Panic attacks can feel just like a heart attack. However you should know that it is extremely rare for a teen to have a heart attack, so if you have a teen that is describing symptoms that sound like a heart attack, you should consider what might be making them so anxious. What happened before these symptoms started?

Questions to consider:

1. Pattern. Is there a pattern? Do the symptoms always precede or follow a particular meeting, occasion, or time with a person?

2. Change. Is your teen generally anxious about a new class, a new job, and making new friends?

3. General worrying. Does your teen seem to worry about their health? Your health? Are they worried you might get hurt when you leave their sight? Do they seem worried all the time?

Anxiety is a feeling that can overwhelm the body and make people feel as though they are going to die.  Even when the situation seems trivial, their fear, their anxiety is real. This fear can be so debilitating that it prevents normal function.

Treatment for anxiety includes medication with the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They are frequently used and successful with mood disorders. When added to talk therapy, SSRIs help develop better coping strategies so these teens function and manage if not overcome their anxiety.

Related posts:

1. Helping Teen Boys Seek Medical Care
2. What Your Teen’s Anxiety Tells You
3. Your Teen’s Doubt

Although it makes perfect sense to expect this type of anxiety or nervousness after a big event like the earthquake in Haiti, the recent violence in Yemen or the building collapse in Florida, PTSD also occurs after emotional devastation like being the victim of rape, leaving an abusive relationship or being the victim of a crime. Any event where the person is made to feel helpless, emotionally traumatized or frightened can cause the stress after the event.

This stress frequently occurs within three months of the event, but rarely can occur several years later. The pre-existing conditions that place certain teens more at risk include, but are not limited to depression or other mental health disorder, a history of neglect or abuse, the event is long-lasting, the teen has poor family or friend support, the trauma was especially severe.

With no healthy support unhealthy coping skills can ensue like eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, avoidant high-risk behavior like socializing with dangerous people or self-mutilation like cutting.

What can you do?

• Support. A good support system that is understanding and allows teens to heal at their own pace is the best way to support your teen. They should be permitted to talk or not talk as much as they want.
• Mental Health. A good mental health clinician can provide an objective support and is in a position to hear things that your teen may be too embarrassed to share with parents or family. It is also a great way to assess if medication is going to be required to assist in the healing process.
• Safety. It is important that your teen feel safe. Removing them from the dangerous situation or situations that remind them of the traumatic event is ideal for your teen’s well-being.  Safety also includes watching for high-risk or other behaviors that are signs of poor coping.

Post-traumatic stress disorder can be emotionally and physically debilitating for teens. Being aware of how severe it is can give you the tools to aggressively take action before it is too late.  The families, children and teens of Haiti need that kind of aggressive help, if you can help even a little the following link is a list of organizations helping Haiti. Your support is greatly appreciated.

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1. Body Dysmorphic Disorder 101