| Just like adults, children experience fear, anxiety and | | | | ï Chest pain or heart palpitation |
| apprehension. These are but normal emotional | | | | Different children of different ages or even of the |
| experiences that a person feels regardless of age. | | | | same age may manifest different symptoms. |
| However, if anxiety becomes irrational, recurring and | | | | Moreover, some of the symptoms given may be |
| severe, and anxiety attacks happen without any | | | | considered as a normal behavior of a child. Thus it is |
| apparent reason, and the reaction is disproportionate | | | | a bit tricky to determine if he or she is really having |
| to the problem at hand, it can be a cause of concern. | | | | an attack or not. What should be done is to |
| This is why on the first signs of problem, have your | | | | recognize these symptoms and consider them as a |
| child get proper diagnosis by a health professional to | | | | reason of concern, then help your child deal with |
| be able to rule out any possible causes and | | | | these symptoms through the following: |
| determine the right treatment to be applied. | | | | Seek help from health professional ñ Effectively |
| Since anxiety attack is a type of anxiety disorder, it | | | | stopping anxiety attacks begins with recognition and |
| is important to know what happens to a child who is | | | | followed by a compete diagnosis from your medical |
| suffering from such disorder. To be able to identify it, | | | | doctor. A full medical examination should be |
| here are the following symptoms: | | | | administered in order to rule out any other physical |
| ï Frequent feeling of fear and panic | | | | causes unrelated to anxiety. |
| ï Bed wetting | | | | Doctors usually give prescription medications to help |
| ï Tantrums and excessive crying | | | | relieve anxiety. If applicable, SSRI antidepressants |
| ï Fear of making mistakes | | | | may be needed for a long term solution. For a more |
| ï Fear of getting embarrassed | | | | severe case, doctors may refer the child to a |
| ï Avoidance of certain activities such as school | | | | psychologist. |
| event and summer camps | | | | Self-help techniques ñ Parents may seek the help |
| ï Nightmares and night terrors | | | | of books available for treating child anxiety. This is |
| ï Compulsive behaviors | | | | also very effective in teaching parents strategies for |
| ï Resistance to any change | | | | responsible parenting, which improve parent-child |
| ï Low self-esteem, lack of confidence | | | | relationship and help build child self-confidence and |
| ï Overly shy and difficulty making friends | | | | self-esteem. |
| ï Chronic physical symptoms such as stomach | | | | Play therapy ñ is the child version of exposure |
| aches or headaches without any apparent reason | | | | therapy. As an effective child anxiety treatment, play |
| A child is under an anxiety attack if he shows the | | | | therapy uses the power of play to simulate each |
| following symptoms: | | | | fearful situation in a controlled environment, which |
| ï Gush of overwhelming panic | | | | then helps the child face the problem and come up |
| ï Hot flashes or chills | | | | with a solution. |
| ï Trouble breathing or choking sensation | | | | Herbal medicines ñ is proven and effective means |
| ï Feeling of loosing control or going crazy | | | | of treating anxiety attacks and other types of |
| ï Feeling and fear of dying | | | | anxiety disorder. Some of the commonly |
| ï Feeling unreal or detach | | | | recommended remedies include passionflower, |
| ï Nausea or stomach cramps | | | | valerian, scuttelaria laterifolia (scullcap), California |
| ï Hyperventilation | | | | poppy, Melissa officinalis, hypericum perforatum (St. |
| ï Shaking or trembling | | | | John's Wort), hops and lavender. |
| ï Feeling like passing out | | | | |