Melissa Goldstein, LCSW
PANIC DISORDER
in Children, Teenagers, and Adults
Panic disorder is a condition characterized by repeated, unpredictable panic attacks that can cause feelings of impending death, heart attack-like symptoms
Children, teens, or adults that are diagnosed with panic disorder suffer from panic attacks. They can become paralyzed with fear when there is no real danger. These attacks can happen anywhere or at anytime with no warning. Panic attacks can cause many feelings which can appear to feel as if one is having a heart attack or dying when they are not. Symptoms can vary but can include any one of the following: headaches, nausea, stomachaches, pains that can appear anywhere in the body, and dizziness.
Some individuals may scream, some may feel as if they cannot breathe. They can have chest pain and/or shortness of breath. At times they may feel that they want to escape the room they are in to try and get away from the panic that they are feeling. They can feel any/or all of these symptoms. It is not uncommon for them to avoid places associated with where they originally had their panic attacks fearing that they will have another attack. In addition, their thoughts are usually preoccupied with the fear of having more panic attacks.
