Panic attacks in adolescents treatment. Panic attacks and hormones. What diseases can be combined with panic attacks

Panic attacks can cause sudden muscle contractions, resulting in early miscarriage. Also, panic attacks are often accompanied by agoraphobia - a condition that causes fear of large crowds of people. This phobia is one of the types of insurmountable fears. It significantly disrupts the ability of a pregnant woman to social adaptation. Agoraphobia occurs due to unexplained panic attacks in crowded places, for example, in the subway, in a restaurant or in a store. As a result of this, the pregnant woman, at the subconscious level, associates the origin of the attack with a certain place or with a specific situation, and begins to avoid public places, fearing to be helpless in a crowd of strangers. In addition, bouts of unreasonable anxiety and fear can lead to the development of depression. That is, to a pathology of a psychological nature, in which, due to impaired social adaptation, the emotional state decreases.

Thus, the treatment of panic attacks in pregnant women should be carried out without fail. Otherwise, this condition can lead to serious complications and consequences.

Symptoms

Until puberty, panic attacks in children may not occur. Many symptoms of the disease develop against the background of somatic problems. There are several signs of a panic attack, including:

feeling of causeless anxiety and inexplicable fear;
increased heart rate;
increased sweating;
suffocation;
tremor, internal trembling;
frequent urination, and after the completion of the attack - abundant urination of a light shade;
nausea;
diarrhea;
loss in space;
skin numbness;
pain in the left side of the sternum.

Diagnosis of a panic attack in a child

A medical examination is used to diagnose a panic attack in a child. Perform it in order to exclude the pathological causes of the symptoms of this condition. Screening is also carried out to identify anxiety disorders, against which the disease could develop. Among them are social phobias and OCD. A panic attack is often not a primary, but a secondary problem of a disease, so for its treatment it is important to find out the presence of provoking factors and first eliminate them.

Complications

With timely treatment of panic attacks in a child, the prognosis is quite favorable. If the disease is not treated, dramatic changes can occur in the behavior of a teenager. If the disease is accompanied by agoraphobia, the child will avoid society. Children prone to panic attacks often drop out of school, avoid people, become recluses. In some cases, this leads to suicide.

Often panic disorder for no apparent reason softens or is expressed less frequently and vividly. Spontaneous remission periods can last quite a long time, but after them the attacks are usually even more severe. Therefore, it is imperative to show the child to the doctor, otherwise panic attacks can cause even more complex mental disorders.

Treatment

What can you do

Parents whose child is prone to panic attacks should not sit still. The task of parents is to show the child to the doctor. If the problem is related to the emergence of anxiety disorders, the doctor will give advice and teach parents relaxation techniques that help cope with stressful situations. In the future, this technique will need to be taught to the child. In the case of medical pathologies, parents will need to follow the doctor's advice and direct all their efforts to treat the child.

What does a doctor do

The treatment of panic attacks in a child is complex. It usually includes medication and behavioral therapy. The most effective drugs for children are benzodiazepines. But for many children, SSRIs are preferred because benzodiazepines impair the child's memory and learning abilities. But these drugs act more slowly.

Behavioral therapy is used mainly if, in addition to panic attacks, the child has all the signs of agoraphobia. This disorder is practically not amenable to drug therapy.

The factors provoking panic attacks in a child are always determined by the doctor. He also determines which treatment is suitable for the child. Usually, the doctor tells parents how to behave during an attack and, after establishing a diagnosis, prescribes a therapy regimen.

Prevention

How to protect your child from panic attacks? For this, a number of preventive measures should be taken:

Minimize the amount of stress in a child's life.
Undergo regular examinations by doctors to exclude cardiovascular, oncological, endocrine diseases. And if they are detected, start the treatment of pathologies on time.
Teach your child to live the right way. The absence of bad habits, a balanced diet, physical activity - all this helps to prevent physiological and psychological pathologies. You need to tell your child about this.
Teach your child to resist negative environmental influences. To develop in him the ability to adequately perceive what is happening around him, to be tolerant of himself and other people.
Regularly visit the fresh air, do not let the child overwork.

