FA+
Shop
What to do when someone is having a panic attack
10 years ago
Thankyou for taking a moment to read my journal my art account is 
GryphonObsession
GryphonObsessionI wrote this out for my partner as I spend most of my time with him but ill post it here as its very valuable and people need to be open with their friends if they have mental health problems so they can be helped the best way possible
When I have a panic attack, its like a seizure, I am totally disconnected from reality, I usually cant open my eyes and I cant talk, when I try to I choke because I am breathing so fast, I'm just a crying hyperventilating ball of panic
I am writing this because I had a panic attack recently and this is everything I wanted to say but couldn't
Things that are bad (for me)
●Calling and ambo or someone else, I will eventually get exhausted and stop, saying you are calling someone or even worse having ambos rock up will not help ME at all
●Giving me any kind of medication, I cant take antidepressants as they send me suicidal, I control my depression and anxiety with mindfulness and other techniques I have learnt or taught myself (I have lived in my head for many years, I know how it works)
●Leaving me alone, I have a huge fear of abandonment, staying with me and telling me I am gonna be okay is great
●Asking me complex questions, as stated above, I am unable to talk so they should be questions that can only be answered with a nod or thumbs up and only about the situation "Do you want water" and such
Things that are good (for me)
●STAY CALM, I am very sensitive to other peoples emotions in day to day life and if you are freaking out its gonna make it worse
●Encouraging me to breathe normally and focus
●Distract me, tell me a story, ask me to imagine things, keep my brain too busy to panic
●Bring me a blanket and turn the light off, bed is safe, whenever I am upset I just want to be in my bed and hide in the covers
●Bring me a cat, or another pet that likes to be patted, animals can pick up on these things and there's nothing better than a purring cat to help you
●Grounding, tell me where I am, who you are, give me things of different textures and tell me what they are (this sounds silly but its SUPER important for me)
●Water/Food, this is also grounding, the sensation of drinking or chewing and tasting can help me snap back to reality
●Staying with me, If I look like I am asking for a hug then hug me dammit, this is also grounding that helps at any stage really, tell me its gonna be okay, rub my shoulder help me through this
All this is what helps me *personally* other people may find this not helpful
I hope none of you reading this will have to apply what you learnt but sadly some of you will, this is almost as important as knowing CPR but not many people see it that way as they have been lucky enough not to have a panic attack
Here is a good link about general help when someone is having a panic attack
please feel free to repost/share this around
im so glad ive been able to help <3