06/11/2024
⭐️ On the Blog ⭐️ The mental health charity mind estimates that around 1 in every 100 people in England are diagnosed with Panic Disorder every week. This is a startling figure and, discouragingly, is a mental health condition that is on the rise.
🧠 We all experience feelings of anxiety and panic from time to time, in response to stress or significant life events. Panic Disorder, however, is a form of anxiety disorder where an individual will have bouts of extreme anxiety, panic, or intense fear, frequently and seemingly for no apparent cause. It can be extremely frightening for an individual suffering from the disorder and the feeling of being ‘out of control’ can become so overwhelming that a person may avoid certain situations or stop leaving home altogether in an attempt to prevent a panic or anxiety attack. Sadly, this desire to feel more in control can start a negative chain of events that only serves to exacerbate the condition.
🧠 Whilst anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in childhood, Panic Disorder is rare in young children and, in most cases, begins during the teenage years. This is thought to be linked to changes that are happening in the brain at this key stage of development. Panic Disorder may occur in response to significant life events or extreme stress in a young person’s life. It can manifest in such a way that it causes significant disruption to an individual’s day-to-day life, resulting in panic attacks in response to everyday stressful events, particularly those that place more pressure on a young person, such as exams.
The symptoms of a panic attack might include:
👉 Breathing uncontrollably
👉 Feeling of not being able to catch a breath
👉 A racing or pounding heart
👉 Sweating
👉 Shaking or trembling uncontrollably
👉 A tightness in the throat
👉 Feeling dizzy or light-headed
👉 Feeling very cold or very hot
👉 An uncomfortable feeling or pain in the stomach or chest
👉 Nausea
👉 A sudden urge to use the toilet
👉 Ringing in the ears
👉 Feeling as if your mind is not connected to your body, often described as an odd feeling of being disconnected from your surroundings.
So, if any of this sounds familiar, head on over to the Parent Pad and read our blog in full to find out:
✨ How panic attacks are caused, including how the stress or panic response is activated in the brain.
✨ How to support your child with panic attacks or feelings of anxiety.
✨ Strategies you can try with your child at home.
✨ Where to go for further help, information and guidance.
https://www.theyouthfairy.com/panic-attacks-in-children/
[ Source: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/my-feelings/panic-attacks?gclid=CjwKCAiAgvKQBhBbEiwAaPQw3OP9OQgN_MLoYC3L956NfrdnFFsWSrPQ5ixHkG_NV0B1ykegWBzsLhoC0NkQAvD_BwE ]
