Teen Panic Attacks: What They Look Like and What Helps

A panic attack is a sudden rush of intense fear with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, trouble breathing, shaking, dizziness or chest pain, often with a feeling of losing control or dying. It is frightening but treatable, and therapy that teaches a teen how panic works, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, is one of the most effective treatments. Blackburn Clinical Services offers one-on-one therapy in West Los Angeles for teens 13 to 17 with panic attacks, and family sessions so parents know how to help.

What a panic attack can look like

The National Institute of Mental Health lists symptoms including a pounding or racing heart, sweating, chills, trembling, trouble breathing, weakness or dizziness, tingly or numb hands, chest pain, stomach pain or nausea, and a feeling of being out of control or of impending death (NIMH). In teens, it may also look like:

• Leaving class suddenly, or calling home from the nurse’s office with chest pain or a stomachache.
• A meltdown before a test, a game, a performance or a social event that seems far bigger than the situation.
• Waking at night with a racing heart.
• Avoiding places where an attack happened before, such as a classroom, the car, a crowded event or school itself.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that panic disorder often begins in the mid to late teens, that an attack typically lasts about 5 to 10 minutes, and that because some symptoms overlap with heart problems, a teen should have a careful medical evaluation (AAP HealthyChildren). One panic attack does not mean a teen has panic disorder. The concern grows when attacks keep coming, or when fear of the next one starts to shrink your teen’s world.

What helps in the moment

• Stay calm and stay close. Your steady voice helps more than reassurance that “nothing is wrong.”
• Name it if you know it is panic: “This feels awful, and it will pass. You are safe.”
• Encourage slow breathing with a longer breath out than in, or noticing five things they can see and hear.
• Do not rush to leave every situation. Escaping can teach the brain that the place was dangerous, which makes avoidance grow.
• Afterward, talk about it when your teen is calm, and let them know help is available.

What therapy at Blackburn looks like for panic

• Understanding panic. Teens learn what is happening in the body during an attack and why it feels so dangerous when it is not.
• CBT and exposure. NIMH identifies cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy as effective treatments for panic disorder. With a therapist in our office, your teen gradually practices facing body sensations and situations they have been avoiding, at a pace they can manage. See anxiety treatment.
• Getting back to school and activities. When panic has led to missed classes, we help plan a gradual return. See school refusal and anxiety-related absences.
• Family sessions. Parents learn how to respond to attacks in ways that build confidence rather than avoidance. See family services.
• Psychiatry. NIMH notes that medication can also help panic disorder. Psychiatric care can be arranged when a teen needs an evaluation or medication.
• Weekday sessions. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, scheduled within those hours around school.

What parents can do now

• Start with your teen’s pediatrician to rule out medical causes, especially after a first attack.
• Notice what your teen has started avoiding, and gently resist letting avoidance grow.
• Check sleep, caffeine and energy drinks, vaping and other substances, which can all make panic worse. See teen vaping, cannabis and alcohol.
• Look at the pressure around your teen. Panic often shows up in teens who hold themselves to very high standards; see therapy for high-achieving teens.
• Call us if attacks are repeating or your teen is missing school or activities because of them.

Panic attacks often come with broader worry; see teen anxiety treatment in Los Angeles.

When to get urgent help

Call 911 or go to an emergency room for chest pain, trouble breathing or fainting, especially if it is the first time or you are not sure it is panic. If your teen talks about wanting to die, is harming themselves, or you are worried they might, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day.

Questions

How do I know it is a panic attack and not something medical?

You cannot always tell from the outside. Chest pain, trouble breathing or fainting need medical care, especially the first time. Once a physician has ruled out other causes, therapy can focus on the panic.

Is a panic attack the same as an anxiety attack?

People often use the terms loosely. A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear with strong physical symptoms that peaks within minutes. Ongoing worry that builds over time is a different pattern, though both are treatable.

Can panic attacks go away without treatment?

Some teens have one attack and never have another. When attacks repeat or your teen starts avoiding places or activities, therapy such as CBT can help panic improve rather than spread.

Will my teen need medication?

Not necessarily. Many teens improve with therapy alone. If medication might help, psychiatric care can be arranged so your family can make an informed decision.

Can you help if panic is keeping my teen out of school?

Yes. We help teens and families plan a gradual return and, with your written permission, can provide documentation for your teen’s school when clinically appropriate.

Get started

You can also email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Parents usually make the first call; your teen does not need to be on the line. More guides: therapy for private school students.

Sources

• National Institute of Mental Health: Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms
• American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Panic Disorder
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline