Responses to the First Attack
People usually flee the scene of their first attack, often without attracting any attention. If they’re indoors, they’ll usually exit the building, and might feel some relief as soon as they reach the outside. If they’re in a car and unable to park and leave immediately, they’re liable to open the windows or turn on the air conditioning and feel some relief from the movement of air. They may go away to a private place to “get a hold of themselves,” or might go to the emergency room of a hospital.
If the attack takes place at work, or somewhere else in the company of others, their friends or family may insist on taking them to an emergency room or calling the paramedics. This attention from others who want to help is often the source of additional discomfort, and leads the person to try and hide any future attacks from others. If they became panicky in the midst of a social situation, like a party or a meeting, they are liable to make an excuse and leave. Less frequently, they ask for help, but all too often, the help they get isn’t all that helpful.
People who go to the emergency room with their first panic attack often have an unsatisfactory experience. They often get a general message from the staff that “there is nothing wrong with them,” and that they should go home and relax. Of course, there is something wrong. The person had a panic attack. It’s not that there’s nothing wrong, but that the thing that’s wrong isn’t dangerous. This distinction, unfortunately, often gets lost in the discussion. Use celexa not to lost that distinction.
