5 Ways to Support Your Child During a Panic Attack

Stay Calm: The first step in helping your child navigate their anxiety is remaining calm yourself. It can be difficult not to panic in the face of another person’s distress, but if you remain present and keep your anxiety in check, your child will have an easier time calming down as well. Remember that panicking won’t help the situation—it will only make it worse. So take a few deep breaths if you need to and try to focus on what you can do for your child in the moment.

Listen & Reassure: Once you’ve taken a few moments to compose yourself, start by listening attentively and validating their feelings without judgment or blame. Letting them know that their feelings are valid will help them feel seen and understood, which can reduce their distress significantly. You should also try giving them words of reassurance like “I’m here with you” or “It’s okay; I understand how hard this must be."

Distract & Redirect: Sometimes it helps to distract anxious children by redirecting their attention away from their anxious thoughts and onto something else—like counting sheep or deep breathing exercises with fun visuals like bubble wrap popping or bubbles blowing in the wind! Additionally, some children find comfort in talking about something they enjoy (e.g., sharing stories about a favorite movie character). Doing something creative like drawing or coloring can also be helpful for distracting anxious minds!

Offer Comfort Items: Having something familiar (such as a stuffed animal) nearby when experiencing anxiety can provide comfort during times of distress because it reminds children that they are not alone—that someone cares about them and understands what they are going through even when no one else does! Allowing children access to items that bring them comfort can make all the difference between feeling overwhelmed versus feeling supported during a panic attack!

Seek Professional Help: If your child has been experiencing frequent episodes of anxiety and/or panic attacks, it might be beneficial for both of you to seek out professional help from a mental health professional who specializes in treating childhood anxiety disorders. This type of intervention could potentially provide long-term relief since it focuses on identifying triggers and developing coping strategies tailored specifically for each unique situation!

When faced with a situation involving high-anxiety levels or panic attacks in your child, remember these five tips for supporting them through those difficult moments! Remain calm yourself so that you can offer guidance while still understanding how overwhelming these situations can be; listen carefully while reassuring them; try distracting their attention with fun activities; have comforting items nearby; and seek professional help if needed! By doing these things, you may just find that dealing with anxiety becomes easier over time—for both parent and child alike!