Overcrowded markets, noisy subways, and examination centers are a part of Indian daily life. For some people, all these situations may lead to sudden attacks of severe fear called panic attacks. The symptoms are alarming racing heart, dizziness, or a feeling of choking and they may occur anywhere. Knowing how to recognize panic attacks in public and how to assist someone in panic is a must-know skill, preventing further damage.
Why It’s Important to Be Aware of Panic Attacks in Public
Panic attacks go undiagnosed in India. People confuse them with physical illness such as dehydration or a heart attack. This confusion hinders proper response and at times results in undue stigma.
As per the National Mental Health Survey (NHMS)The survey reports that almost 15% of Indians need active intervention for one or more The survey estimated that about 3.5% of India’s population suffered from some form of stress or anxiety-related disorder.13 Oct 2023. With the stress of city life, competition at the academic front, and busy working environments, public anxiety symptoms are on the rise. With a student fainting in an exam center in Chennai or an office goer shaking on a packed Bengaluru bus, panic attacks in public spaces are an increasingly emerging issue that needs immediate awareness.
Causes & Risk Factors What Triggers Panic Attacks
Understanding what triggers panic attacks can help reduce their frequency. In the Indian context, triggers often include:
- Academic Stress: CBSE board exams, NEET, JEE, and UPSC prep create extreme anxiety among students.
- Crowded Environments: Markets like Delhi’s Chandni Chowk or Mumbai locals often heighten anxiety in crowds.
- Workplace Burnout: Deadlines, night shifts, and job insecurity in IT centers such as Hyderabad or Pune.
- Lifestyle Habits: Missed meals, use of too much caffeine, or poor sleep patterns.
- Cultural Expectations: Peer and family pressure to perform or marry young.
- Medical Conditions: Thyroid illness, asthma, or alterations in heart rhythm that may aggravate symptoms.
- Past Trauma and Genetics: Family history of panic disorder or individual traumatic events.
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Impacts on Health
A public panic attack may make the person feel in danger, even when no danger exists. Symptoms often include chest pain, sweating, shakiness, and the sense of losing control.
Left untreated, regular panic attacks may result in:
- Panic disorder which needs organized treatment.
- Substance abuse and depression, as reactions.
- Medical illnesses, such as high blood pressure and heart problems.
- Avoidance behavior, where individuals cease travel, employment, or school attendance out of fear of another attack.
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) points out that untreated anxiety disorders lower productivity and rise healthcare expenditures considerably.
Solutions & Prevention Strategies
Here’s how to help someone in panic when you notice signs:
- Identify early signs: Shaking, tightness in the chest, fast breathing.
- Remain calm and reassuring: Speak slowly and don’t panic yourself.
- Promote breathing exercises: Encourage them to breathe in through the nose and slowly out through the mouth.
- Ground them: Have them pay attention to their environment, such as identifying five things around them.
- Change location: If this can be done, remove them from the group to a less crowded area.
- Emergency assistance for panic attacks: If the symptoms persist over 20 minutes or feel like a heart attack, call for medical attention at once.
Prevention in the Long Run
- Ayurvedic remedies for panic attacks: Yoga, pranayama (e.g., Bhramari, Anulom-Vilom), meditation, and Ayurveda herbs ashwagandha.
- Healthy habits: Routine sleep, a balanced diet, and less caffeine.
- Medication and counseling: CBT counseling, counseling, and treatment options for panic disorder such as SSRIs by psychiatrists.
- Peer and family support: Open dialogue to minimize stigma and promote early intervention.
Expert Opinion & Government Guidelines
- WHO advises early detection and stress management for the prevention of panic disorder.
- ICMR advocates incorporating mental health care under India’s National Mental Health Programme (NMHP).
- CBSE provides helplines for students who are experiencing exam stress.
- Tele-MANAS, initiated by the Ministry of Health, offers free counseling in various Indian languages and is available everywhere in the country – both rural and urban.
- These resources improve access to professional assistance for Indians experiencing panic attack symptoms in public.
Frequently asked questions :
Q1: How to identify panic attack symptoms in public?
Observe sudden dizziness, trembling, chest pain, and pervasive fear.
Q2: Panic attack vs anxiety attack, what’s the difference?
A panic attack is sudden and intense and reaches a peak within minutes. An anxiety attack builds up gradually and takes longer.
Q3: How to help someone in panic safely?
Prompt slow breathing, calm them down, and shift them away from crowds if possible.
Q4: What are the causes of panic attacks in India?
Stress of exams, public transport, deadlines at work, caffeine, and family tensions are typical triggers.
Q5: Are there effective natural treatments for panic attacks?
Yes, yoga, breathing techniques, and Ayurveda can ease symptoms, but professional help is necessary for chronic problems.
Q6: What are treatment options for panic disorder in India?
CBT therapy, psychiatry medicines, counseling, and government helplines such as Tele-MANAS.
Conclusion
Panic attacks can strike anyone a student in exams, a Mumbaikar commuter, or a Hyderabad young professional. By understanding how to identify panic attacks, identifying public anxiety signs, and providing reassuring support, we can make public areas safer.
Mixing natural remedies for panic attack, treatment, and government-sponsored helplines guarantees that individuals receive the assistance they require. With support and awareness, nobody is left to deal with anxiety by themselves.
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