Helping Someone With Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is not a make-believe illness that hypochondriacs create. It is real and frightening to people who suffer from this anxiety disorder. If you are around a person who shows signs of intense panic disorder, it helps to remain level-headed and calm during the episode. Panic disorder produces unexpected intense fear and panic. Panic disorder can happen anywhere and any time. It is usually caused by intense stress or emotional crisis in a person's life and can happen without warning. Many people who suffer from panic disorder lead normal lives with jobs and families.
These terror-stricken episodes are often referred to as panic attacks. Panic attacks can not only cause emotional symptoms but physical symptoms including dizziness, profuse sweating, fainting, heart palpitations, nausea, difficulty breathing, feelings of intense heat or cold, chest pain and headaches.
If you are around a person who shows signs of panic disorder, remember to remain calm and soft-spoken. Do not speak in a harsh tone or become agitated. Sit quietly with the person. Talk to them in a quiet voice. Breathe with him and ask him to breathe slowly and calmly (breathing in through the nostrils and exhaling through the mouth). Move him into a quiet, peaceful environment (especially if you are in a crowd).
Do not lecture or make him feel bad if he experiences intense feelings of fear or overwhelming emotions. Listen to his fears and reassure him that he won't be harmed and are safe. Offer a glass of water if he looks flushed or a blanket if he feels cold. Ask him how you can help and if he has a friend or family member who can further help. If symptoms persist and he is threatening bodily harm to himself or another person, immediately call 911. If the stricken person shows signs of depression after the panic attack, seek the advice of a mental health professional.
Member Comments
by margiegeorge on March 30, 2009 at 4:32 PM
they are scarey as hell, you feel like you are going to die, i have had them for years, hate them
by pokerdevyl on April 1, 2009 at 8:57 AM
I hear you....luckily, I have finally found the right combinations of anti depressant and anti anxiety meds that are keeping me pretty much symptom free. But they are no joke. And the worst part is people who have never had one don't understand it AT ALL and just think you are faking it.
by margiegeorge on April 1, 2009 at 12:14 PM
hello my panic attack friend, i received you note back to me, i appreciate it. i am on different meds
now due to other things in my life that has happened to me. i chew alot of gum and walk my dog alot
before i could not even leave my own home, thats nuts, but hang in there, pokerdevy ok. anytime
you need to talk about it just leave a message on livestrong.com. i should be the poster child for
these horrible things that happen to all of the good people, including me & You. Talk to you later.
by margiegeorge on April 1, 2009 at 12:18 PM
hi again pokerdevy, guess i do not get them anymore never did, never will yeah right
April' fools ha-ha
by DallasNeal on April 3, 2009 at 5:22 PM
I got panic attacks often after my Dad died when I was 18. Since then they have slowed down, I recently got married and they almost complelety stopped because of the love and support of my husband. However I did have one a few months back, it was awful, I was dying. My first panic attack I actually hyperventilated and ended up in the ER because my limbs and my toungue were going numb. anyways thought I would share... you arent the only one that goes through this shit... peace and love:)