Supporting A Panic Attack Sufferer
It can be very frightening to watch someone have a panic attack. You will normally feel very helpless, and it can be extremely frustrating not to be able to help someone who appears to be in obvious distress. This is especially so if the person who is afflicted with the panic attack is someone that you love or care about.You may have noticed their panic symptoms before, but have never witnessed an attack in person. This sufferer may or may not be going to anxiety therapy, and if they are not, their attack could be more severe.
How you react can have a great impact on the sufferer. You will want to be cautious about either alleviating or aggravating the situation. In a lot of cases, an observer may be less than sympathetic. It is easy to get irritated, and try to convince the sufferer that they are being irrational. This is especially so if there appears to be no clear cause for the panic attack. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst reactions you can have. Making the sufferer feel as if they are being irrational will only make them feel more shame and anxiety. Sympathy doesn’t help much either, as it also tends to result in feelings of embarrassment or annoyance from the sufferer. Just the fact that you are there to witness this occurrence is greatly distressing to them.
The best thing to do is to stand aside patiently and wait for the panic attack to subside. Only if you feel that the situation has become life-threatening or dangerous should you call an ambulance or seek medical assistance. Never administer prescription medication to someone who is having a panic attack. This will not calm them down, and there is nothing you as an individual can to do help them.
A lot of panic attack sufferers resort to substance abuse to get a grip on their overwhelming feelings of anxiety. This is something that should always be monitored. Depression is common amongst panic disorder sufferers too, as it accompanies the feelings of helplessness and fear. If you notice that your loved one is becoming depressive, or appears to have formed a dependency on illegal or legal drugs, then it is time to intervene.
*Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in the popular press and medical journals that deal with anxiety. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice the reader should consult with his or her physician or other medical specialist.