- Why do we find it so difficult to control anxiety?
- What triggers an anxiety attack, both emotionally and physically?
- What are the first symptoms?
- Can an anxiety attack be prevented?
- If we start to notice the first symptoms, what should we do?
- Are the symptoms the same for everyone? In other words, if we've had one anxiety attack, should we look for the same symptoms to detect a second one?
- What should we never do if we are having an anxiety attack?
- What should I do to avoid self-harm when I have an anxiety attack?
- How can we help someone having an anxiety attack? Should we give them space, or should we hug and comfort them?
- Can everyone have an anxiety attack, or are some people more prone to it?
- What guidelines do you give to prevent anxiety attacks?
- Are the symptoms of an anxiety attack in children different from those in adults?
- What tools can we apply during an anxiety crisis manifested by stomach pain, vomiting, or crying that can cause a rapid mood improvement in a 12-year-old adolescent girl?
- Is there a phrase or keyword that can help someone experiencing a crisis? If we agree on that phrase or word with them beforehand, can it help?
- Which people are more likely to experience anxiety before an exam or a job interview?
- Can an anxiety attack cause a rise in blood pressure?
- If we have persistent anxiety attacks over time, can we develop heart problems?
- Can an anxiety attack be masking a physical ailment? How can we tell if physical pain is truly caused by anxiety?
- In the event of an anxiety attack during a game or sporting competition, how should the coaches act?
- What is the relationship between anxiety and social phobia?
- As nurses, how can we help in an anxiety crisis?
- Often we're tempted to intervene, but sometimes less is more... And I understand that someone experiencing an anxiety attack also needs their space. What do you recommend not doing? What mistakes do you think healthcare professionals make most frequently?
- How can we manage an anxiety attack in the 10 or 12 minutes we have available in a consultation to see patients? Are there any express tools for professional support and help?
As nurses, how can we help in an anxiety crisis?
It will obviously depend on the service they are in and whether we want a quick intervention or a longer-term one. For example, in an emergency department, we need to act quickly and don't have much time, so a prescribed anxiolytic might be helpful, or even some technique to focus attention "outward." In a community service, we can take a broader approach to help them overcome their fear of those sensations and situations in the long term.
In therapy, when someone has an attack, they sometimes ask if they can lie down. I usually tell them to try to continue what they were doing and to try to concentrate on what we're doing, that is, to focus on answering my questions. The attack usually passes within a few minutes, and this helps them understand that anxiety rises and reaches a point where it stops rising, and then it subsides. And the less they do to control it, the sooner it will subside.
