on panic disorder in students...

Panic holding kids, parents to ransom

competition pressure, long hours in school & tuitions leading to panic disorder in kids: docs   Somita Pal l Mumbai

With the competition between students rising, coupled with long hours in school and tuition classes, more children are suffering from panic disorder, say doctors. Child psychiatrists and paediatricians say the pressure to beat competition within their school or group of friends has been found to be the most common reason for many children suffering from panic disorder at a young age.     Dr Fabian Almeida, child psychiatrist, said, “Panic disorder is a psychological problem which can happen due to various reasons. We are seeing more number of cases because parents are more aware now. They are careful enough to take their children to a doctor if they notice any behavioural changes in them.” Almeida said children with panic disorder should be treated early; medication, talk therapy and behavioural therapy are the keys. “We conduct annual workshops for teachers so that they can pick up such cases easily and counsel the children immediately,” he added.      Dr Shreepad Khedekar, clinical director of Imperial Institute, said, “Failure affects children a lot. To overcome the fear they put a lot of pressure on themselves which eventually leads to panic attacks. Many children complain about restlessness, impatience and compulsiveness during exams, and other crucial situations. Parents, at times, tend to ignore these symptoms. But they can lead to panic disorder.” Karan Patel, a Powai resident and father of a 10-year-girl, said, “I observed that my daughter would become restless and her palms would start sweating whenever there was an exam or a competition in school. She would say her stomach was full and not eat. When I took her to a doctor, I found out she was suffering from panic disorder. I too suffer from it as my parents and doctors had ignored it when I was a child.” Doctors say that while examining the children suffering from the disorder they found that children tend to panic during school competitions, like dance, art and craft, singing etc. “They put immense pressure on themselves to excel in such competitions, and that leads to panic attacks. Children suffering from low self-esteem, too, suffer from panic attacks,” added Khedekar.     The disorder often manifests differently in children and adults. Children tend to report the physical symptoms with panic attacks rather than the psychological ones. A child having a panic attack may appear to be frightened or upset with no easily identified explanation. S/he may also be reluctant or unable to describe the attacks, which may lead to confusion at school regarding the child’s nature. Hence, it is important to note the child’s acts at school.      Dr Mukesh Sanklecha, consultant pediatrician, Bombay hospital, said, “Girls are more prone to panic disorder. Symptoms are palpitation, heart pounding, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, feeling choked, nausea or uneasiness in stomach. Proper counselling can curb the disorder among children.”

Published Date:  Aug 07, 2012     Courtesy (visited 7.8.12)

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