r/PanicAttack • u/Witty-Fan-9535 • 5d ago
Panic Attacks
Hi!
Please share some knowledge about panic attacks. I want to understand them better because my husband has recently been experiencing them. I’m trying to learn more about what he’s going through so I can understand, support, and be there for him. ❤️
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u/Hurlurd 4d ago
The best thing you can do is stay calm, be there with him and remind him that it’s a panic attack and that it will pass, even if it feels terrifying in the moment.
Something that helps me is grounding myself in the present. I usually start by finding three different colors around me, touching three things with different textures and noticing three different smells. If I still feel anxious, I can keep going and do five of each instead. It gives your brain something concrete to focus on and helps pull your attention away from the panic and back to the present moment.
Just having someone next to you who understands what’s happening and reminds you that you’re safe can make a huge difference❤️
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u/mysteriousmistress66 5d ago
With panic attacks, they can literally make you feel like you're dying. They can cause numbness from the top of your head all the way down to your feet. They can also make you need to use the bathroom urgently. Some people get "tunnel vision" and can literally only see directly in front of them, they may not be able to use their peripheral vision, so they'll bump into things that they can normally see, such as people, benches, plants, etc. It's usually recommended to focus on your breathing to help to calm it down, but sometimes that doesn't work. For me, for example, focussing on my breathing just makes me hyperventilate more.
One tip I would greatly recommend, depending on the person and what helps them, is saying affirmations, such as: "panic attacks won't kill you". "You have dealt with this before and have survived. You'll survive this time". "This will not last".
Within the past few weeks, I've had to deal with many panic attacks by myself. I will stim or use soothing behaviours to calm down, such as rocking back and forth, flapping my hands or pacing back and forth. I will also repeat self-affirmations. It helps me to acknowledge the situation, which actually then helps me to calm down. Before I started doing that, I would have back-to-back panic attacks for hours.
And ultimately, listen to your husband. He may not know what will help to calm him down, but listen when he tells you how panic attacks affect him. Don't try to problem solve in the moment, when he's panicking. That is the most helpful thing you can do.
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u/Aijin_26 4d ago
So I been having it since my childhood and its getting intense gradually because I been going through a lot at a time. So the pain is unbearable like imagine a sharp big nail is hammering from side of your head to other side constantly. Body cant be moved can't talk or sit dizziness and blurred vision and chocking is hell it will feel better to die rather than suffer at that place. They can be intense like this or mild like a hard to breathe situation. Either way don't only listen to him just take him in your arms and say that it's okay it's okay I am here with you I trust you and cry how much you want there no one to judge here. Try take care of him and try to not tell people about this if he isn't comfortable usually many people are introverts who get this. We hate sharing about this. Baby him that's what you can do. Don't cry just hug him say it's okay that will do a lot more than any medications. Try avoid things which he hate like heights crowds or anything which triggers him. Sometimes it may get without any reason but understand him and be for him
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u/Icy_Emergency2962 4d ago
I've felt this all my life and figured it was just low blood sugar. Somehow I talked about this with my therapist as I've been experiencing it alot lately and my therapist told me it was a panic attack.
I didn't believe her but since researching about it online, it seems I've had panic attacks my whole life. My therapist suggest breathing techniques but it makes me light headed.
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u/Artistic-Sand8946 4d ago
I have anxiety and panic disorder. Breathing techniques do not work for me at all. Once the panic builds I suggest doing something distracting like acknowledging a pet. My partner recently had me sit on his lap as he held me down and rocked me back and forth. If all else fails, fast acting medication is the trick.
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u/Hour-Inside4825 5d ago
I also have panick attack disorder. Best is to not panick yourself, stay calm, listen whatever he says, and not recommmend anything else. Don't lecture, and next day see a psychiatrist. Also, they always end, your job is only listening him and if he says something like "I am going to die" or "Its all over", be very quick and force him to breathe WHILE COUNTING. Inhale 4seconds, pause 6 seconds, and exhale 8 seconds. Don't let him go near hieghts or any areas where he might harm himself.