Panic Attacks

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of panic or fear and is not witchcraft, a curse or a punishment. This is an exaggeration of a normal bodily response to fear, stress or excitement. Panic attacks may last five to twenty minutes but in some cases up to one hour.

When helping someone who is having an attack, ask them if they know what is happening, create a safe place, help them sit in a comfortable supported position maybe against a wall and reassure the person as the experience is scary.

Encourage focus or breathing techniques. Focus techniques involve focusing on several non-threatening visible items using touch, sight or hearing, an example could be touching a stone and getting them to describe the feeling of the stone.

Breathing techniques involve focusing on their breathing taking in gradually slow even breaths. Demonstrate breathing slowly in and out and get them to join you.

After the attack has stopped, reassure the person to try and follow those techniques during future attacks and to seek professional help if available. Sit with them as they calm down and know that anyone can experience sudden panic attacks. It is not limited to a specific group of people.