If children have already experienced panic attacks, they often have a strong fear of a repetition of this episode. To prevent this condition, you need to teach the child to adapt to the changed conditions. Specialists can also help with this: parents can show their child to a psychologist.

We complete the topic regarding panic attacks and talk about their treatment at home. In these cases, the main thing is not in taking medications or hoping for their help, but in methods of non-drug correction.

Relaxation helps with a series of deep breaths and exhalations, when you concentrate on breathing and imagine it as lungs, and then your whole body will be saturated with oxygen that is useful for cells. In parallel, you can repeat any phrases that can calm you down. These may be the attitudes “I am fine, I am calm” or “now I will calm down and pull myself together.” After such a session, heaviness in the head should not be felt, on the contrary, this leads to clarity of mind and a feeling of vigor in the body. The technique of relaxation through tension can also help. For this method, it is necessary to sit on a chair or chair, unbuttoning all clothing that tightens and restricts movement. It is necessary to stretch the toes and strain the foot and calves. You need to hold your legs in this position, then relax them. Leaning on the floor with your heels, lifting your toes up, tighten your spots and calves, hold your legs in this position for at least 10 seconds, then relax. Next, it is worth raising straight legs parallel to the floor, holding them in tension for 10 seconds and lowering. Meditation techniques can also help, but they need to be learned and practiced constantly in order to learn how to control the body and thoughts.

Sports can be an excellent source of positive emotions and endorphins, natural hormones of pleasure. Cycling, running or rollerblading, skating and skiing, swimming or dancing will help keep the body in good shape, helping to fight stress. Daily jogging will help you fight stress and become a source of recovery. Muscle relaxation based on the principles of self-hypnosis, yoga or tension with relaxation, visualization techniques, when you imagine your body parts relaxed, will also be useful.

Classes to increase stress resistance with an increase in the level of self-esteem, the rejection of comparing oneself with others and non-constructive criticism, fixing one's achievements and choosing bright attractive clothes help. You need to learn how to refuse people, get rid of worries about the mistakes you have made, it is useful to watch humorous programs - laughter is a source of positive emotions and fights stress. It is important to find a hobby to your liking so that it causes positive emotions and satisfaction. Refresher courses and new knowledge, art therapy, coloring, drawing can help. You also need to get enough sleep, it is useful to keep a personal diary, it is worth writing down for yourself in which of the situations seizures occur, what emotions provoke certain symptoms. This will help in analyzing the situation together with a psychotherapist and eliminating these factors.

What is important in nutrition?
It is important to reduce the intake of coffee, alcohol, black tea and smoking, they have a powerful stressful effect; you should also not skip meals, lowering blood glucose levels is not good for the brain, which is subject to mental attacks. Particular attention should be paid to herbal medicine, from time to time it is worth taking teas or decoctions of lime blossom, lemon balm, motherwort, chamomile flowers or valerian root. You can also take baths with hop cones. For the prevention of panic attacks, foods high in vitamin C will be useful - these are citrus fruits, sweet peppers, rosehip broth, kiwi and apples, as well as magnesium contained in avocados, dried apricots, brown rice, bananas and legumes, zinc - from beef, turkey , whole grain cereals. Useful and calcium in the form of cottage cheese and cheese, salmon, dairy products. However, there may be restrictions for these products when combined with certain drugs.

If a psychiatrist establishes a diagnosis of panic attacks, the method of their treatment with the help of various drugs follows from it. These include tranquilizers in the form of diazepam, signopam or dormicum, drugs of tricyclic antidepressants in the form of desipramine, melipramine, anafranil. Antiderpessants that inhibit special enzymes are also prescribed - these are pyrazidol, aurorix. During their intake, it is necessary to follow a special diet with the exception of legumes, cheeses, alcohol and sauerkraut. Antidepressants that inhibit serotonin reuptake may be indicated - Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Fevarin, Cipramil and nootropic drugs in the form of glycine, mexidol, lecithin and pyritinol. Dosages in each case are selected only by a doctor. They will need to be taken strictly according to the scheme prescribed by a specialist, and their abrupt cancellation is dangerous with exacerbations.

Psychotherapeutic methods of treatment are actively used to treat panic attacks. These include body-oriented therapy and psychoanalysis, gestalt therapy and neuro-linguistic programming, systemic family therapy, and even hypnosis. The doctor will select the methods listed or others that will be relevant in each case.

