Comments on: Video: What NOT to Say to Someone Who is Having a Panic Attack

By: Anxiousoutoftheblue

Anxiousoutoftheblue — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:14:02 +0000

My partner said all of the above, thought that I was lying and that my anxiety wasn’t urgent and consequently left me to deal with it by abandoning me snd shutting themselves away from erveryone this making thing 10 times worse I felt like I was going to breakdown in those few hours till I managed to find them. Horrible scary experience

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:38:03 +0000

I had a panic attack a few days ago and my soon to be ex told me I had to fight the urge to lie down. Huh?!!

By: Sidra42

Sidra42 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:32:37 +0000

PI suffer from panic attacks myself. They began after my mom almost died on top of me due to a particularly bad asthma attack. When she got out of the hospital I felt really hyped up and nervous and felt like I could not get a deep breath. My Dr claimed I was doing it for attention from my mother. This was very unhelpful because at the time I didn’t know what was going on with my body and couldn’t stop or even control my symptoms.
Throughout my life my panic symptoms have been numerous. The worst was when I got a rapid heart rate that only trips to the ER and a sedative in an IV could calm. I have even been rushed to the ER while my heart was beating fast and irregularly. Often this comes on from nowhere even if I’m previously relaxed and could take hours to stop. It is also not helpful to have the Dr treating you ask if you plan to hurt yourself or someone else before you leave the ER. If I REALLY wanted to die why would I spend money to get treated in a hospital?

By: andre

andre — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:48:32 +0000

I suffer from panic attacks related to Social situations, and it happens pretty much all the time when im around large groups, even family get togethers. but thats because iv never been able to handle large amounts of people where ether, i’ve somehow become the host of a group of people when others go off to do there own thing. the pressure builds up , being left alone in a uncomfortable place and it triggers it off.
i was so mad after i calmed down, the worse of all people to say that sentence most of all was one long time best friend and i just told him to **** off. and it became anger and panic so i ended up in the coner of our small local pub hiding myself out of the way , i just wanted to sleep after that. totaly understand, found this site useful told a few close friends there more in the know how now , its gotten better able to handle small groups now.

By: KC

KC — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 02:22:02 +0000

I’ve had panic disorder for 7 years now, since i was 15. I quit caffeine two months ago and haven’t had a single attack since! However, i also haven’t had any triggers. Hopefully quitting caffeine will continue to help!

By: robin

robin — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 04:28:55 +0000

I was in my early twenties, Just newly married and visiting my in-laws.. mind you 30 years ago not a lot was known about panic disorder at this time and there was no Google…lol….I will never forget having a full-blown panic attack in my mother in-laws kitchen,,, You know the usual order, mind racing, sweaty palms,weak legs, believing I surely was going crazy,( my personal favorite ) trembling hands and shoulders so tight I felt like cement….I was trying to focus on making a salad for dinner and then I hear this …..”Oh my dear, I just really wish you could JUST channel all that energy you have” I’m so glad I did not have a knife, as I went crying and running out of the room…..Wow just think if we could do that, Why didn’t I think of that….Oh yeah I was busy just trying to remember to breathe…….

By: Janne

Janne — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 03:30:19 +0000

Summer, your video provided a lot of advice on how to help others and to become more compassionate.

I do need to be careful of the words I use when speaking with others, whether they are having a panic attack or not. But especially in the case of panic attacks, one needs to be more careful in their approach in helping the person.

Thanks for the video and I hope you have more videos on other issues where you can help to provide some advice and insight.

By: unjustified

unjustified — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:30:29 +0000

“You don’t look well, are you ok?”

Thanks, I was working on getting it under control convincing myself it was really nothing or “all in my head”…..BUT now I am really freaking out….DO I LOOK THAT BAD? Maybe I really am dying?!?!

By: PJ

PJ — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 04:07:55 +0000

My step daughter has panic attacks at first I thought she was just being a teenager…. I was wrong. Summer, I found your video very, very helpfull. Thank you Our next step is to get her proffesional help, it also seems she has a hard time at High School with friends not understanding. Any sugestions…..

By: flode

flode — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 19:16:22 +0000

I am a therapist and I work with clients that suffer from anxiety disorders. I find your suggestions very helpful….although none of my clients have actually had a panic attack in front of me I may have said some of those unhelpful things if they had. Thank you this was very informative.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:54:58 +0000

worst thing said to me during an attack..(said in a sarcastic tone by other person) “omg, what’s wrong with you? Stop this crap already”.

By: Val

Val — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:49:55 +0000

I’ve been suffering from panic disorder since 1962, and agoraphobia since 1972. About the worst thing anyone has ever said to me in the middle of an attack was, “Why are you acting this way?” And this was a NURSE. Someone whom you would think would know better…but oh well.

I’m actually one of those people who doesn’t want anybody to ask how they can help me in the middle of an attack because I am frozen in terror and cannot speak. At all. Do not touch me.

Probably the very best thing is for the person to tell me in a quiet voice, “It’s OK. You’ll be OK” while they remind me to do a breathing exercise (breathe in, hold for ten seconds, let go slowly).

Anyway, thank you for your efforts to make this stuff a little more understandable to people who can never understand it unless they’ve gone through it themselves.

By: Vi

Vi — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:40:10 +0000

The worst things I ever heard were “Oh those are just panic attacks – they will go away in time.” This was from my neurologist…! The other one that has haunted my years suffering from panic attacks was, “You are just going to have to get over it.” What – seriously? I would gladly “get over it” in a heart beat!

I have suffered from panic attacks for over twenty years, and have been able to collect tools to help stop them when I feel one creeping in. However, there are still those times when it happens way too fast and I cannot prevent it (or try to), but I am able to come out of one a lot quicker and without others around me even knowing I have had one.

I would also say that those bothered by your video are probably suffering from high anxiety disorders, or are hypersensitive to your movements and tone. They probably need to seek more help or avoid watching you. *smile* Nothing you are doing wrong.

By: FBK

FBK — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:28:31 +0000

I liked your video very much and did not find it annoying. I actually thought you were very cute. I look forward to watching more videos from you in the same way presented here. Great work!

By: Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 03:48:45 +0000

“Let it go; you’re going to be fine.” Summer, I have watched and enjoyed all of your videos; thank you for being brave enough to share your knowledge and personal experiences.