| The awful truth is; panic attacks in children are much | | | | - trouble sleeping or constant nightmares |
| more prevalent than you may think. It is estimated that | | | | Panic attacks in children often times are extremely |
| nearly 5% of the world's children are suffering from | | | | difficult to detect. Because of our built in defense |
| some sort of anxiety disorder. The sad awful truth is: | | | | mechanisms, children sub consciously become very |
| over 75% of these disorders are either not recognized, | | | | adept at either shying away from, or avoiding their |
| or totally ignored by their parents, and are therefore | | | | phobia altogether. Often times, because of the child's |
| left untreated. There are literally hundreds of phobias | | | | ability to mask their problem, many parents are totally |
| listed from, ablutophobia (the fear of washing or | | | | unaware that their child is even suffering from any |
| bathing) to zoophobia (the fear of animals). If not | | | | type of anxiety disorder. Anxious children often times |
| recognized and treated, these panic disorders and their | | | | tend to be overly nervous, tense, or uptight and their |
| complications can be devastating. They affect your | | | | worries may interfere with many of their daily activities. |
| child's social growth as well as their schoolwork. | | | | Parents should never ignore their child's fears. Often |
| Panic attacks in children generally come without any | | | | times because anxious children have a tendency to be |
| type of warning and are described as: unexpected | | | | quiet, compliant, and eager to please, their symptoms |
| periods of intense fear or discomfort. They may last | | | | can easily be overlooked. |
| anywhere from a few moments to several hours. | | | | Parents need to be vigilant and alert to any of the |
| Anxiety attacks tend to have more of an affect on | | | | signs of severe anxiety so they are prepared to |
| children than most adults. An adult has a much easier | | | | intervene as quickly as possible to prevent further |
| time understanding the fact that panic attacks are not | | | | complications. Early treatment for panic attacks in |
| normally life threatening, whereas, a child's view of the | | | | children can prevent many of the more serious |
| symptoms may cause them to become desperately | | | | complications of panic disorder such as; agoraphobia, |
| afraid. The awful truth is; panic attacks affect children | | | | depression and substance abuse. These are very |
| from all walks of life, all races, cultural backgrounds and | | | | serious, deeply rooted issues, that will definitely |
| genders. Some of the major symptoms of these | | | | negatively affect your child's quality of life and well |
| attacks may include: | | | | being. Panic attacks in children are very treatable. If |
| - Shortness of breath or a feeling of being smothered | | | | you even think your child has any type of phobia, do |
| - Racing or pounding heartbeat | | | | your due diligence and learn all you can. There is a |
| - Dizziness or lightheadedness | | | | wealth of information on the Internet as well as a large |
| - refusing to go to school | | | | array quality, low cost products available that can help |
| - being overly clingy | | | | your child. If necessary seek medical assistance. As a |
| - panic or tantrums at times of separation from their | | | | parent you owe it to your child's well being. |
| parents | | | | |