How To Help Someone Having An Anxiety Or Panic Attack

Offer Reassurance

You can help someone having a panic attack or anxiety attack by offering reassurance. Sometimes the attack will have been caused by something specific, and sometimes it will seem to come out of nowhere. If a specific circumstance caused it, do your best to remove the person from the setting, even if it is just temporarily. Keep others from staring or overwhelming them. If the attack was brought on by life circumstances or bad news, do not try to problem-solve. Problem-solving can wait for after the attack.

In the moment, you want to keep their brain from fixating on the issue instead of chewing on it. Sit with the individual and reassure them that you will stay with them until they are feeling better. Remind them they are safe as gently as possible. Let them know you will help them however they need, whether that is contacting someone to pick them up, helping work through an issue, or getting them to a quiet space to decompress.

Get Their Medication

Individuals who are having a panic or anxiety attack will often have anxiety medication. This is quite common, since these attacks are often part of anxiety and panic disorders that medication helps treat. Thus, it can help if you get their medication for them. Of course, it is vital to ask them if they have or need medication first, since it helps show that they are in control. If you do not already know where their medication is, this is also an essential question to ask. Ultimately, getting anxiety medication from a medicine cabinet or purse for patients who need it can really help them when they are in the midst of an anxiety or panic attack. Many anxiety medications can provide individuals with an immediate calming effect.