Every person is different, and we all have different ways of dealing with the various situations that we encounter in our lives. We all have different defense mechanisms when it comes to facing challenges in life. Some people tend to find it impossible to not over think and panic in stressful situations, and then there are those who can be very cool, under all kinds of challenges that come up in life.
What we need to keep in mind is the fact that if someone is facing any challenge in life then, that person will have to deal with it all on their own and do what he or she can to be able to overcome the situation. The best person you can seek help from is you. If you are going through something, no one else can be a better judge of what exactly you are feeling. Therefore, one should always be dependent on oneself when it comes to stressful situations.
At the same time, it is true that there are situations that arise when we have to be there for our close friends, family members, and others suffering from panic attack to make sure that they can deal with the negative emotions that they are experiencing in the moment. In certain situations, we are left with no choice but to act accordingly to make it possible for us to sooth the person immediately.
To be able to help others, it is important that we have enough information about what the other person is going through. If we are not aware of the best way to deal with the situation, we might just end up making things worse for them. If you wish to help someone who has been experiencing a hard time dealing with stressful situations and is prone to panic attacks, you will need to keep a few things in mind and make sure that you deal with the situation in a delicate way. This will also provide them some confidence to deal with the situation. Here is what you should do to help someone through a panic attack:
#1. Try To Understand Their Suffering
The best thing to do is to make an effort to understand why they are behaving in a certain way. Sometimes most of us are not aware of what the other person is feeling and is going through unless we have experienced something of the same sort. In case you are with someone who is suffering from a panic attack and you cannot figure out why they are going through such a situation, then you can always look at the situation from their perspective. Afterwards, you can decide the best measures that can be taken in such a situation. When someone experiences a panic attack, they fear something and are not able to accept the irrelevance of getting afraid without any serious reason. It is essential on your part to understand the fact that one and all uniquely experience certain feelings; you will not be able to understand the way they function. But what you can do best is to make an effort to understand how their emotions are causing them to react. When you make that effort, you will be able to understand the fact that how differently people react to various situations.
#2. Refrain From Talking About The Attack Repeatedly
It is very important not to mention the cause of anxiety over and over again. One should always make an effort to understand the reason behind their anxiety but should never drag it to the point that they feel uncomfortable and restless. If you keep mentioning the same thing, it will become impossible for them to forget their fear and the situation will become worse in such a case. Sometimes, we try to tell them how unnecessary their worry is but fail to understand the fact that the constant mention of the negative can make it impossible for the anxiety attack to subside. Mostly, our immediate reaction is such that we try to make the cause look unnecessary and in that effort, we keep mentioning it again and again. This leads to an opposite reaction from the person who is going through the panic attack. In such cases, it is better to try and leave the cause out of the conversation.
#3. Do Not Dismiss Their Behavior
Sometimes, we do not realize the seriousness of a particular situation. We forget to recognize the fact that for some people, it is tough to deal with specific circumstances. They feel emotionally weak because of the stress or the pressure that a particular situation causes them. It is essential to remember that not everyone has the same set of opinions about all the circumstances. If we do not feel stressed out in a particular situation, that does not mean that this is the case with everyone. Sometimes we do not wish to accept the reason why someone is fearful or is experiencing anxiety about a situation, and tend to dismiss all that they feel and have to say. Please understand that they are not weak or wrong, it is just the way their body is reacting. It is all about being able to acknowledge the idea that they respond differently. Thus it will be great if you do not judge them and do not try to tell them that they are not behaving reasonably. What you need to understand is that you can explain things to them later when they are feeling better and not do it when they are suffering from anxiety. Sometimes we are not able to understand how things are going to impact people and we tend to pass our opinion and judgment. One should always avoid such situations.
#4. Assure Them That It Is Temporary
Words can heal even the deepest wounds. Try to assure the people suffering from a panic attack that whatever they are feeling is temporary. If they feel depressed and negative in the current moment, it does not mean that they will continue to feel so always. Once you are successfully able to tell them that discomfort is temporary in nature, you will be able to see that they are feeling relaxed and soothed. For people who experience such discomfort, the thought of feeling stuck in a situation can be a trigger for the anxiety attack. In such cases, if you are able to let them know the fact that all their worries and fears are temporary, then it can pull them out of the discomfort.
#5. Make An Effort To Divert Their Attention
People experiencing anxiety attack need to make an immediate effort to stop thinking about all those things that are the cause of the negative emotions that they are experiencing. One of the ways to help them is by diverting their attention to other things and making sure that the thought that is the cause of the anxiety is not a part of their dominant thoughts and will not affect them in the long run. The more you keep their mind preoccupied, the easier it is going to be for them to keep those thoughts that cause panic away.
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