How to Deal With Someone Having a Panic Attack

Panic attacks are common with sufferers of mental illness. Panic attacks are unfortunately one of the many symptoms of a mental health disorder. However, this is one factor of mental illness that can be controlled to some degree.

Seeing someone having a panic attack can be distressing, but the important thing to remember, a the other person, is to remain calm. I hope I can advise you how.

Look the person in the eyes and tell them to focus on you, and retain eye contact; chances are they are feeling alone right now and doing this will help bring them back.

Tell them to take deep breathes - in through the nose, out through the mouth - do this with them and this will calm you too. Reassure them and tell them how important they are to you.

Do this until they are calm.

It may be best to follow this with some thoughts to what triggered the panic attack and how to avoid the same thing in the future.

It's all in the calmness and breathing.

Related Free Your Mind Posts:

Coping With a Mentally Ill Friend or Relative

Inducing Calmness