How to Help Someone Through a Panic Attack

Summary

How to Help Someone Through a Panic Attack

Often overlooked in the ongoing national dialogue surrounding mental health is the toll panic attacks can have on a person’s sense of well-being. A brief but intense rush of fear, panic attacks involve symptoms similar to those people experience when facing a threat, such as a sense of doom, sweating or chills, pounding heart and difficulty breathing. That there is no actual threat present does nothing to diminish the attacks’ impact.

Panic-attack triggers are not always easy to identify, meaning sufferers remain constantly concerned about having another one, particularly when they are in public. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help a friend or loved one get through the worst of the experience and on with their lives.

Keep Your Cool: Even if you feel a little afraid yourself witnessing the panic attack, make sure you do not communicate that to the other person. Always speak in a calm, soothing voice and reassure the sufferer that you are with them and that the attack will soon be over. In essence, let them know they are safe with you.

Ask Questions: Once you’ve established the fact that you are there to help the other person, calmly ask what you can do to support them. You might receive a curt response in return, as attacks can affect sufferers’ ability to think and behave logically. If so, remain neutral in tone and don’t take any negative response personally.

Danger Ahead: No two people experience panic attacks in the same way, so remember afterward to ask the sufferer what they believe brought it on. Understanding these warning signs is particularly valuable if you the two of you are in a long-term relationship, as it will help you understand the person’s situation and make it easier for you to aid them in the future.

Ready, Set, Action: Saying the right words at the right time is extremely important in this moment of crisis, but marrying them to action can substantially enhance their impact. Instead of telling the sufferer to “not worry,” act with your words by asking if they want to leave the room and then help them if they do.

Do You Validate?: People often have a hard time sharing their experiences with mental health issues, including panic attacks. Some avoid talking about them because they believe others won’t understand or they worry about being judged. Signal that you do understand that the panic is real and beyond the person’s control by validating the sufferer’s experience with empathetic responses. Something as basic as “that sounds really tough” paired with an offer of support can make all the difference.

The Aftermath: Panic attacks take a toll on the body as well as the psyche, leaving sufferers seeming calmer but tired as the body returns to normal after an extreme fear response. Be prepared to support them post-attack by asking how they are feeling and what they wish to do next. In many cases, someone who’s just had a panic attack might not feel up to anything beyond quiet relaxation, so be flexible in your own plans.
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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.