleep disturbance, muscle aches, frequent stomach ailments and clingy behavior.

As symptoms are similar to heart attacks and thyroid problems, people who suffer from these panic attacks may take a long while to be properly diagnosed. The frequency of seemingly life-threatening attacks may take a toll on our kids and on the parents as well.

Since our kids could not effectively convey their emotions, the terror that they experience every time they have the panic attacks is inconceivable. Our kids can feel the same stress and anxiety that adults feel. Yet they could not fully comprehend what we could. Nor can they communicate as easily as most adults could.

If you think your child is among those who suffer from panic attacks, help can be in the form of therapies and medications. It is very important that you have your child properly diagnosed by a licensed physician.

Cognitive behavior therapy has been proven to be the most effective and most recommended kind of therapy, as this focuses on helping the child or young teen to develop and learn skills to manage his anxiety and master the situations that contribute to his panic attacks. Your child may also benefit from taking medications like anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs together with the therapy. This will help our kids be calmer and more at ease.

Parents play a significant role in spotting early symptoms of panic attacks and help prevent the onset of a panic disorder. As parents, we should be vigilant in our kids' emotional and mental well being by keeping open and healthy communication line with them. We should know that fears are part of the growing up years of our child, but when it starts to impede daily activities and social interaction with other family members and other children, do not hesitate to ask your kids what the matter is.

Constant reassurance and outpouring affection help in preventing increased anxiety levels. Also, it would definitely help if we keep calm ourselves. Children are more predisposed to suffering from anxiety attacks if the parents frequently display increased anxiety.