World Mental Health Day: What are panic attacks and its do's & don'ts

World Mental Health Day is celebrated all around the globe today on October 10. The day stresses the importance of eradication social stigma against mental illness and creates awareness regarding the importance of mental health. A panic attack is a symptom and also associates itself as a disorder. Panic attack occurs due to a sudden rush of fear. The panic caused also causes a physical reaction and is known to disrupt an individual’s daily functioning. A person who suffers from panic disorder or regularly gets panic attacks should follow certain do’s and don’ts’.

Symptoms of a panic attack

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, these are the symptoms of a person suffering from a panic attack.

• An accelerated heart rate
• Shaking and sweating
• Feeling short of breath or feeling smothered
• The feeling of being choked
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Numbing or tingling sensations
• Fear of dying or feeling of losing control or going crazy

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What to do when an individual gets a panic attack

If an individual or a person in your surroundings is getting a panic attack, try these basic steps to try and prevent a panic attack from getting worse.

• Deep breathing: Deep breathing is considered to be one of the best ways to reduce the effect of a panic attack and to reduce the anxiety caused by it. Sometimes even an anxiety issue can lead to a panic attack. Meditation and different breathing techniques also help when it comes to preventing a panic attack or while experiencing one.
• Start counting: Counting numbers act as a distraction from the situation. Start counting backwards from 100, the duration the task requires will eventually subdue the panic attack.
• Seek help from a therapist: A therapist will help an individual in sorting their issues and also understand the cause of their panic attacks. Certain therapies are also suggested for people suffering from panic disorder and have been proven effective in due course of time.

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What not do when a person gets a panic attack

• Ignoring the issue: An individual ignoring his mental health or not considering a panic attack as an issue can have major repercussions. Consulting a therapist and addressing the issue is important.
• Using certain statements: If a person close to you is suffering from a panic attack or is suffering from panic disorder to do not try to use statements like, just calm down, you have nothing to be nervous about, you are just overreacting, I would not that, you are embarrassing yourself.

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