Panic attacks in children.
Although panic attacks in children who have not yet reached adolescence are rare, they are quite possible. Both girls and boys equally suffer from them, especially those who have such traits as responsibility and shyness, often feel anxiety, and can be fixed in their experiences. The reasons for attacks can be stressful conditions - divorce of parents or moving, quarrels, relationships in the class or with the opposite sex. The greatest peak of the attack is reached by the age of 15-18 years, in the period of puberty. Attacks in children at preschool age can manifest themselves in the form of acute respiratory attacks - respiratory arrests that occur without fever, without the presence of chills or wheezing in the breath. Symptoms of attacks in older children or adolescents can be rapid breathing and heartbeat, sweating with chills, increased pressure, a feeling of crawling through the body during periods of intense fear.

Against the background of seizures, children may complain of abdominal pain or headaches, often during periods of anxiety and stress, they may develop vomiting and diarrhea, and seizures end with copious urine. Girls often have a violation of the body scheme, as well as the formation of a haze through which they see the world around them as if in a veil. Often there may be increased breathing with clouding of consciousness, transient asymmetries in the face, arching of the torso and impossibility of movement. The diagnosis will be established only by a psychiatrist after the exclusion of all possible organic and mental disorders. In panic disorder, children will avoid certain situations or places, but their social activities will not suffer. Before contacting a psychiatrist, epilepsy, meningitis, heart pathologies and problems with the blood circulation of the brain will be excluded. In the periods between crises and seizures, children may develop phobias and passing pain syndromes, problems with vision or hearing.

More articles on the topic "Disorders of the nervous system":

Panic attacks are a neuropsychiatric disease that is psychological in nature but has physical consequences.

Panic attack syndrome is a very sudden triggered or causeless uncontrollable attacks of fear, accompanied by panic. People with this syndrome often experience nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, or some kind of phobia.

By themselves, panic attacks do not harm a person, however, because of them, a huge amount of stress hormones is released in the body, which already directly cause diseases: neuroses with their consequences, migraines, epilepsy, fainting, problems with the cardiovascular system, neuralgia, limb failure syndrome, etc.

In addition to the consequences for physical health, panic in certain situations can lead to serious accidents.

Mentally, this syndrome can cause irreversible personality changes, a large set of phobias, and mental illness.

In the social sphere, there is also damage and a violation of the patient's socialization.

Panic attacks in children can occur only with the final setting of consciousness with some differences in the causes of occurrence and consequences from the same ailment in an adult.

The symptoms of the manifestation of the disease in children are the same as in an adult: reckless sudden fear, panic, horror with all the ensuing consequences in the form of a rapid heartbeat, adrenaline rush, etc., and the duration of the attacks is usually short, no more than twenty minutes.

For children, very rare panic attacks are the norm or a feature of the development of the psyche, as well as its adaptation in the unexplored world around. It is worth sounding the alarm with an immediate visit to the doctor if the attacks last more than ten minutes, are accompanied by fainting, the child is unable to control himself at such moments or is too scared, terrified. Also, pathology is their too frequent manifestation, even in a weak form.

In young children, the standard symptoms of panic attacks are often accompanied by an increase in urine pressure and impaired intestinal motility, so often with a strong fright, small children can roll around, urinate, or begin to burp. With severe stress, such a reaction is normal, however, if this happens for minor reasons, you need to see a doctor, perhaps the child has problems with the psyche or nervous system, which sends too strong signals or reacts too violently.

Often, attacks of fear do not have a rational explanation, but sometimes a child can associate them with a certain place or action, during which the first breakdown occurred and he begins to develop phobias.

Causes of panic attacks in children and adolescents

In adults, the vast majority of panic attacks are associated with chronic stress, overwork, internal contradictions or unresolved conflicts, mental illness, disorders of the autonomic nervous system, plus some physiological conditions and phobias.

Child has panic attacks , while they are within certain limits, they are to some extent the norm of development and are present in one or another quantity in all children. Probably, all parents noticed when a small child runs away, hides when the doorbell rings, although he knows exactly who is behind her, loves and waits for this person very much, or, for example, has a need to build small houses or hide.

