What to Do if Someone Is Suffering from a Panic Attack

Panic attacks can be caused by numerous factors and can be extremely stressful for anyone who has to go through them. The condition occurs when excess adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, sending a signal to the body that there is an emergency. The feelings of fear and anxiety that this induces will often mean that even more adrenaline is released, leading to a vicious and dangerous cycle characterised by extreme fear, a pacing heart, and the feeling that you're not getting enough oxygen.

If you're with someone who is having a panic attack, you need to know what to do to help alleviate the issue.

Contact a Medical Professional

Many panic attacks will go away by themselves if the person suffering remains calm, but more serious episodes can require medical intervention. This is because people tend to breath rapidly when an attack is occurring, thereby disrupting the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen within the bloodstream.

If an attack seems particularly severe, a person is changing colour in the face, or if the attack has been going on for more than 15 minutes, make sure you contact a medical professional. It might be necessary for you to take them to a local medical centre or for an ambulance to be sent out.

Make Sure You Don't Instruct Them to Calm Down

People who are trying to help someone suffering from a panic attack often inadvertently introduce new stress factors and make the situation worse. One of the more common examples is telling someone that they should 'stay calm' or 'snap out of it'. This is something they will already be trying to do, and ordering them to concentrate solely on the idea of calming down is unlikely to work.

Ask Them to Concentrate on Breathing

Instead of telling them to calm down, ask them to concentrate on their breathing. Rapid breathing is commonly seen in people experiencing an attack; they'll often believe they aren't getting enough oxygen, then compensate by breathing too much. Ask them to breath in slowly, count to ten along with them, and then slowly breath out. Let them hear your own inhales and exhales to demonstrate normal breathing.

Resist Touching Them

It's natural to want to hug, cradle, or otherwise touch someone who is suffering from such a state of anxiety, but this is frequently the wrong thing to do. Touching can induce further panic when the body is being flooded with adrenaline, and hugging can make a person feel confined. You can take their hand if they seem willing, but don't go beyond that.

Panic attacks can be traumatic experiences, so make sure you approach the situation with empathy and do everything you can to work against it.