How to Help Someone Who is Having a Panic Attack

Panic attacks, or anxiety attacks, tend to occur out of nowhere. They are a very common disorder among people so it is important that you know what to do in order to help someone who is having a panic attack.

First you need to know what a panic attack is in order to help the sufferer. I'm sure you've experience anxiety at one point in your life, so take that feeling and multiply it tenfold. This is what it feels like to be in the clutches of a panic attack. A person will have chest pain, rapid heartbeat, trembling body, profuse sweating, hot or cold flashes, excessive fear, and no sense of reality.

If a person is experience a panic attack for the first time, it is very important that you seek medical attention. The reason for this is because it may not be an anxiety attack, but another unrelated and possibly more serious condition. Talk to the person and try to find out if they are experience any other signs and symptoms or have an underlying condition that could be the cause of these symptoms.

When you're not sure, a health professional is essential in assessing the situation correctly. If you are waiting for help to arrive, comfort the person who is having the attack. Ask them if they need anything like water, or maybe they have some medication that helps them in this situation. Keep the person calm by appearing very calm, relaxed, and comforting. Tell the person that everything will be okay, and it will be over shortly. Do not tell them that they are overreacting or anything else that will make them even more self-conscious. Tell the person to breathe deep breaths and focus on that for a little while.

Many patients breathe incorrectly or do not breathe at all during a panic attack. Guide the person to breathe in for 3 seconds, and exhale for 3 seconds. Get them to repeat this until they are breathing correctly and this will calm them down.

This may be obvious, but do not just leave the person by themselves to deal with the problem alone. It is much easier for the sufferer to have someone there to guide them through it. The person may act differently than normal when having a panic attack, but be patient and help them through it, they will thank you afterwards for being such a caring and considerate person.

To the sufferer, these fears are real and serious. Do not allow the person to do anything irrational while they are having a panic attack, just be sure to comfort them and assure them that help is on the way.