Perhaps these are the remnants of the unconditioned survival reflexes of cubs that have been preserved since the time of the first people, or perhaps they are a natural protective reaction of the undeformed nervous system and human consciousness.

Also, the majority of panic attacks is the lack of complete sufficient information about the world around the child's brain. Therefore, the subconscious is reinsured, triggering the natural protective mechanism of a person - fear, which is amplified due to disruption of the autonomic nervous system or an incorrect analysis of the situation.

The syndrome of panic attacks in a baby can be caused by a lack of parental attention or family problems in relations between parents or loved ones, when he feels their vulnerability and does not feel safe.

Excessive hyper-custody has a similar effect on the young psyche, when the little man is subconsciously inspired by his parents that the whole world is dangerous, and he is vulnerable both physically (you can catch a cold, don’t fall, be careful) and morally, which is further enhanced by the irritation of a child dissatisfied with such behavior.

Interpersonal conflict is also characteristic of children, moreover, its most popular variants are: I want to, but I can’t, or I don’t want to, but I have to.

Hyperactivity of the nervous system.

Emotional isolation of children when they are not given enough attention from their parents or their relationship with any of the family members is broken.

Severe stress caused by an event or a long-term negative impact on both health and the psyche.

A panic attack can be triggered by an immature and inexperienced nervous system reacting to some physical illness that the brain subconsciously perceives as a threat to life. At the same time, the child will not even understand why it became scary for him.

Panic attacks in teenagers

Panic attacks in adolescents have a more pathological significance and are also often manifested. It can be said that adolescents are children by their very nature, who are already participating in adult life. Therefore, while preserving the childish mentality, they are already exposed to adult stress.

The etiology of teenage panic attacks is a combination of purely childish causes of their occurrence and adults: stress, overstrain, psychological problems acquired by this time, especially many unresolved interpersonal conflicts at this age.

Plus, there are certain teenage causes of panic attacks:

hormonal fluctuations,
Periods of rapid growth, when too sudden changes in the brain can be taken as a threat to life and health.
Problems of establishing one's social status.
A large number of certain physiological states: the first menstruation, the first sexual contact, the first love, etc.
Chronic and psychological disorders acquired by this time.
Mental instability.

Sequelae of panic attacks in children

Panic attacks in children do not cause as many problems with physical health as in an adult, but many times they make up for lost time on the part of the psyche.

A neglected syndrome of panic attacks in a child causes an incorrect mental development, as well as a violation of socialization.

During the period of growth and formation of personality, it is very easy to influence this process. Children are much more susceptible to stress and more prone to the formation of a huge number of phobias and complexes. The future algorithm of the child’s relationship with society is also being laid, which, due to periodic panics with a negative reaction of peers to them, can be disrupted, giving rise to a closed, unsociable, suspicious personality, which will subsequently become an aggressive and lonely person.

Treatment

Treatment with the prevention of panic attacks in children follows the same principles as in adults, by creating comfort and a favorable moral atmosphere. The use of drugs is not recommended, however, a noticeable, but not intrusive presence of parents in his life is extremely important. A child of any age should always feel protected, complete, successful, and most importantly, loved.

Considering that in childhood the future psyche of a person is laid, on the basis of which he will build his life, the well-being of which will depend on her health, with the slightest deviations in this area, it is necessary to consult a psychologist, as well as conduct periodic psychological control, for which in most children's institutions have full-time psychologists.

A panic attack is a state of increased excruciating anxiety combined with fear and unpleasant somatic symptoms. Similar phenomena appear precisely in adolescence, when the human nervous system is very vulnerable.

This question is within the competence of psychologists and psychotherapists, and not some other doctors. Therefore, if panic attacks occur too often and interfere with a fulfilling life, you should seek the advice of an appropriate specialist.

In adolescence, a person is faced with the problem of becoming a person, but still cannot clearly define his views and goals. Many factors put pressure on him - criticism of teachers and parents, communication with peers, the influence of the Internet and the street.

