3 Causes of Anxiety and Panic Attacks in Children You Should Know About
Anxiety is quite natural and children, like adults, have anxiety about any number of things, which they handle without any real problems. But, when children's anxiety is so intense, irrational and prolonged that it interferes with their ability to function properly at home, in school, etc., then it could be a 'disorder', such as general anxiety disorder (GAD). And a relatively small stressful event, on top of already heightened anxiety, can trigger a panic attack. Here you'll discover 3 potential causes of anxiety and panic attacks in children.
Sudden Changes in Lifestyle
Children like to feel safe and comfortable, with routines that they know and are used to. When this situation is changed dramatically they can become anxious and stressed. And when they aren't able to adapt quickly enough they can suffer anxiety and panic attacks. Typical of these changes are moving to a new school, moving to a new neighbourhood, etc.
Stressful Events or Situations
Children with already higher-than-normal levels of anxiety due to a problem home environment, school pressures, peer pressures, bullying, etc., when faced with what would normally be looked upon as an everyday stressful event, can suffer a panic attack. In other words, a relatively small increase in stress on top of higher anxiety can trigger a panic attack.
Separation Anxiety
Some children can develop a fear of being away from the comfort and perceived safety of their parents and home, e.g. attending nursery, being away on a cub scouts camp, etc. This is most obvious when the child is old enough to attend school. They will too regularly come up with reasons why they can't go, such as feeling ill, stomach pains, sore tooth, nausea, etc. Of course, this could also be due to bullying, so you should always follow through.
Underlying these causes is 'fear'; fear of the unknown, fear of change, etc. Now, once having suffered a panic attack, another fear is the fear of having another one, because panic attack symptoms are so alarming. But this fear itself can trigger another panic attack. It's a cycle of anxiety and fear that has to be broken in order to prevent further attacks, and, cure the general anxiety.
Sudden Changes in Lifestyle
Children like to feel safe and comfortable, with routines that they know and are used to. When this situation is changed dramatically they can become anxious and stressed. And when they aren't able to adapt quickly enough they can suffer anxiety and panic attacks. Typical of these changes are moving to a new school, moving to a new neighbourhood, etc.
Stressful Events or Situations
Children with already higher-than-normal levels of anxiety due to a problem home environment, school pressures, peer pressures, bullying, etc., when faced with what would normally be looked upon as an everyday stressful event, can suffer a panic attack. In other words, a relatively small increase in stress on top of higher anxiety can trigger a panic attack.
Separation Anxiety
Some children can develop a fear of being away from the comfort and perceived safety of their parents and home, e.g. attending nursery, being away on a cub scouts camp, etc. This is most obvious when the child is old enough to attend school. They will too regularly come up with reasons why they can't go, such as feeling ill, stomach pains, sore tooth, nausea, etc. Of course, this could also be due to bullying, so you should always follow through.
Underlying these causes is 'fear'; fear of the unknown, fear of change, etc. Now, once having suffered a panic attack, another fear is the fear of having another one, because panic attack symptoms are so alarming. But this fear itself can trigger another panic attack. It's a cycle of anxiety and fear that has to be broken in order to prevent further attacks, and, cure the general anxiety.