4 Things You Shouldn’t Say To Someone Having A Panic Attack
includes alternative things to say!
Holy fucking shit THIS. Mantras are actually really helpful. Someone singing very softly to me is very helpful. Get me to sing or chant with you if you can. (I often repeat “Crimson, Eleven, Delight, Petrichor” to myself to hold off panic)
But don’t touch me unless I ask for it I’ll flip out more.
Reiterating the don’t touch comment. DO NOT touch. That will make things ten times worse. Also, if you’re in an even remotely closed in area, do not trap them or block them access to an open getaway. If you’re standing between them and the exit, get out of the way.
Distract me. Tell me a story, tell me your life. Try making me laugh. I don’t get these very often, it’s usually only when things are very bad at home and I have to face doing something major on my own. Like being my father’s power of attorney and making medical decisions for him…Yeah, that wasn’t a good day.
TRUTH.
Touching may or may not be helpful but you definitely have to ask first. Sometimes I need a hug, and sometimes I need a 3-foot bubble around me or it’ll just get worse.
Reblogging this again because it’s always good to know.
So remember when I chided someone for restraining an autistic person during a meltdown and someone else defended doing so because they hold down their sibling who had PTSD and couldn’t see why that could be bad? Well, this is some good reading here.
What works in some situations doesn’t work in all.
All of this. I can’t be touched when I’m having a panic attack/triggered meltdown. I like angry mantras, so if I’m repeating “worthless piece of shit” to myself, don’t tell me to stop, because it’s helping me, even if it doesn’t seem like it.
Whispering “I love you” to me as a counter mantra though does help, if I know you mean it.
My platonic soulmate once sang along to the radio when we were in the car and I was panicking. It was very soothing.
(Source: brute-reason, via escapefromdadmountain)
