Can anyone tell me the best way to support someone who has panic attacks?

[mustdripgore]

Other than just being with them, as this lessens the worry of having an attack alone. I know nothing about this kind of thing, but I want to be as helpful as I can without making things worse.
They are random btw, no consistent triggers. She is on ad's for 6 months to try and treat it.But thats making her unhappy due to side effects.

Breathe into them, don't fight them, deep breaths in through nose and out through mouth

ok. anything else? What about the stress of it happening at a really bad time?

stand opposite, fairly close- holding hand/arm softly.
breathe in deep and release so that they ';mirror' your breathing.

breathe in for 5 seconds
hold breathe for 5 seconds
breathe out 5 seconds
repeat
its called box breathing

try and get her to practice this (when she is not having an attack obviously)

so when she knows that she is about to have an attack-she can 'box breathe'

Its all about getting oxygen into the lungs

box breathing

ok. That sounds logical and as though it'll work. Thank you.

What can be done about stopping them? Or is it always gonna be a case of controlling and dealing rather than curing? Given that there's no obvious trigger.

as far as my limited knowlegde goes, panic attacks can be a symptom of something else - i.e. depression. I have a friend going through this now (and has been on and off for a good few years). She is also on AD's and has councelling, so far she seems to be improving, but is not out of the woods yet. She can go months without an attack then bam, starts to hyperventilate on her way to work. She has just gone back to work after 3 weeks signed off for stress and her work have reduced her work load to try to help - but sometimes she gets herself into these ever cecreasing circles of depression, stress, anxiety and she can't get herself out. There is nothing so far that I, or my other mutual friends with this particula friend have been able to do for her to help her overcome this - all we can do is be there, listen and sympathise as best we can - the rest I am afraid is up to her and her doctor....

Yep, the friend I'm refering too also had it years ago and is now reoccuring. She says she isnt strong personality-wise, and I cant decide if thats good that she sees her weaknesses as it means she's being realistic and that can lead to selfhelp. Or is it being defeatist for her to say that about herself, and she's just going to keep herself down?

I believe that panic attacks are like a volcano or a geyser- releasing any pent up anxiety.

During an attack, she MUST focus on something outside herself. If she closes her eyes, focusses on her pounding heart, whatever then it will be worse.

It helps if she can do something "logical", like read something out loud, do simple arithmatic, study in detail someones tie...

When you are having a panic attack, your body is in "fight or Flight" mode, and the "logical" part of your brain is turned off. Doing something logical switches this around.

Other than that, she should learn to deal with her anxiety. Every day she should do something to relax herself - excercise, something.
I don't reccomend things like self hypnosis or meditation yet as closing her eyes and focussing inward could trigger an attack.

Good Luck

I'd recommend she reads Claire Weekes books if she hasn't already,she breaks down the whole fear of getting panic attacks in her books.She talks about accepting them as they strike and then you work on this intense fear of having a attack.

Running on the spot when you get a attack really shows you that you won't drop down dead or that your heart won't stop (I always had that fear) sounds daft but it works!.