child panic attack

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ricky Strode on December 22, 2011 at 5:48pm

Talk to them about this issue and times this may occur. Do the dreaming arm induction. Then work with  directly with the issue. Use use as simple words as you can, Make sure they understand what you say. You can always use disassociation and re-associate to something different. In example a swish from having the anxiety attack to laughing at something really funny. This seems to work well with kids.  

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jagi Egnell on December 22, 2011 at 6:08pm

Thank you.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nathan Welch on December 22, 2011 at 10:39pm

Hi Jagi

I know from your posts you are very experienced and skilled at what you do, so if this is sucking eggs apologies in advance. Panic is very similar in its physiological behaviours  to excitement so you could anchor excitement at the peak of the panic??

I would also work with mum and give her some strategies and techniques for coping/managing the panic when it arrives.

Whatever it is they panic about do a reframe? set some fun type homework knowledge often dispels fear, have them learn more about whatever it is that makes them panic??

Go out in to the real world with them and get them to experience the panic and work with them there this will be an instant break in pattern because you will be there and at the same time you can teach some real time relaxation and refocussing skills to the child and if mum is there to her as well double wammy!!!!

Have you tried EFT in combination with things you could make it part of a new positive ritual to do to take the panic away?

As some one who uses stories and metaphor what was the story about that you tried and was it a collaborative effort with play, acting and lots of drama?

I have no doubt you will crack it on next session you have a very sharp mind, I enjoy your posts and insights smiles Nath

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Malone on December 23, 2011 at 3:44am

Jagi, A few thoughts on this:

-Some pretalk education tailored to the child's level of comprehension. That "panic attacks" are nothing more than "false alarms" in the part of the body/mind that normally keeps them protected and safe. Reassurance that they are not crazy or have a dangerous illness-the worst part of these false alarms is the "fear of the fear," including the fear of being embarrassed in front of friends when an episode occurs.

-Getting away from the term "panic attack" itself. It sounds something lurking in an alleyway waiting to jump you! Reframing as "false alarms" that can be relaxed away.

-Teaching the child an age appropriate self-hypnosis technique that with practice will helps "rewire or reprogram" the part of the mind that has the false alarms and has the fear of them, or whatever metaphor makes sense in light of the child's interests.

-Giving a "comfort scale" kind of homework assignment the parent and child can do at the end of each day. Here, using a 1-10 scale (with one being the lowest and ten being the highest) they record how calm or confident the child felt that day as opposed to rating "how much FEAR did you have today?"  If we look for fear/pain/discomfort we become attuned to it, the same holds true for comfort/confidence, etc.

Good luck! Jim

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jagi Egnell on December 23, 2011 at 12:52pm

Thank you everyone for the great answers, we ended up triggering family guy memory at the height of panic attack which I had him recreate. Instead of having a panic attack he started laughing, We also incorporated tapping into the session as well which he picked up very quickly. Mom stated that her son had actually been sleeping better since our last session.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on December 23, 2011 at 1:26pm

I just caught up with this thread, Jagi and congrats on your success. Nice pattern interrupt!

Jim: I love that metaphor of "false alarms" for the panic feeling. It reminds me of how I learned that the signal of pain is like a continual going-off of an alarm clock for a person. That whole idea of alarms is powerful and begs to be reframed.

Kelley

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion