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My 14 year old panics at school and is now unable to attend classes. Stay or online school?
We have an 8th trader, no learning disabilities, good grades, sociable and has a pretty good friend group. She states there is no bullying of any kind as well. No drug, alcohol or nicotine use either. Her peer group is 14 year olds so feeling safe enough to be vulnerable is still lacking, but she overall has a good group. She began having panic attacks a few months ago and now can’t attend almost any of her classes. Our psychologists vary in advisement between ‘keep on facing the fears and showing up.... I dont know of any panic disordered middle schooler who online schools and then successfully transitions to high school.....(verbatim). Or online school and allow for a reset so that the fight/ flight response is able to recalibrate. The hardest part of this is seeing the shame that goes with having panic and anxiety. She is so fearful of a panic attack, the anticipatory anxiety is the most prohibitive. We are in good hands in terms of our support systems but would like opinions from others who may have had a similar experience- personally or with a child. Please be kind and respectful with your responses. Life is hard enough and we don’t need to feel judged, stigmatized or shamed here. Thanks all.
Also we are in therapy. Both family and she does individual CBT and also somatic therapy. School therapists have also been amazing. We have a robust integrative approach with her naturopath doctor (gut, nutrition and supplementation support) as well as Psychiatry. It’s a multilayered support system.
5 Answers
- RWPossumLv 71 year agoFavorite Answer
I'm responding to your question because I want to mention two other treatments.
A study by a researcher named Meuret at Southern Methodist University showed that a biofeedback method called CART that reinforces slow, shallow breathing was more effective than cognitive therapy for panic disorder. Slow breathing is often recommended, but deep breathing tends to promote hyperventilation, making it hard for people to breathe. Many people use slow breathing self-help successfully.
There's a treatment called interoceptive exposure therapy. It's teaching people not to fear the symptoms of the panic attack by deliberately bringing on the symptoms - for example by bringing on a fast heartbeat by aerobic exercise.
I wish I could give you an opinion about staying in school, but I don't know enough about the case to have an informed opinion.
- Anonymous1 year ago
"She began having panic attacks a few months ago." Panic attacks don't come out of nowhere. There must be something else going on and it's up to you to find out. Maybe it's a teacher that's she's afraid of. Talk to administration, teachers and the school counselor for their input. If necessary, talk to the parents of her group of friends. Maybe they heard something from their children. I would homeschool her for the rest of the year at least and assess the situation during the summer.
- Andy CLv 71 year ago
You were correct in the consultation of more than one psychologist. Psychology is not a hard science yet, and this means that there is no 'true' psychology that is a standard. Hence the varying opinions.
The whole 'facing your fears' thing is truly quite 80s pop psychology, but it does have a kernel of truth in it that always running away from your fears never allows your brain to become desensitized to the fear.
It's the all-or-nothing attitude that sells TV.
She should be attending regular psychotherapy as it is likely the best treatment for anxiety disorders. Medication is only an aid that without the instruction of how to best cope and deal has very little benefit for anxiety disorders.
My opinion is to keep her in school, talk to them about what seems to be triggering the attacks so they can be mitigated, and enroll her into therapy at least once a week.
Therapy is all about teaching you how to cope with anxiety so that it never builds up to the point of an attack.
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