Anyone who has ever had a panic attack while diving knows how frightening it can be. The problem is that a panic attack can be deadly. A panic attack can cause you to hold your breath, hyperventilate, and waste your air supply. In the process, your visibility will decline and you'll likely do stupid things like make silly decisions. Even worse, you could die ten to fifty meters under the sea, breathing compressed air that changes the chemistry of your blood.
P panic attack treatment for scuba diving
Treatment of panic attack scuba diving begins with understanding the factors that trigger panic. Panic can lead injury when a diver cannot think clearly and control their actions. They have a singular focus on the surface and are dangerously unpredictable. Panic, a physiological response to severe stresses, can impair a person's ability to control their actions or pay attention to the surroundings. This can lead to dangerous behavior and even death.
There are many things you can do to prevent panic attacks from escalating. For instance, divers should stay alert to the surroundings and learn to communicate with other divers.
Panic attacks in scuba diving
You can check if your buddy is calm and relaxed when you're scuba diving. Early panic may indicate that your buddy is looking blankly and unable to make eyecontact. If a diver seems to be experiencing panic attacks, ask him/her to take a step back.
Calming down and reassuring panicked divers is essential. Avoid him or her running off to the side of your dive. This may further agitate the situation, and could endanger you. Avoid grabbing onto the diver and triggering an attack. This could cause the diver to lose control of their air supply and become immobile. If you are unable to calm the diver, keep a safe distance, and try to help him or her out of the water as soon as possible.
Panic attacks can occur while scubadiving for many reasons. For example, a diver may be prone to panic attacks if they are sensitive to caffeine or alcohol. Additionally, caffeine or alcohol can increase the risk of having an attack, so it's important to limit these substances before diving.
Here are some observations that will help you distract from the panic attack while scuba diving
Observations are an effective way to distract from panic attacks. The physical reaction of panic involves rapid breathing and increased carbon dioxide in the body. Your brain responds to the increase in carbon dioxide by sending out stress hormones and signaling your heart and lungs to work harder. However, this action can reduce your supply of oxygen. Therefore, if you feel that a panic attack is coming on, you must do something to reduce the effects of the attack.
If panic attacks are imminent, focus on familiar physical sensations, such as water on the skin and the dive watch. Assist at a slower pace and swim shallower if you can. This can help you push through the panic and continue the dive.