In the middle of a movie, Jane begins to gasp. “I’ve got to get out
of here, I can’t breathe.”
Her husband gives her hand a squeeze. “It’s okay, honey, it’s
just that hyperventilation again. Let’s go out to the lobby and
see if we can get it under control.” In the lobby, he begins to help
Jane through the calming sequence, focusing on her breathing. “It’s
like the doctor said, honey. You’re going to be okay. You’re getting
plenty of air coming in, but you’re not breathing out. Hold your
breath a second. That’s good. Now blow it all the way out.”Jane’s husband acknowledges her symptoms by taking them seriously.
He doesn’t ignore her or start huffing and puffing himself. He tries to help
Jane calm her breathing and return to her activity as quickly as possible.
With help, she has been able to do this in other situations.
Doing this sort of thing in real life will not be easy. Psychological
disorders are never simple or straightforward.. Symptoms may vary from
one panic attack to another. It may be up to you to do a field diagnosis.
Jane clutches her stomach. “Ow!” she gasps. “It’s not the
breathing. I’ve got this terrible pain. I think I’m going to faint.”People with panic disorder can also get appendicitis, just as can hap-
pen to anyone else.
There will be times that, like Jane’s husband, you’ll be in a quandary
as to whether to continue with the calming sequence or rush the person
to the emergency room. If the person has been diagnosed as having panic
disorder, and, unless the problem involves audible wheezing, sudden
numbness or paralysis, or chest pain in someone who has never experi-
enced it before as a symptom of panic, five minutes won’t make much of
a difference. Continue the calming sequence and hope for the best.
“Honey, I know it hurts, but panic attacks can cause really bad
pains in the stomach too. Let’s try to get your breathing under
control and see if it helps.”Gastrointestinal cramping takes a while to subside, but if it doesn’t get
worse, you’re probably on the right track. If you have any doubt as to the dan-
78 ❧Explosions into Fear