Children and teens with Panic Disorder experience unexpected and repeated panic attacks. This is typically followed by at least one month of concern about having additional attacks and/or a fear of something bad happening because of the panic attack (such as going crazy, losing control, or dying), and/or major changes in behaviour to avoid having another attack (e.g., avoiding exercise).
In addition to having panic disorder, many children and teens may also develop agoraphobia, although these two diagnoses can exist independently so that youth can have panic disorder, or agoraphobia, or both. Youth with agoraphobia experience significant fear of being in at least two locations where escape appears difficult or they might be unable to get help, and therefore will avoid these situations as much as possible. Examples of situations include, using public transportation, being in enclosed spaces, such as in theatres or stores, or riding in elevators; being in open spaces, such as soccer fields or bridges, or being outside the home alone, and more.
Facts
Although young children can have panic attacks, panic disorder typically emerges in late adolescence
Girls are more likely to experience both panic attacks and agoraphobia than boys, and thus are twice as likely than boys to develop either panic disorder or agoraphobia
Approximately 2% of teens have panic disorder and 2% have agoraphobia during the adolescent years
Children and teens with a family history of anxiety or depression are at greater risk for developing panic disorder
Problems associated with panic disorder and agoraphobia include low self-esteem, poor school performance, problems with peer and family relationships, difficulty separating from parents or transitioning from home to school, sleep problems, depression, as well as drug or alcohol use
Signs & Symptoms
A panic attack is a sudden rush of intense fear or discomfort, which reaches a peak within a few minutes and subsides within a few minutes. It includes at least four of the following physical sensations or thoughts:
Racing or pounding heart
Sweating
Shaking or trembling
Shortness of breath or feelings of being smothered
Feeling of choking
Chest pain or discomfort
Chills or hot flashes
Nausea or upset stomach
Dizziness or lightheadedness
A sense of things being unreal or feeling detached from oneself (derealization)
Numbness or tingling sensations
Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
Fear of dying
Culture specific symptoms, such as tinnitus or uncontollable screaming or crying, should not count as one of the four symptoms. In addition to the physical sensations and thoughts that occur in a panic attack, there are also a variety of common emotions and behaviors.
Emotions:
Anxiety/fear
Terror
Anger
Shame
Embarrassment
Helplessness
Behaviors:
Avoiding going to places where a panic attack has happened before
Carrying medicine, gum, or a water bottle
School refusal
Being in contact with a safety person by phone/text at all times
Skipping school
Sitting near an exit or in an aisle seat
Wearing loose, cool or less restrictive clothing
Avoiding exercise, caffeine or any activity that activates the body
Note:
Rates of panic attacks increase in adolescence, and having one does not mean that your child has panic disorder. Panic attacks become a problem when someone worries about having more attacks, or fears something bad will happen because of a panic attack. Also, panic attacks can occur in other anxiety disorders. For example, children or teens with a phobia of dogs might have a panic attack when they are near a dog. In this case, however, the panic attack is expected, and the child is afraid of the dog, not the panic attack. In panic disorder, the panic attacks are unexpected or there is no clear reason for the panic attack to have occurred.
Common Situations or Affected Areas
School attendance
Hanging out with friends
Going on field trips
Taking public transportation
Travel
Reduced independence
Reassurance seeking
How panic disorder and agoraphobia impacts the child at different ages
Children, especially if they are young, may have trouble describing their symptoms. Instead, they are more likely to talk about their physical symptoms such as pounding heart, upset stomach, chest pain, or nausea, rather than psychological symptoms, such as a fear of “going crazy”. For young children having a panic attack, they may suddenly become very frightened or upset for no clear reason. They may insist something is wrong or that something bad will happen; however, they may be unable to identify exactly what is going to happen. Rather, what you may notice is a change in behaviours such as being unusually clingy, crying, having tantrums, and refusal to do activities that were previously not an issue.
As children mature into adolescence, their skills at describing and expressing their feelings and internal experiences are generally more sophisticated than in young children. Thus, teens may be better at describing a panic attack than younger kids. Furthermore, “panic attack” is a common term used in Western society, so for many youth, they may already be familiar with this term and are able to state, “I had a panic attack,” and provide details. However, despite the shared use of this term, teens might be embarrassed by their symptoms, and may not want to openly discuss what is happening. In addition, not all children and teens are able to recognize that their behaviour is extreme or unreasonable given the situation. Gently supporting your adolescent in having the courage to share with you what is happening may be a good strategy, rather than telling them there is nothing to be afraid of.
Note: If you suspect that your child has Panic Disorder, it is advisable to take him or her to a family physician for a medical check-up. Medical problems (such as diabetes, inner-ear disorders, hypoglycemia, or thyroid problems), excessive caffeine use, or adverse reaction to medication (such as asthma medications) may be playing a role in your child’s anxiety or panic-like reactions.
