Often, you can restore rhythm by getting panicky people to control
their breathing. Sympathetic breathing is usually rapid, shallow panting,
which works well for running or fighting but merely fans the flames of fear
when people are standing still. Hyperventilation causes all sorts of frighten-
ing sensations. Try it yourself. For the next 30 seconds triple your breathing
rate and feel the effects of too much oxygen.
Now that you’re over being tingly, dizzy, confused, and generally dis-
oriented, imagine piling that kind of weirdness on top of fear, and you
have some inkling of what a panic attack is like. If you know how bad
panic feels, it may help you understand how eager panicky people are for
relief. Often they’re very open to suggestions, and are seldom offended by
attempts to help them calm down.
As we saw in the first chapter, the best way to burn off excess oxygen
is to get people moving. This is difficult in an elevator, but as we’ll see in
a minute, not totally impossible.
To help people control their breathing, you might say something like:
You’re going to be okay. Now take a deep breath. Okay, hold it
while I count to five. One, two, three, four, five (start at about
half-second intervals, then move up to a full second between
numbers). Now, blow all the air out while I count to five again.Sounds like yoga class, doesn’t it? Focusing on breathing as a way of
achieving tranquility is not a new technique, but it’s still cutting edge even
after 10,000 years. Blowing out is the most important part because people
who are hyperventilating inhale more often than they exhale.
You won’t have do breathing exercises with every explosive person
you deal with, but you should alwayspay attention to the rhythm and
cadence of breathing as an indicator of general arousal. The more staccato,
the more sympathetic activity.
REWARD SMALL STEPS. In calming, you’re trying to lead people out of emo-
tional arousal to a state of tranquility. If you don’t reward them every step of
the way, they’re apt to get lost. Give them an OkayorGoodevery time they
do what you suggest. One of the bedrock rules of human behavior is: actions
that are rewarded increase in frequency. Giving all these rewards will feel
Basic Calming Technique ❧ 57