Panic attacks in children and adults share similar core features—sudden onset of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms—but they differ significantly in how they’re experienced, expressed, and understood. Children often cannot articulate what’s happening during a panic attack and may focus more on physical symptoms like stomach aches or feeling like they can’t breathe, while adults typically recognize the psychological component of overwhelming fear and can better describe their experience.
For families in Fairfax, Virginia, understanding these differences is crucial for recognizing panic disorder symptoms and seeking appropriate treatment. Specialized care for panic disorder across all age groups is available through evidence-based programs, including the intensive outpatient program in Vienna, Virginia, which serves individuals aged 8 and older with proven approaches to treating panic attacks and panic disorder.
What Do Panic Attacks Look Like in Children and Teens?
Panic attacks in children often present as sudden episodes of intense physical symptoms that the child cannot explain or understand. Young children may describe feeling like they’re going to throw up, can’t catch their breath, or feel like something terrible is about to happen without being able to identify what that might be. They may cry, cling to parents, or seek immediate escape from wherever they are when the panic attack occurs.
Children experiencing panic attacks frequently focus on the physical sensations rather than the fear component. They may complain of chest pain, dizziness, hot or cold flashes, or feeling like their heart is beating too fast. The inability to understand what’s happening often increases their distress and can lead to additional fears about having another episode.
Behavioral Signs of Panic in Children
During a panic attack, children may become very still and quiet, or conversely, extremely agitated and unable to sit still. They might repeatedly ask for reassurance, want to go home immediately, or become clingy and refuse to be separated from parents. Some children may have difficulty speaking or may become very pale or flushed.
How Children Describe Their Experience
Children often use concrete, physical descriptions when talking about panic attacks. They might say their chest feels “funny,” their stomach feels “weird,” or they feel like they’re “going to die” without understanding why. Younger children may not have the vocabulary to describe psychological symptoms and instead focus on bodily sensations.
How Are Panic Attacks Different in Kids vs Adults?
The primary difference between pediatric and adult panic attacks lies in cognitive understanding and symptom interpretation. Adults typically recognize that they’re experiencing intense fear or anxiety, even if they can’t control it, while children may only be aware of frightening physical sensations without understanding the psychological component.
Adults often develop anticipatory anxiety about future panic attacks and may begin avoiding situations where previous attacks occurred. Children, lacking this cognitive framework, may develop more generalized fears or phobias related to the location or circumstance where the panic attack happened, without making the connection to their anxiety response.
Cognitive Differences in Panic Experience
Adults can usually identify thoughts that contribute to their panic, such as fear of losing control, having a heart attack, or embarrassing themselves. Children typically don’t make these cognitive connections and instead experience panic as an unexplained physical emergency that feels life-threatening.
Recovery and Aftermath Patterns
After a panic attack, adults often want to understand what happened and may seek medical attention or try to identify triggers. Children may simply want comfort and reassurance that they’re safe, without showing curiosity about the cause or meaning of their experience.
What Triggers Panic Attacks in Young People?
Panic attacks in children and teenagers can be triggered by various factors including academic stress, social pressures, family changes, or traumatic experiences. However, many panic attacks appear to occur without obvious triggers, which can be particularly confusing for both children and parents trying to understand why these episodes happen.
Common triggers for pediatric panic attacks include school-related stress such as tests or presentations, social situations like parties or group activities, separation from parents, and physical sensations that remind them of previous panic episodes. Some children develop panic attacks in specific locations or situations where they previously felt trapped or overwhelmed.
Physical Triggers and Sensitivities
Children may be more sensitive to physical sensations that can trigger panic attacks, such as rapid heartbeat from exercise, feeling overheated, or experiencing hunger or fatigue. These normal bodily sensations can be misinterpreted as dangerous, leading to a panic response.
Environmental and Social Triggers
School environments, crowded places, performance situations, or any setting where the child feels scrutinized or unable to escape easily can trigger panic attacks. Family stress, changes in routine, or exposure to frightening news or media content can also contribute to panic attack development.
How is Panic Disorder Treated in Children and Adolescents?
Treatment for panic disorder in children involves age-appropriate cognitive behavioral therapy that helps young people understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. Therapists work with children to develop coping strategies for managing panic symptoms and gradually expose them to feared sensations in a controlled, safe environment.
The intensive outpatient program approach has shown exceptional success in treating panic disorder across age groups, with clients achieving an average 64% symptom reduction—the highest rate in the country. For children and teens, treatment focuses on education about panic attacks, relaxation techniques, and building confidence in their ability to handle anxiety symptoms.
Teaching Children About Their Body’s Alarm System
Effective treatment helps children understand that panic attacks are their body’s alarm system responding to a false emergency. Using age-appropriate language and metaphors, therapists teach children that while panic attacks feel scary, they’re not dangerous and will pass on their own.
Family-Based Treatment Approaches
Treatment for childhood panic disorder typically involves significant family participation. Parents learn how to respond helpfully during panic attacks, how to avoid accommodating avoidance behaviors, and how to support their child’s practice of coping skills at home.
