By Kathryn Tiffany, MS LAC
The best thing that you can do for a friend with anxiety attacks is to encourage them to seek help with a trusted adult, school counselor or teacher. Another way to help is to provide a safe place for them to be still and/or walk and focus on breath. Some people need to minimize distractions while anxious and some people need to do some type of physical exercise while anxious. There are various breathing techniques that work to calm the nervous system. Such as, breathing in to a count of 5 and breathing out to a count of 8. Whatever type of breathing they do, encourage them to slow it down. Anxiety is “worry about something in the future that may or may not happen.” Try to bring your friend into the present moment and let them know they are safe at this time.
This is information only – NOT medical advice