Help Someone Having a Panic Attack. We show the best measures to take to relieve someone suffering a panic attack. Come to the support of friends, family, and other members of the community.
Step 1: Find out the cause of the attack
Establish if there is a cause for the fear and either try to remove it or consider taking the person away from the source of distress to a quiet area.
Step 2: Speak to them in a reassuring but firm manner
Try and get them to remain still and to calm down.
Step 3: Advise them to try and control breathing
Regaining control of their breathing will help eliminate the symptoms and will help calm them down.
Step 4: Try counting breaths
One way of helping them to do this is to ask the person to breathe in and out on your count. Begin by counting aloud, encouraging the person to breath in for 2 and then out for 2, gradually increase the count to 4 and then 6 if possible until their breathing has slowed down and regulated.
Step 5: Get them to breath into a paper bag
This should be done by alternating around 10 breaths into and out of the bag, followed by breathing without a bag for 15 seconds.
Step 6: Don’t leave them alone
Step 7: Seek medical help
If the symptoms do not subside within 15 minutes seek urgent medical advice.