@anxiety_fitness
Anxiety FitnessTW: How NOT to support someone who is having a panic attack. There are many things wrong with this approach. Telling someone to "just relax" doesn't work, they already want to relax. If they could, they would. They wouldn't be having a panic attack! Saying "you can breathe" in a condescending tone might be factually true, but it's invalidating. During panic, it feels like you can't breathe — brushing that off only adds fear and shame. "If you couldn't you wouldn't be talking to me" is just adding insult to injury. Using phrases like "you need to calm down, you're overreacting" suggests that their distress is a burden or inconvenience rather than something real and deserving of compassion. Breathing exercises are commonly suggested, but during panic they can backfire, focusing on breathing might actually intensify panic, or create a dependency that prevents learning the most powerful truth: panic itself is safe. Instead of shouting commands or rushing them through it... Be present. Validate their fear without feeding it. Don’t tell them what to feel. Remind them they’re not alone. Ask what they need when they’re able to answer. Be a grounded source of calm when they can’t be. That’s the most helpful thing you can do.
On the profile · Sep 14, 2025