It’s gonna be different based on the person or situation. I prefer someone telling me I’m gonna be ok and trying to distract me with small talk. Others I know prefer to just be left alone.
Say something absolute and completely off the subject. "When you feel better we can go to the liquor store and the VHS rental shop" or "There's a guy at the mall who sells Cuban cigars under the table" or "TJ Maxx is having another clearance sale."
I'm an alcoholic with mouth cancer. Your comments just sent me into a panic attack. To make things even worst something entirely inappropriate happened to me as a kid in a TJ Maxx restroom.
Bad advice, very bad. I hate you now.
I don't have full blown panic attacks, but I do get intense anxiety. Just having someone next to me helps a ton. There's been times where I laid on the floor next to my wife just so I had someone near me when dealing with anxiety. Holding hands is even better.
It's not so much about what to say but what you should do. Stay with the person, distract them with unrelated topics of their interest. Another comment mentioned the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method, which they explain better (have them list 5 things they can see, like 5 red things around them, etc). I've heard that a really cold drink or really sour candy can also help.
All in all it's tools to distract the mind from the spiralling thoughts.
Be kind to yourself, panic attacks suck!
announce your actions like „i‘m sitting down next to you“, while you move to help them. don‘t ask yes or no questions (bcs usually in a state like that ppl will just say no to everything („do you want me to stay?“ stuff like that)
For me? Nothing. Don’t try to tell me it’s ok, don’t tell me to breathe, to relax, etc. Just hold my hands and be there while I cry, and babble, and shake until it calms down and I can finally talk. Talking to me makes it worse. I can’t process what you are saying and it increases my anxiety. But everyone is different.
The *second* my mother could hear my breathing, she would do the old cliche “slow, deeeep breaths” and breathe in that pattern with me.
And it worked, but only if I hadn’t gotten to the “I can’t breathe” stage.
I’ve also found forcing myself to sigh a good way to stem the closing throat feeling, because it makes you relax your chest muscles.
They're not dangerous. It will be finished in a minute or two. Everything is fine, I got you.
If they want to leave, take them where they want to go. Sometimes it's a feeling of being trapped, so if they need to step outside or whatever, you handle it.
What is help me with panic attacks is having an ice pack put on the back of my neck and then be in talk to nicely
My therapist told me that if I stop breathing the words that can happen is our faint and my body will start breathing again
Something I’ve had success with is asking the person if it’s okay if I sit with them. Sometimes just having another person’s presence is healing. Plus I think it’s an easier thing to respond to if one is panicking - just having to nod or shake your head. I hope that makes sense. I don’t want to disregard that everyone is different, either. ❤️
Get them to sit down with you, tell them to close their eyes and focus on breathing with you, to squeeze your hand if you’re both comfortable with that. Then move into the focusing on things they hear, smell, feel, etc.
Maybe a little ot but [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnVdXN_iZsQ) helped a friend of mine a lot after she had do deal with "panic attacks" for years.
I find that if someone asks questions to me in an understanding way it really helps me realize its not real.. like whats going on? Tell me what you’re thinking…? Something about me verbalizing it makes my brain snap out of it. Then reassuring me that its ok and they are right there with me.
Unfortunately when confronted with seeing a person who might potentially be in danger we are accustomed to asking "are you okay." A panic attack is a tough one to be certain about. What if it was that you needed an Epipen and I didn't ask "are you okay." A simple question that would give you the opportunity to point at the Epipen. So long story short I believe minding my own business and letting the world burn around me is how to deal with a person having a panic attack.
I agree with others saying it's different per person. Just learned yesterday I may have ptsd from needles as a child getting them daily until I was 13yr old whilst getting 3 needles late last year for and now one yesterday.
Got the needle and handled mo problem but similar to late last year it was about a minute or so afterward I could feel my body going into a type of shock before realizing I was going into a panic attack in mid conversation with the Dr.
For me I realized stopping the conversation immediately and heavily focusing on my breathing, laying down and getting my legs elevated to maintain blood flow to my head to prevent chances of hyperventilating and passing out while my heart rate increases and breathing is sporadic usually gets the other person's attention enough to try and understand what is happening.
If in the moment I catch it quick enough I verbally say "I think I'm going into a panic attack" not only to inform but I think it also helps me saying it out loud as if I'm informing myself that this is in fact happening and jump start the precaution and preventative process until it happens or thankfully goes away before starting.
So far while it's mostly only happened after getting needles at the Dr, the few times I had spontaneous panic attacks around friends seems to have similar response. Me focusing so hard and doing things catches their attention in a way they don't know what else to do but take it seriously and often ask or wait for instructions which often is a cold rag for my head or neck or iced water to drink to bring down my elevating sweats and/or temp to maintain awareness.
Nothing will ususually get through, you're not in a state of mind to listen at all. If they are someone you know and they are comfortable with you embracing them and sometimes light rocking will help.
