11 yr old with panic attacks - Anxiety Message Board

nuttygirl · 03-20-2009, 03:05 PM

My son has been having anxiety for many years.. he's a worrier like me and like me (I was told I passed this on to him) has anxiety. The past month it has been different. He wakes at night in full panic mode.. I can relate and empathize because I have been there. I'm not sure what is causing this panic but it seems to be getting worse. He isn't sleeping or eating well and he has been crying alot.. probably due to emotional exhaustion. I made an appt for him to see a psychiatrist but they can't see him until May 7th.. I'm looking for a different one so he can get in sooner. I'm just very concerned. I don't know what triggered this panic, neither does he, and I am at a loss as to helping him!! As a lifelong sufferer I know that nothing I can say to him will talk him down from a panic attack.. Lord knows I've been trying!! This is so very heart breaking to watch a young child going through this. I myself am on Xanax and haven't had a panic attack in years but remember them all to well. What types of things can they do to help younger kids with this problem? I don't think he's depressed and hate to see them stick him on an AD and him suffer all those terrible side effects... not to mention it takes weeks for it to kick in. Is it possible they may give him something to take on an as needed basis? This happens primarily at night, he does pretty well during the day when he's busy it's the night when he has panic attacks and loses sleep... sigh

Sorry it's so long.. thanks for any help

catheryn · 03-20-2009, 06:36 PM

It's not uncommon to have an attack at night or feel more anxious at night. I've had that problem since I was a kid as well, I just didn't know what it was until I finally got help in my early 20s.

I'm wondering if something like xanax or ativan on a need-be basis might help your son? If he's fine during the day and it's just happening at night (and thus, doesn't have that constant "background anxiety") something like xanax might be what he needs.

joesgirlmillie · 03-27-2009, 06:24 AM

My 9 yr old suffers panic and anxiety attacks as ive been ill last 4 years, she thinks im going to die, worries about there being a world war 3, she is seeing a counsellor and i was told everything i have put in place is what they would suggest...so I bought a book recommended by them called a big bag of worries and its quite good, it helped her recognise shes not only one, also to play a cd in their room at bedtim, my daughter only gets problems at night too. She screamed on her first panic attack as she didnt know what was happening, frightened me to death. Keep everything calm and you arent meant to get annoyed, which i know myself can be hard. My daughter is doing one night in my bed, one night in hers as well. Shes extremely bright, and i hate the way she worries, also use distractions such as their friends for tea etc. good luck x