Cagegiver...just one more word of advice....don't let her get onto Paxil. That stuff is dreadful and you end up worse on it than you were before you went on it. It is highly addictive and has some really rotten side-effects.
How do you help a girl having panic attacks?
by Cagefighter 46 Replies latest jw friends
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journey-on
she wakes up in a panic
Just a side thought.....If the panic attacks are occurring only at night waking her up out of a sound sleep, has she been tested for sleep apnea?
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mindmelda
I've had them all my life, that I can remember. Some of it's organic, some people are more susceptible to them by genetic neurochemical wiring, or so I'm told. Hormones also have an effect on them for women. Both my parents have panic attacks, so I'm apparently prone to it genetically. Or they installed all my buttons or both, I'm sure.
Some medical conditions like asthma or allergies can also affect the propensity, and we're smack in the middle of allergy season. (I'm also an asthmatic, I have the perfect medical profile to be prone to panic attacks.)
The best thing you can do is to calmly talk to someone having an attack. They probably won't be able to talk, as you hyperventilate when you panic, so not enough air for that. Some people like to be touched or hugged comfortingly during an attack, some find it induces more panic to be touched, you'll have to find out how she reacts to that.
Don't take it personally if being touched or very physically close during an attack makes her even more panicky, it can make some people feel claustrophobic and so they need space.
Be soothing in voice and manner(my husband had this bright idea he could snap me out of it by yelling at me at first, which only made it worse...he's not always a genius. LOL), remind them to breathe and try to get them to do two things, which are the only part of a panic attack you can control physically. Get them to sit or recline immediately(in case they faint, it can happen), and try their best to take deep, regular breaths. A paper bag helps a lot, have them breathe into one if they have one, or even place thier cupped hands over their mouth and nose. That gives you more carbon dioxide, which eventually triggers slower breathing.
Remind them that they're safe, that you're there, and even if they feel faint or nauseous, it's all right, the worse that can happen is that they pass out on a soft chair or bed briefly...when you faint, it relaxes you and you automatically breath more normally, so even that's fine, it won't HURT you as long as you don't fall.
Throwing up won't hurt you either, it's just embarrassing.
When they calm down, try to see if you can figure out what triggered the attack, most people have some triggers that set it off, sometimes because of a bad memory or experience where they felt helpless or afraid and something similar has been experienced, even a smell or a word might do it.
For a while, my trigger was the word "money" because we'd gone through a bankruptcy and foreclosure, which is a very anxiety provoking thing, of course. Just saying the word "money" would make me feel faint, hands and feet start to tingle and I'd hyperventilate and feel like I was having a heart attack, as chest tightness, called "somatic reaction" is part of panic attacks too. I worked on desensitizing myself to that, because it's a pretty common word people use. Can hardly get through the day without hearing it.
It has helped, but sometimes, still, it can make me start to have butterflies in my stomach to hear or read the word. Gee, I just typed "money" now and it didn't cause anything but a tiny lurch...must be getting better.
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cult classic
I've had panic attacks all of my life. They are terrible to deal with and can have a few causes. Have her research panic and anxiety attacks. She is going to have to discover what works for her. May need to implement a combination of strategies
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VoidEater
Immediate response would be (barring life threatening situations, etc.): Sit down, close your eyes, and focus on the breath. At first watch the breath, feel it coming in, going out; notice the quality of the breath - the speed, the depth of each breath. Then, slow the breath down. Slow it down and hold it in a moment and pause after each exhalation. The goal is to focus on the breath and not on the external world or external events; and, slow, control the breath. Get to a point where each breath comes in for a count of 3, stays in for a count, exhales in the same count, and pauses between breaths for the count.
She needs to develop a mechanism for breaking the stimulus that is causing the attack - clenching a fist, snapping a rubberband, tapping a foot - and focusing on the breath, noticing she is OK, she is not at risk, there is nothing bad happening.
Professional help is in order.
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Cagefighter
Thanks to all of you and no body offending me. I really appreciate all the help.
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Darth plaugeis
Lots a good advice.. ask her if she has an episode if you should try to help or let her handle it. Because sometimes with Panic attacks you just need some quiet time or alone time. By asking what can I do might make it worse... they are all different types.
Broken Promises .......... take a chill pill yourself ... a little humor never hurt anyone.
Better yet go back to the Kindom Hall and ask them how to get rid of a panic attack and they will say. "Does she have Demon problems ?" Now that's FUNNY!
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Broken Promises
If you knew me in real life, you’d know that I have a great sense of humour. Unfortunately Outlaw doesn’t know when to funny, and when not to be.
Cagefighter, I hope your friend gets the help she needs. I have anxiety issues but nothing like her’s. All the best to you both.
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Cagefighter
I wasnt' offeneded by Outlaw I thought it was funny....
We spent the whole evening talking last night and got close again. She has had professional help and even hospitalization (before I met her) and she has come along way. She is very self aware of what is going on and where she is at in the process. Thanks again to all of you for all your help.
