anxiety state

[corylus]

How can I best help a friend who's recently developed an anxiety state with panic attacks?

[cupid04]

Be there for her and be a good listener.

[anneasquith]

advise her to see a doctor. be supportive and patient with her ? them.

[chinadog]

Tell her to keep a paper bag handy,when she feels a panic attack starting tell her to hold the bag over her nose and mouth and breath into the bag. She could also try Valerian a good herbal remedy but if she's on any other meds check its ok to take with them. A relaxation Cd also helps,most healthshops stock them.

[wolf63]

Try looking through the leaflets in this website. I suffer from periods of totally illogical panic attacks and it is horrible. I suffer from depression also but the panic/anxiety periods are so much worse.

http://www.rcpsych.ac...s/anxietyphobias.aspx

[kendra20]

if she has not yet been to a doctor and been prescribe anything, try and get her to go and ask for Amytriptoline tabs, I speak from experience I suffered for years with anxiety attacks and tried every thing then I was prescribed Amytriptoline and havn't had an attack since they are wonderful and no side affects they are worth a try anyway and they do help.

[DEN53]

cory - if your friend has only just started feeling like this, it may be worth getting to the bottom of what has changed in her life to cause this. You cannot heal her until you find what has started it. Den xx

[Dris]

Be there for her -talk to her support her,reassure her.(ive been there and I wont ever be full recovered but I wish that I had a friend like you at my worst -youre a diamond :))

[pastafreak]

She needs to deal with the cause....not seek medication straight away. That will only remove the 'symptom'...and it is a bad road to get stuck on,in my opinion.

Been there-done that.

[pastafreak]

This is an excellent site...with forums where she can talk to others who know EXACTLY what she is feeling.

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/

[karenmac60]

My pal has panic attacks and when she does she usually phones me because I am completely unsympathetic with her and just make her laugh about it. It probably wouldn't work for everyone but it distracts her from thinking about her symptoms and it tends to pass more quickly. She also recommends nose breathing during an attack - there is much less likelihood of hyperventilating if your friend breathes with her mouth closed, even putting her hands over her mouth if need be.

[Answerprancer]

A wee lie down is always a good option, or if out and about - go somewhere quiet for a bit eg. a library or a church.

[karenmac60]

AP - is it a while since you were in a library or is it just mine that's really noisy? :)

[Dris]

karen good thinking-it does make you take your time breathing so log as you keep taalking and keep her talking.Nice one :)

[Answerprancer]

Last time I went to the library, the woman in the horn-rimmed specs went "Shhhhh!" to anyone not whispering.

[Answerprancer]

If I get the heebie geebies (and I know this naughty) a stiff drink often sorts it out.

[pastafreak]

If you get recurrent,daily panic attacks,stiff drinks every time will NOT solve anything...and you run the risk of relying on that stiff drink.

[wolf63]

Our local psychiatric hospital is built in grounds away from the town and noise. It is really blissful to sit and hear nothing - completely relaxing.

However land is money these days and I really don't know what they are planning now. I go to a smaller community place now.