How can I help someone during a panic attack?

Helping someone during a panic attack requires empathy, patience, and a calming presence. Here are steps you can take to assist them:

1. Stay Calm:

* Maintain a serene and reassuring demeanor to provide emotional support. Your calmness can have a calming effect on them.

2. Create a Safe Environment:

* Gently guide the person to a quiet and safe place, away from the source of anxiety.

3. Active Listening:

* Let the person express their feelings and fears without judgment. Allow them to vent their emotions while you listen calmly.

4. Reassure and Remind:

* Remind them that these feelings are temporary and will pass eventually. Offer encouragement and reassure them that they are not alone.

5. Offer Coping Mechanisms:

* Gently guide them through simple breathing techniques. Encourage deep, slow breaths in and out for several minutes.

6. Practice Mindfulness:

* Encourage them to observe their surroundings through their senses. Ask them to notice colors, sounds, and sensations around them.

7. Avoid Pressure:

* Refrain from trying to quickly "fix" the situation or resolve their fears.

8. Maintain Communication:

* Continuously talk to them in a soothing voice, offering support and assuring them that they are in control.

9. Physical Reassurance:

* With their consent, offer gentle physical reminders of safety, such as a touch on the hand or shoulder.

10. Stay Present:

* Maintain a watchful stance throughout the attack until it subsides.

11. Professional Help:

* Encourage them to seek further help from professionals like anxiety counsellors or therapists to develop long-term management strategies.

12. Follow-Up and Support:

* Check in on them later to see how they are feeling.

Remember, each person experiences panic attacks differently. While one approach may work for some, another person might find different strategies helpful. Be considerate of their preferences and provide support however they need it.