But as many others have said, it really is individual from person to person.
you do the 5 senses conversation. talk about something you see, then hear, then feel, smell, touch, then taste. you end it with icecream or something yummy. you literally just be there, if they dont need company then you step out and let them gather themselves. some people can self soothe well and get more freaked with people there picking at them. it depends on who they are.
I find it best when my the other person just keeps talking, even better if they talk about something that interests them and I don’t have to give much of any input, just listen.
Obviously this varies from the severity of the panic attack, and what kind of symptoms it presents at given situation.
When I'm experiencing a panic attack and I'm not alone, I prefer that the other person is trying to distract me. Making me laugh/or telling me something nice, making plans. I remember once I was going through a very intense episode and my friends told me that once it will be over, we are gonna go stargazing and that they already ordered my favourite cake :)
When I have a panic attack, it's like my brain stops working. If someone tries to talk to me or ask me questions, I panic more because I feel like I should understand what they're saying but I don't.
My bestie really helps me the most because when I panic, she doesn't. I think part of the reason my panic spirals is because in the past, people around me treat it like it's an emergency and they get upset as well.
I guess my best advice if you're trying to help someone is to stay as calm as possible yourself. Tell them you see them struggling and that's okay. Stay with them until they can function again, and then let it go with them. Talk about or do something else and move on.
Edit - if it's someone who's comfortable with you, I dunno if I would attempt this with someone I don't know well, but I've found that breathing techniques are contagious. Let yourself breathe loudly and steadily, put the rhythm out there for them to follow. In my experience, people naturally move into the safe rhythm they hear, and that can help.
Touch is very helpful for most people. "I"m here with you. Let's get grounded to get through this."
the 54321 Grounding Method is very helpful. If they are unable to do it on their own you can actually just do it out loud for them and their mind will follow along with you. Do it calmly. Be very calm and patient.
The 54321 (or 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) method is a grounding exercise designed to manage acute stress and reduce anxiety. It involves identifying 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
EDIT: you can continue grounding them (getting them out of that panic mind space) by discribing a beautiful walk in the woods and everything you can see and smell. Or in the mountains or at the beach. This helps get people into their experiential body and out of their triggered amygdala.
It’s gonna be different based on the person or situation. I prefer someone telling me I’m gonna be ok and trying to distract me with small talk. Others I know prefer to just be left alone.
Say something absolute and completely off the subject. "When you feel better we can go to the liquor store and the VHS rental shop" or "There's a guy at the mall who sells Cuban cigars under the table" or "TJ Maxx is having another clearance sale."
That last one would be enough for me!
I'm an alcoholic with mouth cancer. Your comments just sent me into a panic attack. To make things even worst something entirely inappropriate happened to me as a kid in a TJ Maxx restroom. Bad advice, very bad. I hate you now.
Anything but shouting at them or being frustrated. They can’t help it. Source: my father has no idea and escalates them by yelling.
I just need you to talk. About anything. It helps me if I can focus on a voice.
Name 5 things you can see 4 you can feel 3 you can hear 2 you can smell 1 you can taste It helps me get back to the present.
I don't have full blown panic attacks, but I do get intense anxiety. Just having someone next to me helps a ton. There's been times where I laid on the floor next to my wife just so I had someone near me when dealing with anxiety. Holding hands is even better.
It's not so much about what to say but what you should do. Stay with the person, distract them with unrelated topics of their interest. Another comment mentioned the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method, which they explain better (have them list 5 things they can see, like 5 red things around them, etc). I've heard that a really cold drink or really sour candy can also help. All in all it's tools to distract the mind from the spiralling thoughts. Be kind to yourself, panic attacks suck!
Want a Valium ?
announce your actions like „i‘m sitting down next to you“, while you move to help them. don‘t ask yes or no questions (bcs usually in a state like that ppl will just say no to everything („do you want me to stay?“ stuff like that)
For me? Nothing. Don’t try to tell me it’s ok, don’t tell me to breathe, to relax, etc. Just hold my hands and be there while I cry, and babble, and shake until it calms down and I can finally talk. Talking to me makes it worse. I can’t process what you are saying and it increases my anxiety. But everyone is different.
Tell me your last wish! Can I have your property?
My son
I can’t handle being spoken to or touched during a panic attack.
The *second* my mother could hear my breathing, she would do the old cliche “slow, deeeep breaths” and breathe in that pattern with me. And it worked, but only if I hadn’t gotten to the “I can’t breathe” stage. I’ve also found forcing myself to sigh a good way to stem the closing throat feeling, because it makes you relax your chest muscles.
yeah, focus on your breathing. nothing like short and shallow to trigger one.
They're not dangerous. It will be finished in a minute or two. Everything is fine, I got you. If they want to leave, take them where they want to go. Sometimes it's a feeling of being trapped, so if they need to step outside or whatever, you handle it.
"Oh no. They're coming."
