Stop Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are disturbing not only for the person who is experiencing them, but also for the others around her. Some people might feel confused and don't know what to do. If you happen to be with a person while he or she is experiencing a panic attack, you have to do your best to calm her down and help her stop panic attacks before it takes control of her body and mind.

 

Panic attacks are scary for a person as they occur out of the blue and a feeling of extreme fear is taking over. They last between five and twenty minutes and include difficulty in breathing, headaches, dizziness, shaking, hot flashes or chills, sweating and a dry mouth. It's a bit similar with a heart attack as the heart just starts racing and, along with all the other symptoms, it causes an overall very agitated state.

 

You may find yourself in the position where you have to deal with a person suffering a panic attack. It's highly important to stay calm and help her get through it. When someone experiences a panic attack, it's pretty rough to control it, especially if it's the first one. That's why you have to be very reliable and self-controlled when something like that happens to someone you care about.

 

If the person says she is experiencing several symptoms of a panic attack, you should remain calm, especially if you are aware of the fact that she has just gone through a situation that really triggered her anxieties. Freaking out together will make her feel much worse and aggravate her already fragile state of mind. 

 

Talk to her calmly but firmly. Don't ever shout or start an argument. Let her know that everything is alright and convince her to remain calm. Look deep into her eyes, holds her hands and reassure her that there's nothing to be afraid of. Don't ever leave a person suffering from a panic attack alone. Though you might feel really annoyed if you don't think there's a real reason to panic, remain as relaxed as you can be and support her to get through it until she feels well again.

 

It's very important to help her breathe properly. Panic attacks lead to difficulties that make a person feel like she's suffocating. This alarms her greatly and delays the end of the attack. Help her slowly breathe in and breathe out by doing this simple breathing technique in the same time. Always make sure asthma is not the cause of the lack of air.

 

If the symptoms don't get any better within maximum 15-20 minutes, call an ambulance and ask for specialized help. Even when you do so, do your best not to alarm the person and try to comfort her until the ambulance arrives.