Pat's Answer

Hi there and welcome to Ask Alex. 

Thank you for reaching out to us with your question, we’re glad you felt comfortable enough to share it with us. 

From what you’re saying it sounds like you’re worried you might be experiencing panic attacks. You say you’ve been feeling really scared and you think that could be a sign that you’re having a panic attack. We’re sorry to hear this is going on for you, it must be tough dealing with this. You made a really positive decision for yourself by expressing your feelings and trying to get some help with this. Feeling scared is a natural emotion for everyone, but at times it can be overwhelming if we have these feelings more than we should. It’s completely understandable that you might find this worrying and that you’re trying to figure out if this is a panic attack. 

Panic attacks can be a very scary experience and a lot of people of all ages can experience panic attacks as a one-off event in their lives or an on-going issue that may require some help and support in order to manage them. You are not alone in this and if you feel you are experiencing panic attacks, there are options you can explore to help you make things better for yourself. First of all, it might be useful to try and identify the situations or events that trigger these feelings of being scared or panicked. If you have an idea of what’s causing you to feel this way, it might make things easier for you to manage. Awareness is key and is the first step towards helping you make changes that are healthy and constructive.  

You might also consider talking to someone you trust and feel comfortable with; what would it be like for you to express your feelings to someone you’re close to? A trusted adult could be a parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle or older cousin or sibling. If you feel your family or friends aren’t an option for you at this time, then maybe talking to a teacher, school counsellor or coach might be the way to go for you. You have the right to get support if you are struggling with this issue and there are people out there to help you. 

Panic attacks relate to health and wellbeing, so you also have the right to seek medical attention from your GP if you feel that’s something you want to do. All young people have the right to access medical support. If you are under 16 years of age, you will need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian and have their consent to seek treatment. Taking care of your health and wellbeing can also be done by taking small steps to do so in your daily life. Eating healthily, getting enough exercise and sleep, taking the time to do things you enjoy and to spend time with those you love are small steps you can take to mind yourself and keep you feeling as well and happy as possible.  

Remember that you’re not alone in this. If you feel that you’d like to chat with someone outside your social circle, you can always contact Childline. Our listening services are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we don’t judge you or tell you what to do; we’re here to listen and to support you. You can get in touch with us be calling 1800 66 66 66, texting 50501 or by webchat on www.childline.ie. All our services are free and confidential so you can chat with us about anything that’s on your mind or that’s going on in your life. We also have a section on our website about panic attacks, you can access it via this link: https://www.childline.ie/what-is-a-panic-attack-and-what-can-you-do-about-it/. 

We hope that this answer is helpful to you and that you’re able to find a way to cope with how you’ve been feeling. Feel free to get in touch again anytime. 

Take care, 

Alex.