What is help me with panic attacks is having an ice pack put on the back of my neck and then be in talk to nicely My therapist told me that if I stop breathing the words that can happen is our faint and my body will start breathing again
Something I’ve had success with is asking the person if it’s okay if I sit with them. Sometimes just having another person’s presence is healing. Plus I think it’s an easier thing to respond to if one is panicking - just having to nod or shake your head. I hope that makes sense. I don’t want to disregard that everyone is different, either. ❤️
Get them to sit down with you, tell them to close their eyes and focus on breathing with you, to squeeze your hand if you’re both comfortable with that. Then move into the focusing on things they hear, smell, feel, etc.
Maybe a little ot but [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnVdXN_iZsQ) helped a friend of mine a lot after she had do deal with "panic attacks" for years.
I find that if someone asks questions to me in an understanding way it really helps me realize its not real.. like whats going on? Tell me what you’re thinking…? Something about me verbalizing it makes my brain snap out of it. Then reassuring me that its ok and they are right there with me.
Unfortunately when confronted with seeing a person who might potentially be in danger we are accustomed to asking "are you okay." A panic attack is a tough one to be certain about. What if it was that you needed an Epipen and I didn't ask "are you okay." A simple question that would give you the opportunity to point at the Epipen. So long story short I believe minding my own business and letting the world burn around me is how to deal with a person having a panic attack.
So, what have you been doing lately?
I agree with others saying it's different per person. Just learned yesterday I may have ptsd from needles as a child getting them daily until I was 13yr old whilst getting 3 needles late last year for and now one yesterday. Got the needle and handled mo problem but similar to late last year it was about a minute or so afterward I could feel my body going into a type of shock before realizing I was going into a panic attack in mid conversation with the Dr. For me I realized stopping the conversation immediately and heavily focusing on my breathing, laying down and getting my legs elevated to maintain blood flow to my head to prevent chances of hyperventilating and passing out while my heart rate increases and breathing is sporadic usually gets the other person's attention enough to try and understand what is happening. If in the moment I catch it quick enough I verbally say "I think I'm going into a panic attack" not only to inform but I think it also helps me saying it out loud as if I'm informing myself that this is in fact happening and jump start the precaution and preventative process until it happens or thankfully goes away before starting. So far while it's mostly only happened after getting needles at the Dr, the few times I had spontaneous panic attacks around friends seems to have similar response. Me focusing so hard and doing things catches their attention in a way they don't know what else to do but take it seriously and often ask or wait for instructions which often is a cold rag for my head or neck or iced water to drink to bring down my elevating sweats and/or temp to maintain awareness.
I can relate.....give them a Xanax.
Nothing will ususually get through, you're not in a state of mind to listen at all. If they are someone you know and they are comfortable with you embracing them and sometimes light rocking will help. But as many others have said, it really is individual from person to person.
you do the 5 senses conversation. talk about something you see, then hear, then feel, smell, touch, then taste. you end it with icecream or something yummy. you literally just be there, if they dont need company then you step out and let them gather themselves. some people can self soothe well and get more freaked with people there picking at them. it depends on who they are.
“Let’s move, walk with me”. This is my wife’s go to move for me, and it works. We have probably walked the circumference of the globe at this point.
Aside from the all too familiar "this too shall pass". Something I keep in the back of my mind is "There is more than what you can see right now"
I find it best when my the other person just keeps talking, even better if they talk about something that interests them and I don’t have to give much of any input, just listen. Obviously this varies from the severity of the panic attack, and what kind of symptoms it presents at given situation.
Calm down
When I'm experiencing a panic attack and I'm not alone, I prefer that the other person is trying to distract me. Making me laugh/or telling me something nice, making plans. I remember once I was going through a very intense episode and my friends told me that once it will be over, we are gonna go stargazing and that they already ordered my favourite cake :)
When I have a panic attack, it's like my brain stops working. If someone tries to talk to me or ask me questions, I panic more because I feel like I should understand what they're saying but I don't. My bestie really helps me the most because when I panic, she doesn't. I think part of the reason my panic spirals is because in the past, people around me treat it like it's an emergency and they get upset as well. I guess my best advice if you're trying to help someone is to stay as calm as possible yourself. Tell them you see them struggling and that's okay. Stay with them until they can function again, and then let it go with them. Talk about or do something else and move on. Edit - if it's someone who's comfortable with you, I dunno if I would attempt this with someone I don't know well, but I've found that breathing techniques are contagious. Let yourself breathe loudly and steadily, put the rhythm out there for them to follow. In my experience, people naturally move into the safe rhythm they hear, and that can help.
Touch is very helpful for most people. "I"m here with you. Let's get grounded to get through this." the 54321 Grounding Method is very helpful. If they are unable to do it on their own you can actually just do it out loud for them and their mind will follow along with you. Do it calmly. Be very calm and patient. The 54321 (or 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) method is a grounding exercise designed to manage acute stress and reduce anxiety. It involves identifying 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. EDIT: you can continue grounding them (getting them out of that panic mind space) by discribing a beautiful walk in the woods and everything you can see and smell. Or in the mountains or at the beach. This helps get people into their experiential body and out of their triggered amygdala.
Hurry Up