Supporting Children During and After Panic Attacks
When a child experiences a panic attack, parents should remain calm, offer reassurance without dismissing the child’s experience, and help them focus on breathing slowly and steadily. It’s important to avoid rushing to the emergency room unless there are genuine medical concerns, as this can reinforce the child’s belief that panic attacks are dangerous.
After the panic attack passes, parents should provide comfort while encouraging the child to gradually return to normal activities. Avoiding situations where panic attacks occurred can worsen the problem by reinforcing fear and limiting the child’s opportunities to learn that they can cope with anxiety.
What NOT to Do During a Child’s Panic Attack
Avoid telling the child to “calm down” or “just relax,” as this can increase their distress. Don’t ask lots of questions during the attack or try to reason with them about whether their fears are realistic. Avoid immediately removing them from the situation unless absolutely necessary, as this can reinforce avoidance patterns.
Building Long-Term Coping Skills
Help children develop a plan for managing panic symptoms, including breathing techniques, grounding exercises, and positive self-talk. Regular practice of these skills when the child is calm helps them access these tools more easily during anxious moments.
When to Seek Professional Help
Professional evaluation is recommended when panic attacks occur repeatedly, significantly interfere with the child’s daily activities, or lead to persistent avoidance of normal childhood experiences. If your child begins refusing to attend school, participate in activities, or go places where they previously had panic attacks, it’s time to seek specialized treatment.
Parents should also seek help if panic attacks are accompanied by other concerning symptoms such as depression, if the child expresses fears about dying or losing control, or if family life becomes significantly disrupted by accommodating the child’s panic-related avoidance behaviors.
Emergency vs. Treatment Situations
While panic attacks themselves are not medical emergencies, seek immediate medical attention if this is the child’s first episode with severe physical symptoms, if symptoms persist longer than typical panic attacks, or if you’re unsure whether the symptoms are panic-related or indicate a medical problem.
Signs That Professional Treatment is Needed
Consider professional help when panic attacks occur weekly or more frequently, when the child develops significant anticipatory anxiety about having another attack, when school performance declines due to panic-related absences, or when the child begins avoiding multiple situations due to fear of panic attacks.
Treatment Success for Pediatric Panic Disorder
Children and teenagers typically respond very well to evidence-based treatment for panic disorder. With appropriate intervention, most young people learn to manage their panic symptoms effectively and return to full participation in school, social activities, and family life. Early treatment often prevents the development of more extensive avoidance patterns that can be harder to address later.
The Vienna program serving Fairfax, Virginia families has achieved a 79% recovery rate in treating panic disorder across all age groups. With 92% client and parent satisfaction, families can feel confident that their child will receive specialized, evidence-based care that addresses both the immediate symptoms and long-term prevention of panic disorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can children as young as 8 experience panic attacks?
Yes, panic attacks can occur in children as young as 8 years old, though they’re more common in adolescence. Young children may not understand what’s happening and often focus on physical symptoms like stomach aches or difficulty breathing. Our program provides age-appropriate treatment for children starting at age 8.
How can parents tell the difference between a panic attack and a medical emergency?
Panic attacks typically last 5-20 minutes and involve symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, and intense fear. If this is the first episode, if symptoms persist beyond 30 minutes, or if you’re unsure, seek medical evaluation. Once panic disorder is diagnosed, most episodes can be managed at home with learned coping strategies.
Will my child need to avoid situations that trigger panic attacks?
No, avoidance typically worsens panic disorder over time. Effective treatment involves gradually helping children return to situations they’ve been avoiding while teaching them skills to manage their anxiety. The goal is for children to participate fully in normal activities without being limited by panic fears.
How do panic attacks in teenagers differ from those in younger children?
Teenagers can better understand and describe the psychological aspects of panic attacks, often developing anticipatory anxiety about future episodes. They may be more aware of social embarrassment concerns and might hide their symptoms from peers. However, they also respond well to cognitive strategies that help them understand and manage their panic responses.
Can panic disorder in children lead to other mental health problems?
If left untreated, panic disorder can lead to school avoidance, social isolation, depression, and generalized anxiety about many situations. Early treatment prevents these secondary problems and helps children develop confidence in their ability to handle anxiety symptoms.
How long does treatment for childhood panic disorder typically take?
Treatment length varies depending on the child’s age, severity of symptoms, and individual needs. Our intensive outpatient program often achieves results more quickly than traditional weekly therapy sessions. Most children begin showing significant improvement within the first few weeks of treatment.
Is panic disorder treatment covered by insurance for children in Virginia?
Yes, 95% of our clients are able to use their insurance coverage for panic disorder treatment. Our team works with families throughout Fairfax and Northern Virginia to verify benefits and ensure that effective treatment remains accessible and affordable for children and teens who need specialized care.
If your child is experiencing panic attacks, professional help can make a significant difference in their ability to manage symptoms and return to normal childhood activities. The Vienna, Virginia program, conveniently located near Fairfax, specializes in treating panic disorder in children, teens, and adults using evidence-based approaches that help families understand and effectively address panic symptoms. With the right treatment, children can learn that panic attacks are manageable and don’t have to limit their participation in school, friendships, and family activities.
