|  | Mental Health | Anxiety Disorders

What to Do If Your Roommate Has an Anxiety Attack?

An anxiety attack, also called a panic attack, comes on suddenly and without warning. It is experienced as a flood of psychological and physical symptoms. An overwhelming feeling of fear has come over your roommate along with racing thoughts, fast heartbeat, shaking and a sense of impending doom. These symptoms as well as others she may be feeling are extremely uncomfortable. Not only is this a frightening feeling for your roommate, it can also be for you, too.

  1. Calmly Direct

    • Stay calm; although this may be hard to do if you are seeing this for the first time. Overreacting on your part will worsen the condition for your roommate.

      He needs to slow down his breathing so that other symptoms slowly subside. Talk to him slowly and precisely, saying things that are reassuring, such as, "This will pass" and "You will be OK." Leading him in deep breathing exercises is the single most helpful action you can do.

      Tell him to take a deep breath, through his nose and then slowly let it out through his mouth. It will be helpful if you do this with him and set the timing with your own breathing. Be moderately persistent with him because he may be so frightened that he cannot sit still long enough to do this. Let him know that the breathing will help, and then do your best to get him to focus on this with you.

    Distraction Techniques

    • The person suffering an anxiety attack needs to distract his mind by concentrating on other things besides his frightening symptoms. Talking to him in a calm demeanor will also help in elevating the symptoms.

      Ask him to describe something in the room to you; again, you may need to be a bit persistent, but don't give up. Continue to get him to converse about something he has knowledge in. A sport, college course work or a hobby, but the object is to get him to do most of the talking. By getting him to distract his mind and taking it off of the fear he is experiencing, this will help in calming him down.

      Another distraction technique is to lightly slap your hand on your leg, chair or table and count the slaps out loud. Doing it in unison with him will help in breaking his concentration on the symptoms and put it on something else.

    Stay With Him

    • Normally, panic attacks last for only a few minutes, but the residual effects of experiencing the fear from this attack may continue for a while longer. It is important not to leave your friend alone after this has happened because he may still be frightened. Even if your friend says that he is fine, he is probably still somewhat unsure, especially if this was his first anxiety attack.

      It will be helpful to stay with him and continue to take his mind off of the experience by playing a board game, cards or just by talking. If you can keep him engaged in an activity, he really will feel better soon.

Anxiety Disorders - Related Articles