By: John Cielo
Submitted: 2011-10-13 10:53:20 | Word Count: 513
Advice on how to stop panic attacks is often sorely needed by those who suffer at the hands of this terrible illness. For all too many people, this kind of problem is all in the mind or fictional. Those who have been left temporarily paralyzed by fear by it know that it is a real and terrible threat, and will do almost anything they can to slow and stop its onset. They, and others, would do well to learn how best to manage this terrible blight on people's health....
These attacks are incredibly intense - moreso than most people imagine. The ability to slow them and eventually make them subside is very important. It is not only important because people need to continue with their lives - it also prevents any long term damage to the body that the associated problems of such blights can cause.
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It is vital to have some background information on this type of illness before trying to help others. These panic attacks quickly strike people who are feeling under stress. They take seconds to start, and will reach their peak after 10 minutes or less. If they are not treated, they will gradually slow and go within some hours. However they can be stopped quicker through some techniques.
These things are massively worrying. Those who have experienced it for the first time claim it feels like a heart problem or nervous breakdown. They may lose control of their mind and body, and will almost without fail begin hyperventilating.
For those around the sufferer, it is incredibly distressing to see the problem. However nervousness can spread, and keeping calm is vital. A sufferer's body may begin to shut down as blood supply is prioritized.
All these events are incredibly troubling. It is therefore vital that it is shut down very speedily. The ways of doing so are numerous.
Many advocate talking down a patient from their frenzied height. Trying to reason with them about the underlying circumstances behind this onset can help. Allaying their fears and anxieties in a reasoned, measured way may make them feel better.
If this does not work, advising the patient to concentrate on their breathing is most important. Hyperventilation is a potentially hugely damaging problem. If breathing is not managed, a person can lose consciousness. Therefore in order to ride the wave of panic and stop the attack, it is important to keep a person conscious. Encouraging a person to breathe alongside another, who is taking deliberately slow and meditative breaths, is useful.
If this is not possible, breathing can be modulated in another way. Using a paper bag may help. The visual stimulus of the bag inflating and deflating can help control a person's breathing and encourage regular breaths. All these ways are examples of how to stop panic attacks.