Negative experiences accumulate and provoke sudden outbursts of negative emotions. It is difficult even for a mature person to control panic attacks, while teenagers endure such a condition especially hard.

panic attack has following symptoms:

confusion of thoughts, loss of control over speech and emotions;
heavy breathing, shortness of breath;
frequent pulse, pressure surges;
tremor, trembling, chills;
sweating;
nausea and dizziness;
numbness of the limbs;
dry mouth, pale skin;
fear of going crazy or dying.

A person may show several signs at once, as well as insomnia, depression, and a depressed state. In this case, the internal tension can persist for quite a long time. This phenomenon cannot be ignored. because it can end in a nervous breakdown or even suicide. In adolescence, a person begins to perceive the world as hostile, feels lonely and abandoned.

Panic creates unfounded fears which often develop into serious phobias. Panic attacks in adolescents are facilitated by behavioral stereotypes imposed from childhood. When a child tries to express emotions, parents scold him, saying - "shut your mouth!" or “stop crying!”.

At an older age, they teach him that in any situation you need to behave with restraint and decently. Most parents conduct such education in a raised voice, in a rude, frightening form. As a result child's self-esteem drops, he is afraid to express his opinion, to prove himself in society. It suppresses feelings and emotions, which in the future results in panic attacks.

Often seemingly quiet and calm teenagers commit stupid spontaneous acts, show aggression and cruelty.

Adults believe that such behavior is not typical for them, however, such manifestations most often occur in notorious adolescents, such “gray mice”. The volcano of constantly suppressed emotions must find a way out somewhere.. A good option could be sports sections, dancing or other activities that require physical activity. Thus, a teenager throws out spiritual negativity and tension through the body.

Psychologists consider creativity to be a good way to transform emotions.. It allows you to get rid of experiences, giving them a different form (music, poetry, prose, paintings). If a teenager does not find ways to release his emotions, they destroy him from exhaustion. Against this background, conflicts arise with parents, teachers, friends and relatives. It is difficult for a teenager to figure out who supports him and who is trying to harm him. Often he compensates for disharmony with alcohol and drugs.

Panic attacks are much more common in girls than in boys. This is explained by the female gender is naturally more sensitive and emotional. Do not take this as a ladies' whims. If a girl has become nervous, tearful, her mood and desires often change - this is an alarm signal for both parents and the teenager himself.

The prognosis for the treatment of such conditions is good. It is possible to get rid of them without resorting to medications. Sometimes a few conversations with a psychologist are enough. However, a favorable outcome is possible only if there is a trusting relationship between parents and the child. After all, an unhealthy family environment is the first factor in the development of neuroses and other mental disorders in adolescents. If parents do not pay due attention to the child, do not seek to understand and hear him, he finds solace in dubious companies and subcultures.

What if a panic attack did happen?

It should be remembered that it can arise quite suddenly, so you need to be prepared to meet it. Here are some ways to fight with a panic attack

Breath control

Try to slow down your breathing so that its frequency does not exceed 4-5 breaths per minute. Place your hands on your upper abdomen. It is better to close your eyes while doing this. You can practice this exercise at home in a relaxed environment.

red herring

You can remember something pleasant or even funny. Of course, it is very difficult to switch from a negative state, but you should turn your thoughts in a different direction, stop thinking about what actually caused the attack.

Eat something or drink (but not alcohol). It is necessary to break the vicious circle of panic by shifting the attention of the body to other actions.

The periods between panic attacks can be characterized by a complete absence of negative symptoms, as well as chronic anxiety and tension. Blocking panic manifestations with sedatives only exacerbates the problem.

Need a professional correction of a psychologist. In adolescence, it is generally not recommended to take any medication in the fight against psychological disorders. The instability of the nervous system of adolescents is a natural phenomenon that can be regulated without the help of pharmacology.

It is important to replace the disorder in time and start effective therapy, otherwise such phenomena are fraught with severe depression, which can break a person from the inside. Chronic neuroses severely limit personal development and significantly reduce the quality of life.

If you have children, and one of them has the symptoms listed below, then you should think about it and possibly go to a child psychoneurologist. It will be useful.

The article is written in medical language, but now all parents are literate. If a word is not clear to you, ask me or look for the meaning on the Internet. Reading questions for me.

