For the longest time, panic attacks in teens have been mired with stereotypes and insufferable stigma. Teens struggling to cope with their anxiety and panic attacks are often dismissed as “acting up” or being the classic “moody” teenager. Worse, they are told that it’s “just in their heads”.
There are real dangers to these misconceptions – one of which is the fact that young people shy away from treatment due to fear of judgment and isolation from their family or friends.
This is why parents, guardians, and other adults around teenagers should take their time to read this guide. Here, we discussed the reality behind panic attacks, its symptoms, and what you can do to help when it strikes.
The real score on panic attacks in teens
A panic attack or anxiety attack is a mental health problem that causes a sudden and intense feeling of fear. It occurs suddenly and leads to an overwhelming and scary situation for teenagers and adults alike.
During a panic attack, a teenager may feel like they don’t have control over their bodies. They also experience a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, and other symptoms that we will discuss in detail later on. It can last for about 10 to 30 minutes in varying intensities.
There are many triggers to anxiety attacks in teenagers, and regardless of what your loved one is experiencing, they all equally cause serious distress.
In most cases, our clients suffering from panic attacks have a difficult situation at home, have experienced neglect or abuse, have recently lost a loved one, and or are being bullied at work or school.
Take note that triggers don’t always have to be a major life event. Others can be triggered by things like exams, changes in routine, enclosed spaces, loud noises, and even what they see on social media.
It’s very crucial to understand that teens and panic attacks aren’t a black-and-white situation. You have to help your loved one identify their triggers so they can avoid them or find ways to cope.
Most importantly, we want to remind everyone that panic attacks and anxiety are serious and very real mental health problems that should be – and can be – treated professionally like any other health issue.
Teenage panic attack symptoms
Teenage anxiety and panic attacks are not just a “teenage thing”. This is why parents and guardians should keep an eye out for the following symptoms to see if their loved ones are about to have or are currently experiencing a panic attack:
- Sudden and intense feelings of fear
- Intense feeling or verbalization of dread or danger
- Sweating and/or trembling
- Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
- Catching their breath
- Feeling they are choking
- Nausea and/or stomach discomfort
- Lightheadedness and/or dizziness
- Fear of losing control or going crazy
Take note that panic attacks aren’t an isolated problem. It often comes with lingering anxiety, which can manifest as constant worrying, difficulty concentrating, body aches, mood swings, restlessness, and even poor performance at school.
Without treatment, anxiety disorder can branch out into more serious mental health problems. And in some cases, it can lead to teen drug abuse.
How to help a teenager with anxiety and panic attacks
If you have a teenager dealing with panic attacks, here are ways to help them:
1. Have a heart-to-heart talk with them
First, have a sincere conversation with your child about their worries and anxious feelings. A simple conversation can do wonders on helping your teenager open up about what they are going through and it will also let you understand their condition even more.
Take note that telling your child to ‘stop thinking about it’ will do more harm than good. It’s important to provide them with validation that their panic attacks are serious matters and something that you’re willing to help them cope with.
2. Practice relaxation techniques with your teen
The next step you can take toward panic attack teenager treatment is to practice relaxation techniques with your child. You can offer to do meditation and deep breathing exercises with them, especially when they are experiencing lingering symptoms of anxiety.
Through this practice, your teen will learn how to focus on their breathing whenever they are having a panic attack. It will also help them regain their focus whenever they are getting distracted.
Above all, meditation techniques are a great way to help a teenager manage their anxiety and stress during uncomfortable situations.
3. Encourage good sleep hygiene
Teens with anxiety often have trouble sleeping. In turn, their sleep deprivation only worsens the risk of another panic attack.
With this, you should help them set a regular sleep schedule and make sure that their bedroom is comfortable and cozy. You should also help them reduce screen time at least an hour before their bedtime so they can relax their minds and fall asleep more easily.
4. Guide their social media use
Nowadays, social media is one of the leading causes of stress and mental health concerns among teenagers. According to an article from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, experts found that there’s been a rise in loneliness, sleeplessness, and worry among teenagers.
Such concern coincides with the boom in social media use among the young population. So much so that experts estimate that almost half of teenagers spend at least 5 hours a day on their electronic devices, which is one huge suicide risk factor.
As a parent or guardian, it will help a lot to monitor your teen’s use of electronic devices and their exposure to social media. You can come up with a screen time schedule or be more acquainted with their online activities.
Most importantly, always remind your teenager that what they see on social media isn’t always true and doesn’t always reflect real-life experiences.
5. Encourage them to get mental health support
The most effective way to navigate teenagers and panic attacks is to seek the help of a mental health professional. This is also the best course of action if you’re not seeing any improvement from your child after trying the previous steps.
Therapy modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can greatly help teens with anxiety. Nowadays, centers like LA Wellness Home offer in-person sessions to help your child regulate their behavior and emotions. Overall, this approach focuses on the behavioral aspect of anxiety, which is the root cause of panic attacks.
Aside from that, a mental health expert can also discuss possible medications to help your teenager manage their mental health concerns. Anti-anxiety medications are often prescribed to teens with severe forms of anxiety, which already get in the way of their daily lives.
Panic attacks in teenagers can be scary. LA Wellness Home is here to help you cope.
Panic attacks are overwhelming and scary for teenagers and their parents. Whether you’re a teen seeking help or a worried parent who needs guidance, you can always call LA Wellness Home for professional help.
At our Los Angeles rehab center, we have an expert team of medical doctors, psychiatrists, counselors, facilitators, licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), and more to help your child develop effective coping mechanisms against anxiety. We will be your support system to help you regain control of your life without panic attacks.
Aside from our comprehensive mental health programs, we also offer luxury drug rehab and alcohol rehab, making us one of the most holistic recovery centers in Los Angeles.
Be it mental health concerns or substance use disorders, contact us at LA Wellness Home! Our helpline is open 24/7 – all you have to do is reach out.
