Helping someone who is having a panic attack

Watching someone have a panic attack can be a very distressing experience, especially when you’re not sure what’s happening. If the person you’re caring for is prone to panic attacks, it’s important that you know how to recognize when one is coming on and what you should do in response. In this video, we’ll go over some of the symptoms of panic attacks and give you a few tips on how to help the person you’re caring for get through one

[artemisjuliussilver]

From my experiences with people having panic attacks - 1. If theyre squeezing their legs, scratching or pinching themselves, give them something to squeeze, like tissues or a plush toy. 2. If theres something worsening the attack, remove it, or them from your location. Example: someone yelling 3. Speak to them calmly, but firmly, don't speak too loudly. Tell them to look at you. 4. Start giving them instructions on breathing - say always breathe in, breathe out, say it slowly and make sure that theyre following. 5. Meanwhile youre doing all the previous and following steps, reassure them theyre safe, everything is okay, youre with them. 6. Now, physical contact may help, or cause damage. you may feel like hugging them but this might shock them - dont. Ask if they want your hand, place it so they see it but its not too close. If they take it, you may held it firmly, maybe stroke the back of their hand, but dont do anything without consent - best way to know is giving them the choice to touch you. 7. Give them water, only a bit and listen to them if they need to talk. Make sure theyre not unsupervised till calm, but being with too many people will overwhelm them.
Thats my tips, and dont forget to help them seek a professional.

[fugazy]

I have Hispanic parents and when my sister was having a panic attack they got mad at her 💀

[refjel]

When my friend have panic attacks it helps her when I start asking her about anything, which cereals she likes, what's her homework for tomorrow, even what's her shirt color, her brain gets distracted from the panic attack and slowly she's getting better

[rat]

Thank you 😊 my friend gets panic attacks and I want to be able to help her if she gets one while I’m there with her.

[spksonat]

To everyone talking about the 911 thing, it's definitely not something you need to do _every_ time a panic attack comes on, BUT if the person has never had an attack before or you suspect it might be something else instead, that's when you should call an ambulance to make sure. Once they've had an assessment done and have been given the all clear physical health wise, you do not need to call an ambulance if a panic attack happens in the future.

[Ashley_Mo]

they really said call 911 if someone’s having a panic attack bruh i’d be living at the hospital if that were the case

[cherrycherishh]

i have panic attacks and i would never want my friend to call the ambulance when i’m having one it would just make me panic more

[Whoscorri]

I had my first panic attack yesterday, I didn’t even know I was having a panic attack. I thought I was going to die, I thought I saw blood I thought I felt blood coming from my mouth. I went knocking on people’s doors asking for help I went to lady and I asked her and her daughter for help. They thought I was crazy. I don’t blame them tho, I was acting ridiculous. I felt how I felt when I got shot. I didn’t know what was happening I felt out of my body and i could hardly breathe, It felt like somebody was sitting on my chest. Idk why I’m telling this but it just feels good to know that I’m not keeping it to myself. (Sorry for the bad English)

[AroaceChicken]

Don’t tell them to sit down, ask them whether they want to go for a walk or sit down because sometimes it’s helpful to take a walk

[kaides]

Hi, i am only 10 years old and i have panic attacks like every night, i have learned that breathing is very important also know that you aren't gonna die it is normal. I have never called 911 as i know i don't need it. Thank you to all the people who have tried to help even if i still have them thank you for that. God bless you :)

[jessie_]

Me: **has my first panic attack but no one notices**
Also me: **watches this video**
Video: * call 911 as the first thing you do *
*oops..*

[MARUUPHOBICC]

Why am I watching this I’m the one who has panic attacks lol

[Simplyc-btny]

I had a panic attack at work 5 months ago, in a nursery. I remember I’d made a suggestion to take the children out and the supervisor started to have a go at me because I didn’t do enough (as an assistant who did exactly what I was told at every moment). even though it was 5 months ago I remember the whole thing so well. I was firstly angry that I was being talked to like this especially after I reexplained my intentions which was just turned away with rude remarks. This anger quickly turned to me crying and then I went into a panic attack and I just couldn’t stop. When the attack started the first thing said to me was “you need to stop crying, you are scaring the children” (they were there but they thought it was funny which didn’t phase me at all in the current state, definitely not scared) and didn’t offer any support whatsoever. I was crying and physically couldn’t breathe let alone talk. It wasn’t until another staff member came through and offered me a glass of water and took me to a separate room. It took me a full 10 minutes to stop hyperventilating and for my heart to calm down, I just physically couldn’t get it to stop. When the panic attack finished I just felt really low and couldn’t stop crying. I was sent out to the garden (after the whole situation about me suggesting todo this in the first place) and I kept being told to stop.

I didn’t return after that day. I just remember how scared I felt, I couldn’t control my heart, my breathing, I couldn’t stop crying. I remember feeling like I’d reached rock bottom after the panic attack also. But I can’t remember anything that happened after that, until id left to call my dad. That feeling still hasn’t left me today and I’m scared that it will happen again

[AaronNickolas]

Ok, calling 911 every time someone has a panic attack is a waste of time! Especially if you KNOW that person has a panic disorder! Plus, that can cause even more stress for the panicked person. Instead, just sit there with them. Reassure them. Breathe with them. Talk to them. If symptoms do not improve within, I'd say about a half-hour THEN it'd probably be a good idea to call 911. Do NOT call before you have made some effort to try to calm to the victim first. I have clinically diagnosed panic disorder and it would make me panic more if I knew I was gonna be surrounded by strange people with medical equipment.

[luvdoodle]

Just want to say that I suffer from debilitating panic attacks and one of the things I fear most is the ambulance coming and having to go to the hospital 😕

[Mayaxangel]

Though everyone is different, I find that making the person laugh by changing the subject is one of the best ways to handle it. I’ve done this when helping many people and it has always worked. I Ofc tell them to breathe and take them away from the trigger but they need to change their minds off of what is going on and laughter is one of the best ways to go I find.

[Personnnn]

Me - has panic attack
Person- calls 911
Me- has several more panic attacks

[fandomcultures]

Don't forget to hug them and let them know how much you care about them

[drunkbee]

My son has panic attacks .
The best thing is to tell them long in advance that the body sends in certain chemicals throughout their body which causes this, keep telling them that the fear is the result of the chemicals not reality.
Them knowing that going into the attack will help them .
When it happens they think that the fear is real, the best thing to do is hold them and keep telling them that everything is ok and they are safe and the fear is just chemically induced panic attack.
Keep reaping that it is not real, it is not real, it will go away soon .

[DivaGlam]

Do not call 911. Although panic attacks are scary they do pass. Assure the person that they are okay. Have them lay or sit down and give a glass of water. Tell them to breath. Hell even hug them but don't call 911. Maybe if its the first but if not then no Trust me, I used to be in the hospital every week thinking I was having a heart attack until I've learned that its just anxiety.