hello, how do doctors treat a 12yr olds extreme anxiety/panic attack/disorder? the kid has Ocd/anxiety extreme?
does anyone have advice on how too treat a 12yr old extreme anxiety/panic attacks? my girlfriends son was in the passenger seat while i was driving, he went into a panic attack…. he called 911 n said hes dying, then turned into a spider monkey and bounced around the car grabbing me dangerously grabbing me screaming hes dying! hes recently exhibited strange but very consistent symptoms like the following:
1. he wont eat cooked food?
2. if hes eating chips fr a bag and someone else puts their hand in the bag, he wont eat any more acting as if its contaminated…
3. if he has a zit or mosquito bite he will obsess incessantly. he walks up too us and asks if its cancer, if its a disease…
4. he breathes loudly and clears his nose/throat as if he has too because he thinks he cant breathe… he says he has too do it, but when he goes in to a panic attack he flips out n say hes dying
5. he will not eat food that we cook or food that we pick up at restaurants as if their is something contaminated about the food…
he has had some serious attacks lately where out of nowhere like a cat he attacks me screaming hes dying…
tonight was enough that he was out of control and i could have crashed, i had to stop the car, restrain em and tell em hes not dying… anyone have solutions or info on how they treat this disorder for 12yr olds? i have experience with this type of thing and i was able to get em home and lay em down, go through breathing exercises etc.. he does not sleep and is wired n moody all day… i dont want too have a doctor give em zanax or valium or any benzos at the age of 12.. we are sending em for counseling, but we are wondering (due to his extreme acute symptoms that he said lasted all day up to the point of an attack) due to the duration that maybe a psych eval at a hospital may be warranted… as far as stressors, his dads a scumbag, and he recently has had a teacher at school clockin em all day at school… in other words, a teacher is on his rear end all the time as they can see his work habits with online internet homework/computer usage ratios.. they can tell that hes slacking on homework etc.. but this teacher has stopped by the house 2x in a week unannounced to discuss his irritable behavior ( lack of sleep) and outburts etc… sorry so long… pretty complex issue here… any advice is appreciated.. thanks!
i forgot, this kid is and has been struggling with add/adhd, but his mother is in denial w/this… the anxiety starts their i believe as his day to day struggle to organize and get structured is disabling him at school… hes being evaluated… maybe the teacher is freakin em out? boy its complex…im going too get em too open up… good advice guys
Tagged with: 911 • acute symptoms • anxiety panic • benzos • breathing exercises • chips • dads • duration • extreme anxiety • mosquito • mosquito bite • nose throat • panic attack • passenger seat • rear end • scumbag • spider monkey • stressors • valium • zanax
Filed under: anxiety attacks causes
Lance,
First of all, it’s good that you are taking this as seriously as you are.
This child has endured extreme instability in his life, and as a result doesn’t feel he lives in a safe zone. Some of this is no doubt related to his father, but some of it may be related to his father’s departure or other factors in his early life. Yes, he is in trouble through NO FAULT OF HIS OWN and he needs help now. This should be framed for him that none of this is his fault, but that he needs help in order to feel better because he cannot learn, grow, and meet the coming developmental milestones which are coming, without a management plan to his anxiety disorder constellation. He needs to know that this is not a punishment, but a clear plan to HELP HIM FEEL BETTER.
His anxiety is worsening as there are changes at home, and the demands of school are heightening for him. This can only worsen without proper intervention. I would urge you and his mother to get him that psych evaluation yourselves for him, because although the school may pay for a licensed clinical social worker or psychologist evaluation, his mother, THE PARENT, needs to be in control of the evaluation and the data which is obtained. This is important because sometimes an undiagnosed medical problem creates an interplay with psychologic issues, and unless this is fully considered by a psychiatrist, one half of the issue, the medical half, doesn’t receive full consideration.
(Sometimes hyperthyroidism or even heart rhythm disturbances emerge at 12. They may make a behavioral issue more pronounced, but the original issue was a medical one) BTW, 12 is when many medical issues emerge for kids and it’s a last chance time to fix some things before the teen years.
Following an evaluation and a primary diagnosis, this information can be shared with the school and they need to create an IEP (an individual education plan) whereby he still gets a focused education, but is not subject to the pressure cooker environment that other kids without anxiety disorders may experience.
