Troubled Youth Programs Can Help Teens Struggling with Panic & Anxiety Disorders

In the face of danger, your body automatically has a response: face it head on with everything you have or quickly escape from the threat. Simply, it’s called fight-or-flight. Though this instinct is extremely helpful in saving your life in the presence of actual danger, these feelings can also come up without a current, obvious fear, which sometimes leads to panic and anxiety.
Panic attacks are a common occurrence for individuals with panic disorder or other anxiety disorders, but they also can occur independently. This is especially true for teenagers with high levels of stress.

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden, seemingly unprovoked feeling of fear and dread. Panic symptoms come rapidly and often include:

  • Fear of losing control
  • Physical pains
  • Shaking
  • Sweating
  • Nausea

Though panic attacks are typically short-lived, they can occur at any moment and have severe symptoms.

What do you do in the midst of a panic attack?

A person’s first reaction to a teen in the midst of panic is not always the best reaction. You want to help them calm down and tell them there is no reason for them to be frightened, but saying these things often does more harm than good.

According to Scott Bea, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, “anxiety can be like quicksand – the more you do to try to diffuse the situation immediately, the deeper you sink.” – Huffington Post

A better response to those suffering a panic attack might include the following:

  • Let the person know you are here for them and not going anywhere
  • Keep yourself calm
  • Have compassion for what they are experiencing
  • Listen to the things they need: water, food, space, a hug, etc.

Troubled youth programs can help

If you have a child suffering from panic attacks, you know how stressful it can be for both them and their family. Panic attacks often occur due to a perceived inability to handle a stressful situation with a sense of being out of control. A therapeutic environment, such as a troubled youth program, can teach teens how to cope with stressful situations and intense emotions.

Therapy + nature = the ultimate healing

Troubled youth programs, especially wilderness therapy programs, can have immense benefits for teens suffering from anxiety and panic disorders. Not only can therapists help teens overcome fears, healthily relieve stress and provide coping mechanisms to overcome panic attacks, but a wilderness environment also offers excellent natural healing. Being in a troubled youth program, away from the stresses of school work, peer pressure and home life can offer teens time to heal.

To learn more about troubled youth programs, call Trails Carolina today at 800-975-7303 to see if it’s a right fit for your struggling teen. Or, read more about us on our website.

Avatar of Graham Shannonhouse

Graham Shannonhouse

Get started today

Contact us today to learn how Trails Carolina can help your family

Contact Us LP

Trails saved my daughter’s life. Amanda is an amazing human and a brilliant therapist. I am so grateful to her, Science Steve, and the other wonderful people who could reach my daughter at a time when I could not.

Margot Lowman August 2022

Great life changing experience for our son. After becoming addicted to gaming during covid he was very depressed. At Trails he experienced the wilderness, Science Steve, learning survival skills and top notch therapy and support etc… I highly recommend! This gave our son and our family a renewed family bond full of love and excitement about his bright future.

Winnifred Wilson July 2022

 

Outstanding clinical work and superb staff! There’s a great culture at this company and it shows with how they engage with families/clients.

Kristin Brace June 2022

 

Discover If Trails Is The Right Program For Your Child

Take our short online assessment and help us better understand how we can help your family.

treatment for anxiety in teens

Treatment For Anxiety In Teens: How Wilderness Therapy Can Help

At Trails Carolina, we will give your child the skills to manage anxiety in real-time as soon as they arrive on our campus. They will very quickly gain a sense of belonging at Trails because of the sense of community that naturally occurs with the other students who are dealing with the common struggles of learning to manage adolescent anxiety.

Depression And Anxiety Are More Common Than You Think

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S. It is common for someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression and vice versa. The number of children and adolescents that struggle with anxiety and/or depression has increased over time. According to a report from 2011-2012, more than 1…
Mental Health New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Mental Health Resolutions for 2022

Traditionally the start of the new year is a time for adjustments and goal setting. We reflect on what we didn’t like about the previous year and optimistically make plans for bettering ourselves for the next. This time is ideal for incorporating these new year’s resolutions into one’s personal life. Most people focus on their…
family reuniting - trails carolina reviews
Trails Carolina’s wilderness camps for troubled teens are dedicated to helping teens work through behavioral or emotional difficulties, build trusting relationships with their family and peers, and achieve academic success.