Children And Teens With Panic Disorder Symptoms

A panic attack is a recurring experience that brings with it an intense fear; usually that main concern of the fear is having another attack in the future. Panic disorders are medical conditions that strike anyone, at anytime, and at any age. Children and teens with panic disorder symptoms may seem to have different signs an attack is occurring than adults.

Children are not able to explain psychological symptoms as an adult would and tend to only explain the physical signs instead. That is why the signs of an attack appear different in them than with adults. Kids have a harder time accurately explaining the experience they are going through and the intense fears, although teens usually can. Because these happen without reason or warning, children may feel the fear is caused by something like an animal or stranger that they have seen.

Depending on where a teen or child is when the attack occurs, the symptoms can vary in severity. When they are at home, they feel more comfortable and may not try to hide the symptoms. This would explain why it seems that more attacks occur at home rather than when in school or out socializing.

A panic attack at home can have one or more symptoms to signal an attack is taking place. The episodes may seem to be more frequent and out of the blue and come with a fast pulse, chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, nausea, sweating, and even fainting. They may even express that they feel like they're going crazy at times. Certain places in the home may be avoided as they fear an attack may occur when in those places. In a lot of cases, children are not able to explain the symptoms or why they are fearful.

School is a place full of pressure and that pressure extends to wanting to hide any attacks that occur there. That may be why it seems that home is the place they happen more frequently. When an attack does occur at school, they hides the symptoms as well as they can and end up being reluctant or even unable to recount what happened when it is over.

Attacks can be recurrent at school and like at home totally out of the blue. The symptoms can vary also such as suddenly interrupting class or activities repeatedly and not being able to explain why. Their school work and social life can suffer as they have difficulty concentrating because of the constant worry that comes over them. Younger children will have a harder time going from home to school and separating from their parents, even fighting to stay home and avoid school.

For a doctor to understand and determine the diagnosis, a teen or child would need to make frequent visits over a period of time. As symptoms can vary and change as the child grows, it will take time for a doctor to evaluate the patient. They will take a look at other factors that can appear to be panic disorders like anxiety disorders and phobias. Some medical conditions may also cause panic attacks and be taken into consideration.

It is embarrassing for children and teens to talk about what they are going through and to share the symptoms they have. Since many are unwilling to come forward with panic disorder symptoms, parents need to be aware of what is going on and encourage them to talk to them about it.