Panic attacks are very rare in young children but are more common when a person is in their twenties. However, they are not totally absent in children and in many cases the disorders cannot be diagnosed in them. Panic attacks frequently occur without warning.

Children and adolescents with panic disorder have unexpected and repeated periods of intense fear or discomfort. Other symptoms of panic attacks can include pounding heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath, trembling, sense of unreality, fear of dying, or losing control.

Diagnosis

Very often panic disorder in children can be difficult to diagnose until many visits to physicians and multiple medical tests which are expensive and potentially painful. However, on the positive side when properly evaluated and diagnosed, panic disorder usually responds well to treatment. Children with symptoms of panic attacks should first be evaluated or examined by their family physician. If no other physical illness or condition is found as a cause for the symptoms, a comprehensive evaluation by a child psychiatrist must be obtained immediately. Most parents can know if their child has a problem with anxiety by simply asking the anxious children about their fears. The children will describe worries just like adults do and will avoid situations and activities.

Treatment

As regards treatment of panic disorders with children, several research studies are currently underway which have provided initial support for the efficacy of using cognitive behavioral treatment strategies with children and adolescents. Research has shown that children with panic disorder can benefit from treatments that have several components. According to it, children can be taught ways to identify and change dysfunctional thought patterns that serve to perpetuate fear. Children also can learn to identify "automatic anxious thoughts" that trigger physical feelings of panic, and learn to change these thoughts so that they are more realistic.

Essentially, the therapist teaches the child or adolescent "healthy thinking". Another component of panic treatment is exposure therapy, in which children are also taught specialized techniques for reducing their fear of their physical anxious feelings. The therapist guide the children in learning to utilize their skills to enter situations that they had formerly feared or avoided, and are taught to cope more adaptively with these situations. If you prefer not to visit a therapist just yet, then there is a very useful Stop Panic Attacks guide that will help you control your child's panic attacks.