Common symptoms of a panic attack are rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking, difficulty breathing, stomach cramps, dizziness, nausea, or feeling suffocated. One should get to the root of their panic attacks and contact a specialist as it can seriously affect one’s quality of life. (See Photos: Silent Symptoms of Panic Attack You Should Know)
While a person loses control during a panic attack and feels that all the physical symptoms are real, their near and dear ones can help them cope with it with the help of a few tips. Nutritionist Lavneet Batra in her recent Instagram post gave useful tips to help someone suffering from panic attacks.
“Panic attacks are sudden, intense surges of fear, panic, or anxiety. They are often extremely overwhelming, and they have physical as well as emotional symptoms. Panic attacks can occur unexpectedly and can affect your daily life. Can have a significant impact. Due to the extreme nature of symptoms, it is important to understand how to respond and help when someone is having a panic attack.
As they may feel as though they are dying during an episode. However, if someone around them is able to help them, they may feel or understand a little better. Some strategies and methods can be used to reduce panic, ease the condition, and even relieve symptoms. We can help prevent it from getting worse. Each of us should know how to react in such situations and offer help.” Batra.
If you know someone who experiences panic attacks, tell them about the things you can do (and avoid doing) to help them through this time.
“Many people are hesitant to help someone experiencing panic attacks because they don’t know what to do and they’re afraid of making the situation worse,” says Batra.
He shared three things that can be helpful in such situations:
Give them water
Water has a calming effect. Actually, drinking cold water activates the parasympathetic nervous system to keep the person calm. What may also be helpful is physical contact with water. So, either, placing a person’s hands or feet in water or giving them cool water on the face around the neck can help reduce anxiety.
Ask if they need to sit
Help them find a comfortable chair. Let them sit because this can have a literal grounding effect that can be healing and that can calm their anxiety.
Use grounding techniques
A grounding technique uses all five senses to help calm a person. A very common grounding technique is 5-4-3-2-1 where you can ask a person to list five things they see, four things they can touch, three things they hear Two things they can smell and one thing they can taste. It really helps to focus their thoughts on those questions and helps you to be worry free.
