Teen having panic attacks - tips please

[spababe]

My DS is having panic attacks to the point of vomiting. We cannot ascertain what is causing these. Very scary so please let me know your tips for getting them out of panic attacks once they start and avoiding panic attacks. Thanks

I would speak to your GP in the first instance as they can help here and also establish that it is definitely panic attacks.

Panic attacks can come on spontaneously for some time and don't necessarily need a particular trigger, although for some specific situations can be more likely to bring them on.

One thing that has helped some teenagers I work with (I am not a therapist but work in an educational capacity with young people with mental health concerns) is to focus on 5 things they can see, 4 things they can hear, 3 things they can feel, 2 things they can smell, 1 thing they can taste ...there are a few variations on this but I think it's called the 5-4-3-2-1 coping tecnique for anxiety. It's a mindfulness technique that helps ground a person and distract them from focussing on the scary symptoms they are experiencing.

Best of luck.

Best thing is to address them as a whole person. Headspace is a good app to learn how to meditate. They can then use that / these techniques as they start to feel a bit wobbly and it might stop panic attacks starting.
Go to the gp also - they may be able advise or refer.
Also speak to school - write down every time they happen and what was going on before. Panic attacks are usually triggered by SOMETHING, it just might take some times for you to notice what this is.