| The other day, I received a comment on my blog from | | | | system and then their brain are sending. |
| a boyfriend who told me that his girlfriend had just | | | | Panic Attacks And "Fight Or Flight" Reactions: We're |
| disclosed that she sometimes has panic attacks. She | | | | all heard of having a "fight or flight" reaction when we |
| had admitted this as though she had told him some | | | | are faced with danger and then find ourselves having |
| deep, dark secret and they boyfriend was trying very | | | | quick reactions times or strength that surprises up. This |
| hard to be sensitive about this. He loved his girlfriend | | | | is exactly what happens when a person has a panic |
| and didn't want for her to be ashamed. He asked: | | | | attack. Their heart begins to pump blood rapidly, their |
| "what happens to you when you have a panic attack? | | | | sense of hearing, sight and time is heightened, even in |
| And, knowing this, what can I do to help my girlfriend | | | | situations that would be ordinary to you. |
| when she has one?" I'll tell you how I answered him in | | | | Unfortunately, because their brain is being flooded with |
| the following article. | | | | these responses just as it would be if they were |
| Why Your Nervous System Tricks Your Brain During | | | | staring down a grisly bear, their response is also |
| A Panic Attack: Here's the first thing that you need to | | | | exactly the same. They are frightened. They are |
| understand about these attacks. The person having | | | | troubled. They feel like they must get away or flee. |
| them is having very real physical symptoms. It is | | | | And, they have that out of body feeling where |
| probably going to look to you like everything is | | | | everything speeds up in your body but bogs down in |
| happening in their head. And, you may rightly wonder | | | | your mind. |
| why can't they see what is actually happening in the | | | | So, they are not able to turn off the physical |
| land of reality? Why can't they see that they are not in | | | | responses long enough to calmly look around and see |
| any real danger? | | | | the reality of the situation. They are being flooded with |
| For example, a person having a panic attack while | | | | and overwhelmed by these stimuli that they can not, at |
| driving on a bridge may react like the bridge is actually | | | | least at this time, control. |
| falling or swaying when in fact it's a bright summer day | | | | How You Can Help Someone When A Panic Attack |
| outside without any wind. So, your inclination may be to | | | | Is Happening To Them?: So, after I explained all of this |
| tell the person that they are quite mistaken, that all they | | | | to the boyfriend, I told him that one of the most |
| have to do is look around and see that they are | | | | important things for him to remember is that this is all |
| wrong. | | | | very real and immediate to her. So, don't try to |
| This doesn't like work because the person having the | | | | convince the person that they are overreacting or are |
| attack currently has a heart that is racing like an | | | | being foolish. If this is not their first attack, they are likely |
| award winning race horse. They are probably shaking, | | | | troubled and embarrassed enough without you pointing |
| sweating, and finding it very hard to breathe normally. | | | | out that they are mistaken. |
| Their body most definitely feels like they are in a quite | | | | It's important that you speak in low and soothing tones |
| dangerous and dire situation. So, it is quite difficult, if not | | | | and offer your support. (There are tapes and MP3s |
| impossible, to ask them to tell their brain to just turn off | | | | that you can use to model these messages and |
| the physical symptoms. Because to them, the switch | | | | phrases.) If they will allow it, rub their back, hold their |
| has already been flipped. And, what they are feeling is | | | | hand, and whisper that they are OK and that you are |
| as real to them as if they were having a medical crisis. | | | | right there with them. Tell them that everything is going |
| See, when a person has a panic attack, their central | | | | to be OK because you are going to stay right with |
| nervous system, for whatever reason, goes into | | | | them and make sure that they are safe. If they will |
| overdrive. This can come from situational or general | | | | allow you to, try to help them regulate and slow their |
| anxiety or even from legitimate medical issues. But, | | | | breathing. This will help to weaken the physical |
| whatever the reason, your nervous system causes | | | | responses. |
| adrenaline overload and this floods your brain and | | | | If this attack is one that is due to the situation, then |
| clouds your perceptions. Please understand that this is | | | | calmly but swiftly remove them from it. Admittedly, in |
| not the person not wanting to overcome this enough | | | | order to stop the attacks, the person will have to |
| or being weak or incapable in some way. It's just their | | | | eventually face these things. But, when they are having |
| attempt to deal with the signals that their nervous | | | | an attack is probably not the best time to try this. |