Do you need tips for helping someone having a panic attack?  Perhaps you know of somebody such as a family member or friend who has this disorder and you wonder what you should do if they have an attack in your presence.  Helping someone having a panic attack will reduce your and their fears if you know what to do.

Hard To Watch A Panic Attack

It can be distressing to watch someone suffering an anxiety attack.  The person's fear is palpable and you can see the fear increasing as the attack unfolds.  The person complains that their heart rate has increased and their breathing is shallow, next they feel faint and are wondering if they will die from the attack.  If helping someone having a panic attack is important to you, you can be effective in this situation. 

You must remain calm and must try not to get frightened yourself.  You will not be able to help the person if they know that you are also scared.  You must remain calm so that the person's fears are not heightened. 

Tips To Help Out

There are a few types of things that you can do to relieve their suffering.  Find the cause of the attack and remove it or remove the person from the fearful situation.  The person will feel relief that there is a caring person with them and will appreciate the opportunity to go to a quieter place. 

Speaking to the person in a calm and gentle tone will help them.  You should express yourself in short sentences because during an anxiety attack, the person will find it hard to focus on what is being said to them.  Encourage the person however you can during the episode.

If you direct the person to breathe in move even breaths and breathe with them, this will relieve the symptoms of hyperventilation.  You can count to two while they are breathing in and breathing out.  Continue this until the person is regularly breathing.  You can also regulate the levels of carbon dioxide in the blood by getting the person to breath into and out of a paper bag.  If hyperventilation is already present, you may wish to get them to raise their arms over their head repeatedly to raise the levels of carbon dioxide in their bloodstream. 

If the person has medication for their panic attacks, give them their medication if this is when the medicine taken.  You may ask the person what they want you to do for them.  Do not leave the person alone when they are having a panic attack as this can worsen the situation or in case, the person needs medical attention.

Helping someone having a panic attack is possible when you follow a few common sense tips.  You can relieve your fears about helping someone having a panic attack if you remain calm and knowledgeable about the situation.