Colman Noctor: Taking the panic out of panic attacks for anxious children and parents

Understanding what is happening in our body during an attack can help stop the catastrophic thinking that started it 

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I'm often asked: 'What is the most common difficulty children face in today’s world?'. My answer is simple, 'anxiety'. But that does not capture the complexity of anxiety,  and the many different forms in which it can manifest. Worry is something we all experience from time to time, however, anxiety is specific to the individual and can be difficult to recognise as it can present as social anxiety, performance anxiety, generalised anxiety or panic attacks.

A certain amount of worry is necessary for us to exist. Worry gets us up on time in the morning, it gets us to work on time, it makes us prepare for tasks and drives us to perform. This type of functional worry or surmountable stress is a good thing.