​​Practical psychologists of the center of PD and PPV conducted a communication event in the form of a preventive class on the topic: "Panic attacks in conditions of war. Self-help techniques for fighters.

For the twelfth month in a row, our psyche is under the pressure of an unprecedented load. Many people face not just fear, but panic. It may seem: "my heart can't take it," "I'm losing consciousness," "I'm going crazy," "I'm suffocating." A person is disoriented in space, does not feel the body, may be in a stupor.

Panic is a temporary experience of an excessively strong feeling of fear, which determines uncontrolled and unregulated behavior. At the heart of panic is fear, anxiety, which arises as a result of experiencing helplessness in front of real or imagined danger, the desire to get away from it by any means instead of fighting it.

The combat situation creates a favorable basis for the development of panic attitudes. This is facilitated by the enemy's sudden, unexpected actions, his intense fire strikes, excessive fatigue, overstrain, the spread of demoralizing rumors, moods, and the lack of information about loved ones.

It should be noted that, unlike other reactions to stress, a panic attack can occur for no apparent reason, or in situations where a person seems to have nothing to be nervous or afraid of. The speed with which they grow, their strength and the fact that the whole body is involved only exacerbates the feeling of fear and helplessness. The fact is that long-term nervous and emotional stress can provoke an anxious state with a number of accompanying symptoms: rapid heartbeat, an ominous premonition of something bad. Military in this state may seem depressed, confused.

A panic attack (hereinafter - PA) in its peak state makes a person want to find a safe place and a comfortable position of the body. In a deteriorating condition, a person needs the help of others, because he himself is unable to cope with bad health, anxiety and fear for his life, so he needs help.

How to recognize PA:

Rapid heartbeat, feeling short of breath, dizziness, nausea, sweating or chills, shaking, loss of control, numbness or tingling in the limbs, chest pain, fear of dying.

Prevention of PA:

To prevent PA, you can try to understand the causes of stress, do not abuse caffeine, alcohol, psychostimulants, do not limit daily activity, do breathing exercises every day, do sports regularly, monitor your diet, and sleep well. If you do not prevent such attacks, they can happen several times a week, or even a day. When a person experiences several panic attacks over a period of time, it is already a panic disorder. Panic attacks can develop into phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorder, so they should not be ignored.

Help with a panic attack:

-    offer the person to find a comfortable position for him;

- you need to master your breathing. You can offer a person to breathe into a paper (or any other) bag. Breathing should be slow, and the bag should be isolated from outside air. In the absence of a package, you can use palms pressed to the face;

-    the suggestion of calm through the feeling of a calm pulse. Take the person's hand and put his fingers on your wrist so that he can feel your calm pulse;

-    inquiry about sensations, concentration on bodily sensations (in the limbs), control over sensations;

- progressive muscle relaxation;

- an imaginary journey to positive experiences;

- stimulation of biologically active points;

- moderate exercise;

-     rest in peace.

Psychologically, panic disorder remains one of the most burdensome medical conditions. Despite the fact that vegetative manifestations are not dangerous to life and health, further repetition of attacks leads to an increase in the level of anxiety, worsening the quality of a person's life, reducing his ability to social adaptation.

Each of us worries from time to time. And that's normal. Then, when anxiety manifests itself as repeated panic attacks, and avoidance and escape become the main coping mechanism to overcome anxiety, this can serve as a reason to seek help from specialists. The first step in overcoming panic disorder is recognizing the need to seek professional help. It should be noted that panic attacks are a problem that can be corrected and the earlier you start working with it, the less consequences it can have.

In case of panic, a person should try to fight it by himself, in case of a panic attack, a person should seek help from a specialist (a psychologist or a doctor who will conduct a diagnostic examination, in case of a panic disorder, a person should consult a psychiatrist).