This section is for those trying to help someone who is experiencing, or dealing with, anxiety on a daily basis. How you provide support to them may help them to control their anxiety to some degree.
First thing’s first.NEVER belittle or try to downplay someone's anxiety disorder. This is a REAL disorder and should be respected as such. Don't just dismiss their episode as a one time event, or try and 'solve' their problem through rationalization.
You have to understand that when a person is actually going through an anxiety attack rationality is not something they are concentrating on. Or listening to.This is an extremely frightening experience and no matter how much you'd want to, you CANNOT MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE GO AWAY. Only the individual who is having the attack has the power to do this. Not YOU.
The absolute worst thing you can do is to act as if they are making it up to get attention. This is simply not the case. While you may believe this to be true because you have never yourself experienced the sheer terror of an anxiety attack, that doesn't mean that it isn't happening to someone you care about.
Imagine for a second that you had witnessed a "physical" accident that your loved one or dear friend was involved in. Something you could see the outcome from.What if they were trapped inside a car that was on fire?
What if they were trapped underwater and were drowning?
You would want to aid them, wouldn't you?
What if they had stopped breathing?
Wouldn't you do everything in your power to help them?
While the above examples are extreme, sometimes, to an anxiety sufferer, it absolutely feels like the end of their world. As if they are drowning in a sea of fear, unable to pull themselves out.
Also, by ignoring the anxiety attack, you are probably contributing to another disorder that goes hand in hand with anxiety. Depression.Instead of standing around, try helping them the next time they have an attack.
How can you do that?
Just BE there for them. Let them know that while you may not understand what they are going through, you are there for them and will stay until they feel better.
Do NOT try and force someone out of an anxiety attack. It could make the attack that much worse for them. Just let the attack happen naturally, and in most, if not all, cases, their bodies will help them come out of the panic zone all on it's own.
If it doesn't, get them to the nearest emergency room as soon as you can. Or call an emergency squad to take them.Also, NEVER try to give someone suffering from an anxiety attack any type of prescription drugs that have not been prescribed by their family physician.
Seems like common sense, because when you see a loved one going through such a painful event, you really want to help them.
Believe me, THIS WILL NOT HELP THEM.
Getting them to a professional source, such as an emergency room or their own family physician, for help WILL.