Memory is a funny thing. A couple weeks ago I was driving along the long, winding, and sharp turning roads of Dorrigo Mountain and I got the uncomfortable but familiar feeling of tension triggered by a memory. You see the last time I drove up a long and windy mountain was on holidays a few years back in Tasmania, where a girlfriend and I decided to check out Mt Wellington. I was driving the hire car, and to set the scene for those who haven’t driven this mountain before, there is a sharp decent cliff face on one side, and rocky mountain on the other, a tiny narrow two way road (DANGER). This was the last time I had a panic attack, and while it was a few years ago, on Saturday when I was again driving up a mountain, winding around, on a narrow road it triggered the memory and I felt it all again, like it was just yesterday.
In fact, I still remember vividly the details of my first panic attack; I was 15 years old on holidays with my family in Hearvy Bay, QLD visiting my grandparents. Something had happened which meant that we needed to stay longer then planned and so I had to call up the boss of my first job (who was lovely, a mix between Santa and grandads) and let them know I couldn’t make a shift. Sounds so simple and easy to do now, but back then as a people-pleasing teenager who was not at all comfortable with confrontation (SCARY). I remember my heart beating so fast I thought it was going to burst out of my chest, knowing I was breathing but feeling like I had no air coming in where it was needed, crying and being so stuck I was frozen. Completely frozen, still, unable to put a step forward and walk; right in the middle of a busy shopping centre. My mum come over and guided me outside to the fresh air, sat with me, breathed with me, told me it would be ok, I would be ok. It was only with her sitting there, guiding, and being with me I was able to ‘feel normal’ again. The relationship, my connected, attuned mum sitting with me through the distress, gently prompting that it was alright, and she was there was what got me through.
Alongside the research that guides my evidence based practice I have always considered my own personal experiences of mental distress when working with families. Interpersonal relationships and connections is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes in child and adolescent mental health challenges (and actually outcomes for any age). This has 100% been my experience personally, witnessing friendships and peers, and through my clinical practice with clients. That is why when I am working with children and teenagers, I aim to include parents and carers in treatment as much as possible with respect to confidentiality.
Now back to panic attacks, these can occur as part of an anxiety disorder, or as part of another mental health, or medical condition as a specifier. However in and of themselves, they are not a mental health disorder but are a key element of Panic Disorder, which can develop when accompanied by ongoing fear of experiencing another panic attack again. Some important facts to know about panic attacks are that it peaks quickly, usually lasting 1-10mins, it is generally accompanied by feeling unsafe, you can experience a panic attack when awake, or at times whilst asleep which is frightening to wake in a state of panic.
To really understand panic we need to understand fear. Think about what would happen if you were on an African Safari; and the tour bus left without you. Here you are standing stranded in the jungle, and you hear the roar of a lion (DANGER). For most of us this would ignite fear and panic, essentially our bodies automatic alarm response switches on as we become aware of, or perceive danger. We go through a series of bodily changes in order to react to the danger we face such as heart pumping blood faster, sweating, and increased pace of breathing. These body changes would help us to run for our lives, or support us to physically defend ourselves (personally I would run and climb the highest tree I could find). This is an important survival mechanism we all have as humans. It is often referred to as flight or flight; there is a third called freeze but more on that another time.
BUT… Our brains are oh so sneaky, and sometimes misinterpreted situations and circumstances that are NOT life threatening in the same way as the big, scary, lion danger. This is called a false alarm. Essentially a panic attack is a false alarm, but don’t misunderstand me, it FEELS real because the symptoms in our body are real. Now many people experience some anxiety with mild sensations when something is scary, or we perceive it as scary (the dark, big dogs, new situations) but a panic attack is far more intense. Some of the symptoms experienced are:
- Skipping, racing, or pounding heart
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Choking sensations
- Chest pain, pressure or discomfort
- Nausea, stomach problems or sudden diarrhoea
- Dizziness, light-headedness, feeling faint
- Tingling or numbness in parts of your body
- Hot flushes or chills
- Feeling things around you are strange, unreal, detached, unfamiliar, or feeling detached from body
- Thoughts of losing control or going crazy
- Fear of dying
If you think you, or one of your little people are experiencing panic attacks remember whether we agree with it being scary or not, it is very real and very distressing for them. Just as my mama bear sat with me, breathed with me, and reminded me I was safe and going to be ok when I was younger. You too can use what you have access to, your relationship with your child, and support them through their panic experiences. Psychologists are experts in human behaviour, thinking, and emotions and can therefore support children and people of all ages to help understand, manage, and work through panic attacks and related anxiety. Feel free to get in touch with us at Seasons Allied Health 0424944443 for more information.