How to Help a Panic Attack, Even if You Aren't the Victim
Having a panic attack is a scary and traumatizing event, both to the person having the attack and to the people around them. To a person witnessing a panic attack, it can be confusing and they may even wonder if the sufferer is having a heart attack or other serious medical emergency. If you see it occurring, is there any way to help a panic attack?
Believe it or not, the old cliché about breathing into a paper bag may actually help a panic attack. If you give the victim a paper bag and instruct them hold the opening over their mouth and breathe slowly in and out, you may help a panic attack subside sooner.
You can also help a panic attack victim by asking them to lie down on their back on the floor. Stay close and instruct them, in a calm and soothing voice, to breathe deeply and try to relax. Try to avoid or remove all stimulation that might distract the sufferer from attaining a calm state of mind.
If you are in public and lying down is not an option, ask the victim to close their eyes and imagine that they are in a calm place. This may not help a panic attack subside immediately, but after a few minutes of deep breathing and calming exercises, the panic attack victim should start to feel the attack loosening its hold.
Long-Term Treatment Options
If you want to help a panic attack sufferer in the long term, you may be in for a somewhat trickier job. If someone you are close to suffers from panic disorder, there may be underlying causes for their panic attacks that you do not know about. It could be some past trauma that causes a panic attack when the victim is triggered. It could be a chemical imbalance that impairs the function of their natural "fight or flight response." Or it could be stress in their life that causes periodic attacks.
Whatever the cause, trying to help a panic attack sufferer to get over their disorder entirely is usually only successful if they are willing to receive your help. You can't force the other person to accept your help, and pressuring them to do so may actually worsen their anxiety and bring on more panic attacks. It's best to approach the subject in a calm and non-threatening way to see how they will react.
If the other person is receptive, you can offer to help them get to a doctor who can treat them. You could also offer support for their daily activities, such as going into stressful situations with them to act as an anchor if they are likely to be triggered into a panic attack.
However you are able to help a panic attack victim, just the offer of assistance can be a very welcome gesture. Panic attack sufferers often feel scared and alone, and knowing that someone cares enough to offer help can go a long way toward helping them to recover.
