Table of contents:
- What are the signs and symptoms of a panic attack?
- What to do when helping someone who has a panic attack?
- What if I'm the one having a panic attack myself?
- What happens if panic attacks are left alone?
Panic attack or panic attackis a tremendous wave of anxiety and fear. Your heart is beating hard and you can't breathe. In most cases, panic attacks strike suddenly, without any warning. Often times, there is no clear reason why these attacks occurred. In fact, these disabling waves of panic can occur when you are relaxing or sleeping at night.
Panic attacks may only occur once in a lifetime, but many people have to live their lives fearing that the panic attacks will suddenly come again. Repetitive attacks are generally triggered by a specific situation, such as crossing the street or speaking in public - especially if the situation has caused the attack before, or if the person has a phobia of situations that trigger their panic attacks. Typically, a panic-inducing situation is one in which you feel threatened and cannot escape.
What are the signs and symptoms of a panic attack?
A person having a panic attack may believe that they are having a heart attack or are going crazy, even dying. The fear and terror experienced by that person, if seen from the perspective of the other person who sees it, is not proportional to the actual situation, and may have nothing to do with what is going on around him.
Most people who have a panic attack may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath or shallow, rushed breathing
- Heart palpitations (heart palpitations)
- Chest pain, or chest discomfort
- Shaking or body chills
- Choking feelings or the 6 most basic types of first aid you must master
- Feel separate from reality and the environment
- Sweating or chills
- Nausea or stomach pain
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
- Numbness or tingling sensation in the arms and fingers
- Hot or cold flashes (sudden increase / decrease in body temperature, in the chest area and around the face)
- Fear of dying, losing control of the body, or going crazy
Panic attacks are generally brief, lasting less than 10 minutes, although some symptoms can linger. People who have had one panic attack have a greater risk of having another attack than those who have never had a similar attack before.
Most of the symptoms of a panic attack are physical, and they often seem so severe that the people around him think he's having a heart attack. In fact, many people visit doctors or the emergency room multiple times in an attempt to get treatment for what they think is a critical, life-threatening condition, when in fact panic attack. While it is important to eliminate possible medical causes for symptoms such as palpitations or difficulty breathing, they are frequently overlooked as a potential cause.
What to do when helping someone who has a panic attack?
If you are with someone who is having a panic attack, they may become very anxious and agitated, and they may not think straight. While it can be scary for you to watch a panic attack episode, you can help by doing the following:
- Stay calm and stay with the person during their panic attack. Fighting off an attack could make it worse.
- If you're in a crowd, take him to a quiet place.
- Don't make assumptions about what he needs, such as “Need water? Drug? Want to sit down? ". Ask directly, "Tell me what you need."
- If she has medicine to treat her panic attack, offer it right away.
- Talk to him in short, simple sentences.
- Avoid any distraction factors that seem surprising or busy.
- Guide the person to stay focused by asking them to do simple repetitive activities, such as raising their hands above their head.
- Guide him to regain his breathing, inviting him to breathe slowly on a count of 10 slowly.
Sometimes, saying one thing that is true can help a victim get through her assault well. When talking to the person, you may want to offer a few words of support. Tell him that the attack is about to pass, or that you feel proud of them for getting through this ordeal - can be of great help. Or, you can calm him down by telling him that you understand that his panic attacks frighten him a lot, but that it doesn't harm him.
By following the simple guidelines above, you can:
- Reduces the stress level of the person, as well as on you
- Prevent the situation from getting worse
- Helps to restore some control to the person in horrendous situations
What if I'm the one having a panic attack myself?
When you are having a panic attack yourself, try to figure out what is making you panic and challenge that fear. You can achieve this by constantly reminding yourself that what you fear isn't real and will pass quickly.
Many things can cloud your mind during a panic attack - for example, thinking about death or disaster. Distract the negative thoughts by concentrating on positive imaginations. Think of a place or situation where you feel peaceful and at ease, relaxed and relaxed. After you have projected the image in your mind, try to focus your attention on the imagination. These tricks can help you take your mind off the panic-triggering situation and relieve your symptoms.
Even so, sometimes positive thinking can be a challenge, especially if you have been in the habit of thinking negatively for a long time. Creative visualization is a technique that takes practice, but you may gradually notice positive changes in the way you think about yourself and others.
What happens if panic attacks are left alone?
If left untreated, panic attacks can lead to other psychological problems, such as anxiety disorders, and can even cause you to withdraw from normal activities. Panic attacks are a treatable condition, usually with strategies self-help or a series of therapy sessions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Medications can be used to temporarily control or reduce some of the symptoms of a panic attack. However, medicine cannot treat or address the root of the problem. Drug use can be beneficial in severe cases, but should not be the only way out of treatment. Medication is most effective when combined with other treatments, such as therapy and lifestyle changes, that target the cause of the panic attack.