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Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember04 Jan 2019, 12:02 pm AEDT

Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Panic attacks are overwhelming to go through and can affect anyone, not just those that live with mental health issues. It can be very difficult to see someone you care for in a moment of a panic attack. In this Topic Tuesday we will discuss insights that will help you better support a loved one who experiences panic attacks.

Special Event Note:

For this Topic Tuesday our content team will be reviewing our discussion after the night and will use some of your wonderful insights to help put together a SANE blog post to highlight helpful tips, strategies and thoughts on supporting loved one’s dealing with panic attacks. Quotes will be completely de-identified, your forum username will not be used and therefore your anonymity maintained and respected. If for some reason you do not want any posts quoted, please feel free to e-mail team@saneforums.org

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77 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember22 Jan 2019, 8:38 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

I can imagine you were shaken @Shaz51! Did you ever discuss this again or has tonight been the first time since that that you have explored it?

This also prompts me to another area for discussion for us all.….looking at some self care. I know it’s the absolute buzz word of being a carer. Are you looking after yourself? What can you do to engage in self care? We discuss it a lot in all our topic Tuesdays right?

And I know often it can be the case that there isn’t always enough time to go away and just take a rose petal filled bath (although how nice would that be!!). So let’s look at the short term things we can do. When you are seeing a person in distress your own distress and/or adrenaline can spark up. This is natural and can also leap us into action as we discussed. But what happens when you have gotten your person through the attack and they are doing okay? In that say, 20 minutes post, what do you do? For you? For them? What helps both of you recover from that moment?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Shaz51Senior Contributor22 Jan 2019, 8:46 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

But what happens when you have gotten your person through the attack and they are doing okay? In that say, 20 minutes post, what do you do? For you? For them? What helps both of you recover from that moment?

That is a good question @Former-Member, well we usually stay home

the next example was at a customers house where we work for 6 hours , by lunch time I said we need to go home as mr shaz is not well , got home mr shaz went to bed after taking meds and me , sat down with a cuppa , could not put tv on all all , could not read , just sat there with my cuppa

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember22 Jan 2019, 8:47 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Looks like we are getting to the winding down part of the night! Maybe before we finish up as well people could share a few things that they found interesting tonight? Or even if there are any other thoughts around panic attacks that you would like to share? We will be using some of your absolutely wonderful insights in a SANE blog piece to try to help others when their loved one faces a panic attack and to help discussions happen around this!

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

DeterminedSenior Contributor22 Jan 2019, 8:49 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Hi all, a bit late ai know but just finished reading over the discussion.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember22 Jan 2019, 8:50 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

A cuppa is always a good call hey @Shaz51 - did it help to just be sitting in the moment? Were you managing your own thoughts perhaps? I know for others it can be the oppposite where they like to kind of break away from what happened and watch Tv but everyone is different.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember22 Jan 2019, 8:51 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

Hello @Determined! Glad you caught up as well - we have 10 minutes left. What thoughts or insights have you had when reading back over what we have discussed so far?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

JPJContributor22 Jan 2019, 8:52 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

THank you adge for pointing out the differences and the link between anxiety, long and short term, panic attacks and ptsd. I will need to look into it more I think.

In response to: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

AdgeSenior Contributor22 Jan 2019, 8:54 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

When I become overwhelmed, my frustration levels sharply rise.

I become frustrated & angry at myself (turned inward) for being overwhelmed, & for feeling unable to think or act clearly (becoming less functional).

This frustration (& anger at myself) is a major trigger.

If I keep pushing to take action, or to make a decision (under those circumstances) - I end up freezing or dissociating completely.

That's kind of what happened this morning, & a few times later today.

My T was reminding me to "Back off" or to ease off the pressure on myself - because it's largely my internal expections (or fears) that provoked the PA & overwhelm.

Yes it did help when I paused, & took some deep breaths (at least momentarily) - it took someone else (my T) being present, to remind me to do that.

In most cases, there is no-one present with me when it happens - I am less able to remind myself independently.

Adge

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

oneagleswingsNew Contributor22 Jan 2019, 8:55 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

My thoughts quickly - I think I do the same - a quick time out/breather/prayer & then back to whatever I may be doing at the time.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

DeterminedSenior Contributor22 Jan 2019, 8:58 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //Supporting a loved one through a panic attack // Tues 22 Jan, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member I initally came looking for tips to help my darling but after reading over above I suspect I have had a few panic attacks myself. Something I have simply put down to worry about my darling. Have not mentioned any of these events to anyone previously as not always but often late at night.

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