Someone You Know Is Having A Panic Attack?
Simple guide on how to respond.
~Ruchita Chandrashekar, Trauma Therapist
Panic attacks are not uncommon with survivors of sexual assault. In my experience of working with survivors, it’s more often a response to post traumatic stress. I’d even go a stretch and say that it’s congruent with what they’ve experienced. Of course, the body will be in a state of panic and distress when there has been an absence of consent and no agency! The solution in that moment is to offer assistance and the help we so often advertise when we discuss mental health.
Panic attacks usually stem from anxiety, which is the body’s natural response to keep us safe. When the feeling of safety is snatched away brutally, the stress levels in the body rise and lead to panic attacks.
