Panic Attacks

[Brightonhome]

My almost 16 year old DD has started having panic attacks. Pacing the floor, heart beat increased, feeling faint, scared. Started getting stress-related IBS. Highly academic, but says it's not school academic stress. We saw a doctor two weeks ago re stomach pains. He recommended Buscopan for IBS, but these panic attacks have been more recent. Three over the last week, usually late at night. There have been boy-issues over the last few months, but she says it's not that either, doesn't know what's wrong with her. She's not been that communicative with me or her dad over the last year, but since this started, she's been wanting hugs and been tearful and needing us. She's always been a bit of a perfectionist and a worrier, takes things to heart bless her. The academics have never been pushed by us at all by the way, she has always felt the urge to excel. I've got another doctor's appointment next Monday, but does anyone have any coping strategies until then?

Does she have any hormonal issues? Started taking the pill?

No pill, not sexually active yet. Pretty sure that's true, but yes I could always be wrong. Hormone issues? No.

I started with panic attacks around the same age. No particular trigger and I do wonder if it was the influx of hormones or something. Then anxiety about having panic attacks set in and they got worse and more frequent. Two things that helped me were not fighting them - if I felt one coming I just sat down and let it happen and pass. Secondly an anti anxiety med from the doctors but I can’t remeber exactly which one but they definitely helped.

Thank you Troton. I've been looking at coping mechanisms online, and letting it 'flood' over you without fighting is a method recommended by many. I'll talk to her school to ask them to be lenient with her if she's late during school hours due to her coping with this. 11 GCSEs next year, so she must be feeling the pressure no matter what she says.