What does a panic attack feel like? A panic attack can look and feel different for each individual who experiences it. Although there are some similarities in panic attacks, the severity and duration of the attack can differ from one situation to the next.
Regardless of what type of panic attack your teen has, if they have ongoing panic attacks or anxiety disorder, you can seek help at a teen anxiety treatment centre. Venture Academy provides help for struggling teens in Canada. Call 866.762.2211 today for more information.
Understanding Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks often go hand in hand. Panic attacks are intense feelings of fear or distress that come on suddenly, with physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and dizziness. Panic attacks can be extremely frightening and overwhelming experiences that can interfere with everyday life.
Anxiety, on the other hand, is a more general feeling of unease or worry that can last for days or weeks and can be more difficult to identify. Anxiety often builds over time, leading to feelings of dread or fear. It may also manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue.
What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like?
The symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks can be unpredictable and range from mild to severe and debilitating. Below are three different scenarios explained in an effort to help you understand what a panic attack can feel like.
Scenario 1: The Feeling of Dying
Many people who have experienced a panic attack often report that they feel like they are going to die. They start with a sharp pain in the chest that goes down one or both arms. An extreme amount of fear comes during or after the attack. The most common concern is that something is going to happen, and the person can do nothing about it. Teenagers may feel like someone needs to call an ambulance right away.
The inability to breathe is one of the most common symptoms of a panic attack. A teenager may be triggered, feel a rush of stress or anxiety, and then freeze. They can’t breathe, they can’t move, and they feel physically, emotionally, and mentally paralysed.
Their heart starts beating so fast it feels as though it is going to pop out of their chest. It is also common to be so filled with emotion that the person starts to cry or get emotional, which is not to be confused with depression.
Scenario 2: Tightness in the Chest
This is another common symptom of anxiety. There is a tight chest accompanied by choking, dizziness, tingling legs, and numb hands. Your teen is so wound up that they end up exhausted from using so much energy so fast. In this scenario, a panic attack can last for several minutes before the person’s chest relaxes.
Scenario 3: The Eerie Feeling Something Is Really Wrong
This type of panic attack may not produce any severe physical symptoms. However, everything inside of your teen is on red alert with the feeling that something is really wrong. Keep in mind that this is more than just stress or casual worry.
This is an uncontrollable paranoia, potentially exacerbated by teen drug addiction, that something terrible either has happened or is about to happen. All senses are acute, and the person’s awareness of what is going on around them seems heightened.
These are just three examples of what a panic attack can feel like, but the event is different for everybody. Professional anxiety treatment can help your teen manage their anxiety symptoms and live a happy, healthy life.
Getting Professional Help for Anxiety in Teens
When it comes to treating anxiety in teens, one of the best ways to help ensure a successful recovery is to seek professional assistance. Professional care can come in many forms, such as counselling, psychotherapy, medication management, or a combination of these approaches.
Some of the most significant benefits of getting professional help for teen anxiety include the following:
- Learning healthy coping mechanisms for triggers and stressors
- Learn how to handle anxiety and manage symptoms
- Learn how to view things from a new perspective to promote healing
- Access to education, resources, and ongoing support
- Medication can be prescribed to help with severe symptoms
It is important to remember that seeking professional help for anxiety in teens does not mean that a teen is weak or flawed. Rather, it is a sign of courage and strength that they are taking steps to take care of their mental health. Therefore, it is vital for parents, guardians, and other adults in a teen’s life to encourage and support them as they seek professional help.
Learn More About Teen Anxiety Treatment in Canada at Venture Academy
What does a panic attack feel like? If your child has experienced one or more of the scenarios above several times lately, then you may need to seek teen mental health treatment. With three locations across Canada, our teen anxiety treatment centre can help your teen with their panic attacks or anxiety disorder so that they can live life more peacefully. Call us today at 866.762.2211 or fill out our online contact form to learn more about your treatment options.