CHILDREN'S AND ADULTS' PANIC ATTACKS (WAR TIME)
The start of the war caused shock and stress. Each of the Ukrainians, especially in the first months, experienced so-called "constant waves of mood". In most cases, it manifests itself through tears, increased anxiety, nervousness, but some Ukrainians have encountered such a phenomenon as PANIC ATTACKS.
This particular state is natural for the human psyche under the conditions of extraordinary events of wartime. The key task of the psyche at such moments is to protect a person from excessive emotions.
A panic attack is a sudden attack of intense fear, the symptoms of which are an increased heartbeat (tachycardia), a feeling of suffocation, lack of air, and rapid breathing. Dizziness, nausea, numbness of hands and feet, tremors may appear. A person is covered in sweat and thoughts arise that he or she is losing control, dizziness appears with convulsions that are felt only by the person (it`s not visible to outsiders), fear that paralyzes.
Panic attacks are quite short-lived, usually 5 minutes (up to 30 minutes for more vulnerable people). They also intensify and last longer when the child/adult is physically or emotionally exhausted.
During a panic attack, you should:
- try to breathe deeply, at least 6 inhalation-exhalation cycles (very slow and at the same pace);
- describe what you see or hear now, what you smell, touch something and focus on these sensations (if you feel sick, go to a room where there are less people, noise, smells);
- if you have the strength, you can try to remember a certain saying that, for example, your mother always told you or repeat some short rhyming poem (for a child), just count. The goal is to engage thinking process;
- if someone close to you is nearby, ask for a hug (stroking on the shoulders, palms, back) or simply for a conversation;
- remind yourself that this condition is unpleasant, but it does not pose a direct threat to health and passes quickly enough.
Importantly! Do not splash water on the child or adult who are suffering from the attack, do not shake or slap them, do not offer medication and mind to not confuse the attack with epileptic seizures.
A panic attack is not a problem with a person's mental abilities. The attack occurs from excessive emotional stress and exhaustion. A good sleep is the number one preventive method. Try to organize a sleep for an adult/child, even if the conditions are not conducive to this at all - there is also a quiet corner in the bomb shelter, where you can warn the people around you about the peace for this person.