Fear and panic are normal reactions to danger. When fear or panic is felt, this reflects a chain of events in your child's autonomic nervous system. Let's take a look at how your child's body works, biologically speaking, as an aid to understanding how normal fear and panic become an anxiety disorder.

Neurotransmitters

A person's brain is a network of billions of nerve cells called neurons that communicate with each other to create thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This process is called cell-to-cell communication, in which a transfer of information from one part of the brain to another is made possible by chemicals called neurotransmitters.

The two primary neurotransmitters that affect your child's feelings are serotonin and dopamine. Also important in the cause and treatment of anxiety are the brain chemicals norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), and cholecystokinin, all of which play a role in the regulation of arousal and anxiety.

This information is complex, but remember that it is helpful to be familiar with this process and the chemicals that play a part in panic and anxiety. That way, if you do end up at the doctor's office, you can feel informed and confident to make decisions. When a doctor recommends medication, he will suggest an anti-anxiety medication that affects one or more of the neurotransmitters discussed earlier to correct the imbalance in your child's brain.

The Locus Ceruleus

The locus ceruleus, located in the lower part of the brain, is the structure that controls emotional response and triggers a defensive reaction for the purpose of protection. When your child is feeling anxious, the locus ceruleus sets the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in motion, and chemical messengers like adrenaline, norepi-nephrine, and serotonin are released.

The cause of the panic attack is simply the arousal of the SNS because of anxious feelings, even if there is no external threat present. Eventually, the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) will kick in, and the symptoms will diminish. Scientists have discovered they can provoke an anxiety attack if they stimulate the locus ceruleus electronically, and they can stop it with medication.

The Autonomic Nervous System

This system controls your child's breathing, digestion, and temperature regulation. It is composed of two parts; the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. As stated earlier, the job of the SNS is to rev your child up, and the job of the PNS is to calm your child down, each balancing the other out.

When your child gets frightened the SNS releases adrenaline, his heart pumps faster, sometimes racing, his blood pressure goes up, he might get tingling in his hands and feet because blood flows away from them to his brain, and his lungs will work harder to get more air. This release allows him to focus more intently on the real or perceived danger and sets off the fight-or-flight reaction.

The Amygdala and Hippocampus

When the fight or flight response is triggered it occurs in the parts of the brain called the amygdala and hippocampus. The amygdala is the part of the brain where feelings and emotions lie. So if your child is feeling fearful and anxious, the amygdala will send this information throughout your child's body in an alert. The hippocampus holds memory, time, and place, especially for situations that are highly emotional. Once the amygdala jumps into action, your child can become overly sensitive to certain stimuli, responding to fear and anxiety in an instant, even in a safe situation.

An example might look something like this: You moved last month and your child was very upset about it. He now cannot find his teddy bear that he sleeps with every night. He becomes frantic even though you told him you know where it is and will go get it. His heart starts to beat faster and he is becoming sweaty and tingly all over anyway. Although you persist in reassuring him, your child has a panic attack.