Younger brother panic attacks

[Amie22]

I have reposted this question in an attempt to gain any helpful advice. Tonight, my brother suffered another episode. He said his ears were ringing and he started sweating and crying because he thought he may pass out. He was fine, his ears were merely blocked, but he was convinced something terrible was happening. At any sign of his body doing something out of the ordinary he panics and starts to hit himself to make himself feel better..... This was my original post:

My little brother has had various traumatic events related to his heart and breathing. When he was young he choked on a small boiled lolly and then about one or two years ago he had what I beleive were heart palpatations, but he thought it was some sort of 'heart attack'. He is only 8 yrs old and he doesnt understand that it was normal and happens regularly to people. Ever since then he constantly 'hyperventilates', breathes in air through his mouth very quickly and even watches his stomach to ensure he is still breathing. He constantly panics about not being able to breathe and requires the window is down in the car so he gets enough oxygen. He refuses to go swimming any more, despite being brought up as a water baby. My parents have spent thousands on a child psychologist and can no longer afford it, in fact it has worsened with time. We are physically and mentally worn out. People stare in public when they see him and the way he jerks his body and breathes. We often get frustrated but try very hard to ignore it and joke about it so that he will eventually just forget and stop. We have tried explaining that he doesnt need to do it. He makes himself ill! Please help, we dont know what to do anymore.

[mammo]

I think I would seek a second opinion on what is happening with your brother.  The supplements he is being giving is to help maintain a healthy brain, and eyes, but is doing nothing to help him now. It sounds  like he was involved in a study, but he needs professional help.  It sounds like he is ADHD, which has varying degrees of severity, but only a professional can say for sure.  Kids with this struggle with concentration, and get easily frustrated, as their minds tend to wander.  He doesn't need to be suffering like this, there is so much help for him!  The longer this goes on the longer he suffers in every way, and his quality of life will not be good. Early intervention is key with this.  Talk to your parents and tell them that you can see he is worse, so what they have been doing is not working and taking him back to these classes is futile.  It's not their fault if nobody has fully checked out your brother.  But now they need to get serious about this for his sake. You're a wonderful sister and may be the key to making sure your little brother gets the proper diagnosis and help.

[Amie22]

I'm sorry I can't give you more details about what tests were done on him, but I am fairly confident about the people running the anxiety program at the University. I would imagine they may conduct more tests if they thought he may be autistic or something similar.

He only attended a few of these classes however my parents are intending to take him again next year when they resume.

[Amie22]

Thankyou so much for your quick response, it makes me feel like there are people out there who I can talk to about this. It's very difficult to discuss this in my family because of the emotional stress it causes. My brother was actually diagnosed with anxiety at the local University. They were running a program with about 10 other children and parents. He has medication which he doesn't really like to take, it is called 'Efalex chewies' for kids, it's supposed to help with healthy brain and eye function. I'm not sure how effective these are but we will try and make him continue taking them. All I know is that he was going to a children psychiatrist and she often just played games with him alone and did other relaxing activities like that. I actually don't live at home anymore, I am here on holidays and have quickly noticed the severity of his anxiety. I want to help as much as possible before I have to leave.

I figure I should probably tell you a bit more about his general behaviour. In school he finds it hard to concentrate, he gets bored very quickly, and isnt fond of trying new things. I have sat and tried to help him through his homework but if he doesn't understand something straight away he gets frustrated and refuses to listen. He would often get into fights with other children, although this has improved throughout the year and his grades are slightly better. My parents had thought he may be autistic, and we are still not sure whether this could be possible.

[mammo]

I am so sorry to hear about your brother, this is no way to spend a childhood!  Has your brother had a thorough examination to rule out all other causes?  For your brother to have had so much therapy with no help makes me think there is more going on here.  If you could tell us what tests have been done, and what type of doctors he has seen we may be able to make some suggestions.  For him to suffer with  severe anxiety at such a young age is rare, and he won't outgrow it.  This will be his life without help.  I'm not an advocate of medication for someone so young but I feel he needs something to help with this.  As adults we can't make sense out of it, a child is truly lost.  Please tell us more, I feel so bad for your brother and maybe bewteen all of us on here we can help.