My Anxiety Plan (MAPs)
MAP is designed to provide children/teens struggling with anxiety with practical strategies and tools to manage anxiety. To find out more, visit our My Anxiety Plan website.
Andrea’s Story Andrea is a 12-year-old girl, who lives with her parents and older brother. As a baby, she had terrible colic, often crying for hours on end, sleeping poorly, and ...
Ben’s Story Ben is 15 years old, and lives with his family in an apartment building in a large city center. Four months ago, while riding the elevator to his apartment, Ben ...
Ms. Jassal’s story Ms. Jassal is taking care of her 14-year-old granddaughter, Mina, after school and on weekends while her daughter gets her nursing degree. Her daughter has warned Ms. Jassal that ...
Main content
Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
Children and teens with Panic Disorder experience unexpected and repeated panic attacks. This is typically followed by at least one month of concern about having additional attacks and/or a fear of something bad happening because of the panic attack (such as going crazy, losing control, or dying), and/or major changes in behaviour to avoid having another attack (e.g., avoiding exercise).
In addition to having panic disorder, many children and teens may also develop agoraphobia, although these two diagnoses can exist independently so that youth can have panic disorder, or agoraphobia, or both. Youth with agoraphobia experience significant fear of being in at least two locations where escape appears difficult or they might be unable to get help, and therefore will avoid these situations as much as possible. Examples of situations include, using public transportation, being in enclosed spaces, such as in theatres or stores, or riding in elevators; being in open spaces, such as soccer fields or bridges, or being outside the home alone, and more.
Facts
Signs & Symptoms
A panic attack is a sudden rush of intense fear or discomfort, which reaches a peak within a few minutes and subsides within a few minutes. It includes at least four of the following physical sensations or thoughts:
Culture specific symptoms, such as tinnitus or uncontollable screaming or crying, should not count as one of the four symptoms. In addition to the physical sensations and thoughts that occur in a panic attack, there are also a variety of common emotions and behaviors.
Emotions:
Behaviors:
Note:
Rates of panic attacks increase in adolescence, and having one does not mean that your child has panic disorder. Panic attacks become a problem when someone worries about having more attacks, or fears something bad will happen because of a panic attack. Also, panic attacks can occur in other anxiety disorders. For example, children or teens with a phobia of dogs might have a panic attack when they are near a dog. In this case, however, the panic attack is expected, and the child is afraid of the dog, not the panic attack. In panic disorder, the panic attacks are unexpected or there is no clear reason for the panic attack to have occurred.
Common Situations or Affected Areas
How panic disorder and agoraphobia impacts the child at different ages
Children, especially if they are young, may have trouble describing their symptoms. Instead, they are more likely to talk about their physical symptoms such as pounding heart, upset stomach, chest pain, or nausea, rather than psychological symptoms, such as a fear of “going crazy”. For young children having a panic attack, they may suddenly become very frightened or upset for no clear reason. They may insist something is wrong or that something bad will happen; however, they may be unable to identify exactly what is going to happen. Rather, what you may notice is a change in behaviours such as being unusually clingy, crying, having tantrums, and refusal to do activities that were previously not an issue.
As children mature into adolescence, their skills at describing and expressing their feelings and internal experiences are generally more sophisticated than in young children. Thus, teens may be better at describing a panic attack than younger kids. Furthermore, “panic attack” is a common term used in Western society, so for many youth, they may already be familiar with this term and are able to state, “I had a panic attack,” and provide details. However, despite the shared use of this term, teens might be embarrassed by their symptoms, and may not want to openly discuss what is happening. In addition, not all children and teens are able to recognize that their behaviour is extreme or unreasonable given the situation. Gently supporting your adolescent in having the courage to share with you what is happening may be a good strategy, rather than telling them there is nothing to be afraid of.
Note: If you suspect that your child has Panic Disorder, it is advisable to take him or her to a family physician for a medical check-up. Medical problems (such as diabetes, inner-ear disorders, hypoglycemia, or thyroid problems), excessive caffeine use, or adverse reaction to medication (such as asthma medications) may be playing a role in your child’s anxiety or panic-like reactions.
My Anxiety Plan (MAPs)
MAP is designed to provide children/teens struggling with anxiety with practical strategies and tools to manage anxiety. To find out more, visit our My Anxiety Plan website.
Andrea’s Story
Andrea is a 12-year-old girl, who lives with her parents and older brother. As a baby, she had terrible colic, often crying for hours on end, sleeping poorly, and ...
Ben’s Story
Ben is 15 years old, and lives with his family in an apartment building in a large city center. Four months ago, while riding the elevator to his apartment, Ben ...
Ms. Jassal’s story
Ms. Jassal is taking care of her 14-year-old granddaughter, Mina, after school and on weekends while her daughter gets her nursing degree. Her daughter has warned Ms. Jassal that ...
Millie’s Story