This dear boy likely needs some short term meds, prescribed by a psychiatrist, and some counselling which a psychiatrist will likely refer him to. They need to teach him how to manage his episodes of stress while the medication calms him enough initially to be open to this. He also needs as much stability at home as is possible.
If he receives the help he needs, you should have a happy individual who lives a good life and won’t forget the sacrifices you and his mother made to help him. If he does not get the help he needs, he is a high risk in his teens for suicide.
If for some reason, his mother has inadequate health insurance for him, then she needs to see social services to either get a referral to your county’s childhood intervention psychiatrist, or medicaid to help manage these issues. These are not easy tasks I have outlined for you, but I promise, the reward is well worth the effort. Very best wishes to you all.
Both my sister and I suffer from anxiety/panic attacks. Usually, if that severe a medication is prescribed, but a pediatrician will not do that. He will have to see a therapist who will diagnose him and help him to overcome that whether it be with medication or teaching him techniques (breathing exercizes, etc.) to help control it. My sister(15) is on medication for panic attacks, anxiety, and add. I am taking the other route but we are both doing just fine. And, your girlfriends son will too after the proper care.
This is a really sad situation that he is in!! Honestly I wouldnt bother reading answers to this question because really he needs professional help that myself or nobody else could answer to help your situation. He needs a referral to a psychiatrist / psychologist. They will put him on the recommended therapy he needs to live a better life for himself and for you and your partner. That would be my best advice on this issue. Best of Luck!!
well maybe you should take him to a counselor of some sort but let them be aware that you dont want to put him on any xanex or any other meds of the sort or even look online to see what kind of vitamins could help the situation…..or go the counselor and ask them about what kind of vitamins you could put him on to even help a lil bit..there’s always some sort of organic alternative
Good luck!
His behaviour is extreme & sounds like more than panic attacks.He has a lot of issues all fear based.They will observe his behaviour over a period of time,ask him questions & try to get him to open up.He will be treated with change of diet,cognitive therapy & more than likely with medication,which will be trialled & based on the outcome,more than likely short term.Don’t worry about the medication.Right now his behaviour needs to be quietened down in order to get to the root of the problem & help him get some focus.
Hi–I’ve worked in psych 23 years–but the youngest age of patients we accept on our unit is 14.
I agree that giving tranquilizers is not a good idea. But there may be some medication to smooth out his moods, and help with concentration, and this fear of contamination.
I think he should definitely be evaluated by a health professional.
Perhaps he has ADD or ADHD? Maybe his pediatrician could recommend a child psychiatrist?
best wishes.
I agree with Ashlee’s comments. Being a sufferer myself of panic disorder I know that during an attack, logic is useless. The only thing to help me is a form of reciting a pre-existing list of things, such as the presidents of the u sa in order, or going from "a" to "z" and naming all the bands/music artists that I can think of. This does not have to be out loud, in fact it seems to work better when done in the mind. A panic attack occurs when the brain’s mechanism that tells us to be afraid gets out of control, fear building upon fear, spiraling out of control. Doing the list exercise somehow cuts through this spiraling and stops the attack.
I wish y ou and the boy well,
Kristi
Hey, I truly understand how you feel…
The uncomfortable symptoms like sweaty palms, "jelly" legs, extreme alertness, "impending doom" feeling and the fight-or-flight response.
I’ve been there. I’m an ex-victim. Sometimes the deep breathing or distraction techniques doesn’t work – a full-blown panic or anxiety attack happens later.
Sometimes you experience panic attack out of the blue and such.
Do NOT buy Panic Away, Linden Method, EasyCalm or the Panic Puzzle. They do NOT work – I’ve tried them and their solutions are similar – it DOESN’T WORK.
Medications do NOT work – I was under many antidepressants (Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft) and anti-anxiety medications (Ativan, Klonopin, and Xanax) but my condition was the same – no improvement at all.
The only program that really work is The Panic Attack Solution. It’s found by an ex-victim. You can check out his old blog in his official website to read up some useful tips.
But the package is the best – it teaches 17 powerful techniques and the real solution to panic attacks. I’ve bought it and it really helped me – it’s the BEST anti-anxiety package or book I’ve read.
His theory really makes sense and it works effectively!
Check out his official website:
http://www.ThePanicAttackSolution.com