Anxiety or panic attack is the experience of intense fear or anxiety that starts suddenly and that may last from fifteen seconds up to half an hour, or repeat in cycles. For some it feels as if they are going to die or go crazy. Teenagers may experience anxiety attacks if something triggers a moment of terror or excessive fear, as part of their teenage anxiety.
Where do anxiety attacks come from?
Anxiety attacks are usually triggered by a cause of anxiety (See Anxiety Causes section). As the body experiences stress, the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) releases a fright, fight or flight response. Usually, the SNS is responsible for regulating the body’s internal organs and maintaining what is known as homeostasis. However, when the fright, fight or flight response is triggered, the body goes into acute stress releasing adrenaline hormone. This hormone is responsible for the physical symptoms of anxiety experienced, such as racing heart beat and accelerated breathing (also see Anxiety Symptoms section).
What triggers anxiety attacks?
Anxiety attacks may be triggered by a number of causes that include:
l Hereditary – panic disorder may be genetic and run in families
l Biological – illness, disease or deficiency
l Phobias – fear of people, objects or situations
l Traumatic life events, such as death or loss
l Stimulants – nicotine, caffeine, drugs, alcohol
l Negative self-talk
l Lack of Assertiveness – high passivity
l Medications or chemical substances – antibiotics, anti-depressants
l Over-breathing or hyperventilation
l Stress expectation to achieve – school, college, university, employment
These causes may be out of a person’s control, particularly a developing teenager predisposed through genetics to having anxiety attacks. By seeking medical attention, the teenager will gain an understanding of what is triggering or causing their anxiety attacks, and what treatment will be the best solution to managing their anxiety.
Behaviours associated with anxiety attacks or the fright, fight and flight response
Nowadays, young people may commit a crime during a fight or flight response and get into trouble with law enforcement. Common responses during the fight response may be to exhibit anger or argumentative behaviour. Indicators of the flight response may be excessive gaming or television viewing, substance abuse and social withdrawal.
When a teenager experiences an anxiety or panic attack, they may experience temperature changes, palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, choking, hyperventilation, and shaking. Some may blackout or faint. The person may be rushed to an Emergency Unit at a hospital and receive treatment. However, anxiety can be managed and treated so that emergency treatment can be avoided.
