What is a Panic Attack?

[Trev Williams]

A panic attack is where someone panics without obvious reason.. it's like being trapped in a group of lions about to pounce.. only the lions don't exist. Often people who experience social anxiety panic in social situations.. it is very difficult for people who haven't ever experienced a panic attack to understand this.

how can I help someone who is experiencing panic? it's important to keep calm, give re-assurance. often change can provoke panic too, so better to sit down with the person untill the panic is over, rather than move around or go away.

one technique for helping panic is to put and elastic band around your wrist.. twang it when you feel a panic attack coming on, this brings the person back into the present sometimes, although it doesn't work for every situation.

there's more information on panic attacks on the
Mind website

[Trev Williams]

I stopped a friend having a serious panic attack today.. it was after he recieved a bill for a very large sum of money which he couldn't possibly afford to pay (from the council saying he has 2 weeks to pay it). understandilby anyone would panic in this situation..

because of his health as well this was very dangerous coctail, which could have seen him seriously relapse in front of me. it was just chance that I was visiting when the post arrived.

basically whatever the situation it's not as bad as it seems to someone in a panic attack. Calm yourself if you're own your own with deep breaths, and try to avoid winding yourself up by going round and round the problem. it doesn't make it any better. I was lucky enough to be able to talk to him through this, and help him talk about options he could achieve..

this doesn't resolve the finantial problem at all, but the health problem in a way can be even more serious.