1. Rule Out Medical CauseS
The first place to start in understanding why a teen would experience panic is to rule out any medical conditions. There are a number of medical conditions that can cause an individual to feel anxious and experience the symptoms of panic. Heart problems, respiratory or pulmonary problems can result in shortness of breath that can lead to anxiety. Anemia, vertigo or blood pressure problems can result in one feeling faint or dizzy. Problems with thyroid, glucose metabolism, and hormonal imbalances may cause one to experience heart palpitations. Circulatory problems may result in feelings of depersonalization, numbness or tingling along with feeling flushed or sweating. There can be overlap in the symptoms with these medical conditions. The symptoms of anxiety can involve shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, feelings of depersonalization, numbness, chest pains and nausea.
2. What Is Panic?
When a person feels panic, he may experience the individual symptoms mentioned above alone or in combination. He may also have a sense of losing control or going crazy of a fear of dying. The good news is that panic disorder, if it is not medically induced, can be easily remedied. In other words, a person can learn a new behavior and change the pattern that is causing them to experience panic. The place to start is to identify the individual triggers that result in feeling panic.
3. What Are the Triggers?
The reasons for the occurrence of panic can range from the simple to the complex. In cases where a teenager has experienced trauma, unraveling the triggers that cause panic can be a complicated matter. Understanding the life circumstances that led to the development of panic is an initial place to start. The brain stores information via the senses and memories are formed surrounding the input from the sensory modality. Memories are also connected to our emotions. Each of us has the potential for the "fight or flight" syndrome to be triggered when we perceive we are in danger. Sensory cues can trip the fight or flight response which may potentially result in panic. Sometimes the teen may recognize the cue, but at other times he may not. If all medical causes are ruled out, then therapy may help your teenager to identify whether the internal and external triggers. Getting a grasp on what triggers panic can effectively change a learned pattern of behavior and help the teenager overcome feelings of panic.
4. Panic in Teens
Not every episode of panic indicates a full blown panic disorder. When a person experiences repeated episodes of panic resulting in heightened anxiety that may be debilitating, then the diagnosis of panic disorder is considered. A variety of mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder and in some cases attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder can cause the teenager to experience panic. It is also critical to determine whether or not the episode(s) are related to drug or alcohol use. Adolescence is an age of development in which increased risk taking occurs, including substance use. When each of these questions pertaining to diagnosis is adequately answered, then a clear picture of what is going on can be outlined. Social and peer pressure may cause the teen to feel panicky. For most people, the fear of continued panic attacks and worrying about reoccurrence can take on a life of its own and be more debilitating that the incidents of a panic attack itself. It is important to get the necessary support to prevent the teen from isolation.
5. Solutions for Teen Panic
Addressing proper diet, nutrition, sleep and exercise is the foundation to healthy brain function, especially in a developing brain. Eliminating caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and sweeteners will make for a healthy start. It is critical to involve your teenager in a program of psycho-education in which they learn about the causes of pain, how it is treated and begin to engage with a trusted therapist. Teaching them ways to identify and control trigger behavior with confidence while increasing their belief in their ability to heal will put them on the right path. Providing social support for maintaining a healthy lifestyle is beneficial in all stages of life, but it's particularly important during the stressful teen years.
