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If you’ve never experienced a panic attack, it may be difficult to understand why it’s so overwhelming. After all, it’s “just” a feeling – right? Why can’t people just “snap out of it”? What’s the big deal?
Watching your daughter go through a serious mental illness and self-harm before she is even done with high school is not something any parent ever expects to have to deal with. You want to help her more than anything, but you may feel like nothing you do is helping, or that you don’t even know where to start.
I wasn’t.
Eventually, I would learn that panic attacks didn’t need to control my life.
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, over 500,000 Texas teens were diagnosed with depression or an anxiety disorder in 2020, so this is more common than you think. Roots Renewal Ranch understands how overwhelming panic attacks can be – for both teen girls and their parents. They specialize in the treatment of panic disorder because they know it disrupts lives and can prevent teens from feeling mentally and physically healthy.
Let’s talk about panic attacks, how they’re affecting your teen, and how you can help.
What Are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are a physical manifestation of intense or uncontrolled anxiety. They come with many symptoms, and they don’t always look the same for everyone. Usually, they include a racing heart, sweaty palms, tremors, lightheadedness, and more. These attacks are not “in someone’s head.” They happen when the fight or flight response is triggered by an external or internal stimulus, leading to an unwanted rush of adrenaline as the body kicks into overdrive to try and “stay alive.”
CHECK OUR TREATMENTSPanic attacks often make people feel ill or like they’re dying. This is because the body works to take in more oxygen when it feels threatened, so breathing quickens and becomes irregular. As adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, the heart beats faster which causes tremors or sweating. Muscle tension is also common. All of these symptoms piled on top of each other can make a person feel like their life is in danger. Rest assured, as scary as panic attacks are, they’re not a threat to your daughter’s life.
What Do Panic Attacks Look Like?
If your daughter is having a panic attack, she may have a hard time breathing, speaking, or standing. She may look like she is “frozen” in fear. Hyperventilating is also common. After the attack has passed, she may be fatigued or unable to participate in her regular activities. It’s not uncommon to need some time to recover after a panic attack, even though panic attacks typically don’t last very long. They can last anywhere from five minutes to an hour, depending on the severity of the attack.
Some people have a panic attack every year or every month, while others experience attacks daily (or multiple times a day). This all depends on the severity of your daughter’s anxiety and the intensity of the event that provoked the attack.
What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Panic Disorder in Teen Girls?
Though they’re both related to anxiety, panic disorder is different from generalized anxiety disorder. With panic disorder, your daughter may be terrified of panic attacks happening and interfering with her daily life. This may cause her to isolate or avoid places where she might experience one.
A panic disorder causes random and extreme bouts of debilitating fear that can happen at any time, any place, and for any reason. This makes it particularly difficult to manage because there isn’t always a trigger – sometimes the attacks just come out of nowhere.
CHECK OUR PROGRAMHere’s How to Help Teens With Panic Disorder
It’s normal to feel a little helpless when your teen is experiencing a panic attack. After all, there isn’t much you can do to “fix” the way she’s feeling, and that can be hard. Rest assured, there are a number of ways to support your daughter during this, and there ARE things you can do that will help. Here are a few of those things:
Treatments Available to Help Teens With Panic Attacks at Roots Renewal Ranch
A teen who is managing panic disorder can do everything anyone else can do. There is nothing “wrong” or “broken” about them. They will need to work harder to overcome their fears and panic attacks, and it will likely make them stronger women – especially with the right kind of treatment. There are many treatment modalities geared toward treating panic disorder, and they can all be effective in the right setting – it’s just about finding what works best for your daughter.
In cases of extreme anxiety or panic attacks that are clearly interfering with your daughter’s life, inpatient or residential therapy should be considered. In residential therapy, she’ll stay at a facility where she can get round-the-clock psychological care until she has her panic under control. Many facilities, Roots Renewal Ranch included, use cognitive behavioral therapy because it is evidence-based and highly effective in treating panic disorder in particular.
Roots Renewal Ranch works to help cleanse, equip, empower, and renew young women so they can reach their full potential. Every girl who is managing panic disorder is strong enough to face any challenge and overcome every fear. Roots offers unique, effective, and proven treatments in a beautiful, nurturing, and compassionate setting. Here are a few things that make treatment at Roots so unique:
- They offer trauma-informed care. This is an approach based on acknowledging the impact of trauma, recognizing residual trauma symptoms, and addressing how trauma might play a current role in your daughter’s life. They work with girls to not only face their current struggles but also avoid retraumatization in the future.
- Their entire staff is trained in Satori alternatives to managing aggression (SAMA). SAMA is a technique that views anger as a secondary emotion driven by fear. Their staff is highly knowledgeable in managing arguments or fighting, violence, and even emotional outbursts. In other words, they are not taken aback by any behavior. They meet resistance or anger with compassion and teach the girls healthy ways to manage their emotions. Your daughter will learn to respond in healthy ways that will carry her into adulthood.
- They believe in the healing power of animals. While your daughter is staying at Roots, she’ll learn to care for all of the animals on their stunning ranch, including alpacas, dogs, chickens, pigs, and bunnies.
- They work to create a peaceful, beautiful, and loving environment. Roots Renewal Ranch is located on multiple acres of green and lush Texas farmland. Your daughter will participate in outdoor activities like archery, gardening, fishing, hiking, rope courses, camping, and so much more.
- They offer treatment for girls with a dual diagnosis. This means if your daughter is managing substance use alongside anxiety, they work with her to create mentally healthy habits and find freedom from addiction.
- They prioritize school work and not falling behind. Roots works to make sure education and school are the main components of their program. They keep their patients academically on track so they can easily transition back into their school setting post-treatment.
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I know it might seem overwhelming to watch your daughter manage panic attacks, but remember: this kind of adversity can make her stronger, especially if she has help.
Roots Renewal Ranch uses a comprehensive, whole-child (bio-psycho-social-spiritual) approach to treating panic disorders in a safe, distraction-free environment. Girls at Roots learn to journey through their life stories, discover their core roots, create a loving sense of self, and build hope in a healthy and purposeful life.
To learn more about their 90-day adolescent inpatient program or their other treatment options for panic disorder.
Alumni Reviews
Proud to be highly rated
Our daughter came home nearly two and a half months ago after completing 75 days at Roots Renewal Ranch. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Roots Renewal Ranch.
Megan B.
My daughter was there for 70 days and the staff treated her with great care. She bonded with her counselor and enjoyed the activities. She loved the horses and other animals on site as well. The family weekend was amazing! I highly recommend Roots!
Jay L.
This is a place of healing for both children and parents. The support system is beyond expectations. What Roots did for our family could never be repaid. We thought we had lost our child forever; however, Roots brought our little girl back to us. It’s a scary feeling for any parent, but Roots is a safe place, and you’ll see positive transformations in the long run.
Juan H
Roots is a wonderful place. The staff is amazing and they went above and beyond to help my granddaughter. They teach the girls self love and confidence. I would definitely recommend them for anyone who needs help for themselves or their loved ones.
Kathy H.
I always tell people, if it weren’t for roots, I probably would not be here today. I would not be the strong person I have become. Roots gave me a home when I felt I didn’t have a home. They taught me how to stand up for myself when I had been pushed down my entire life.
AJ W
Frequently Asked Questions About Panic Disorder In Teens
How can I help my teen with a panic disorder?
Finding high-quality mental health treatment is the best thing you can do for a teen who is managing a panic disorder.
Are there ways to stop panic attacks?
Panic attacks can be stopped with healthy coping strategies and breathing techniques. Trauma-informed treatment can also help to decrease the number of panic attacks or stop them entirely.