Panic attacks in children are a manifestation of violations in the delicate and fragile psyche, which are most often generated by fears of various etiologies.

They are based on early socialization, exorbitant psycho-emotional stress, increased sensitivity. Identification of the "culprits", timely assistance to a person undergoing the process of formation, are the key to his strong mental health and harmonious development.

Causes of PA

The origin of panic attacks in little fidgets may be due to:

With increased anxiety and excessive guardianship of parents who are intensely in control of school life, health and personal time of their child.
With upbringing in a family where the father and / or mother are in any form of chemical dependence (drug addiction, alcoholism).
With psychotraumatic events that arise in life - divorce of parents, moving, etc.
With unhealthy, conflicting relationships in the family.
With childhood phobias: fear of the dark, fear of separation from the mother, etc.

The causative factors for the appearance of deep, "animal" fears in a child at the age of 5 and a little older often become the harshness and severity of the parents. They can also be the result of a loss of warmth in relations between adults and a small person, “covering” his feeling (especially at night) of insecurity. It is very important for moms and dads to take into account that it is during this period that a child has a claim through the love and approval of elders to confirm his own significance.

Psychologists note that in a child from the age of 7, uncontrollable fears are often associated with a different, new environment, as he begins to attend school. His environment changes, an important person appears in his life - a teacher who can be quite strict. Fear of doing the wrong thing can lead to severe mental discord, which ends in a painful attack.

In adolescence, vegetative-vascular dystonia and PA are provoked by chronic ailments. This time is also often associated with a "riot" of hormones that cause arrhythmia, tachycardia and bradycardia. Doctors have noticed that with VVD, older children often convulsively listen to the heartbeat, and during panic attacks, they may additionally experience a fear of stopping the myocardium.

Symptoms of panic attacks

Moments of panic attacks in children occur spontaneously, without any apparent reason. They do not pose a threat to the lives of children, are characterized by vegetative disorders, including:

feeling of drying out of the mouth;
pallor of the epithelium;
increased anxiety;
hypertension;
increased sweating;
ringing in the ears and fog before the eyes;
trembling, numbness of the limbs.

In children during an attack, there is often a tremor of the eyelids and lips, pain in the chest, dizziness. Also, with PA, they may experience nausea that is not related to nutrition. Often the attack ends suddenly, accompanied by significant urination (light-colored urine with a low relative density). Since children cannot always explain their condition, point out painful areas, as well as a variety of symptoms, the anomaly is not always diagnosed on time.

note: The peculiarity of panic attacks in a small person is often associated with his lack of experience in life, so he cannot understand and accept his condition. It is important for parents not to leave the baby alone with excruciating fears, even for a short time.

How to treat, so as not to harm

Treatment of PA in children is aimed at alleviating the course of painful attacks. To exclude any other pathology that may have similar symptoms with panic attacks, the child must be examined by a general practitioner, a neuropathologist and a cardiologist.

Psychotherapy is considered the most effective method, especially if a child has had a panic attack more than once. Panic attacks may include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. It teaches you to “catch” panic thoughts in time, to replace them with positive ones. It gives children the opportunity to understand their fear, to explain it to adults.
Therapy is emotionally oriented. It is aimed at developing positive thinking in even very young patients.
Art therapy. Allows psychologists to see the fears and anxieties of their patients through the drawing. Helps to relieve their accumulated stress in a short time.

Another type of treatment is medication. In order not to aggravate the anomalies, pharmacological drugs are prescribed exclusively by physicians, taking into account all the characteristics of the child, the nature of panic attacks. In particular, they are shown in the early stages and/or with particularly severe characteristics of the ongoing processes.

Prevention of diseases in children

What to do in order to protect a growing person from panic fear?

Firstly, you should be with the child in the warmest possible relationship, in every possible way protect him from stress, do not overstrain.
Secondly, it is very delicate to teach him to adequately relate to a different environment, new people, ongoing events, even if they do not like it.
Thirdly, it is necessary to maintain and raise his self-esteem all the time.

It is important for parents to identify panic attacks in children in time, understand their causes, and treat them properly. It is very important to have an action plan that is agreed with the doctors. Remember that even small fears in a child's life tend to turn into more complex problems.