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. It can result in you holding your breath, hyperventilating, and squandering your air supply. This will cause you to lose your sight and lead you to make bad decisions. Even worse, you might drown in the ocean, where compressed air can cause your blood to change.
Panic attack treatment scuba diving
Understanding panic attacks while scuba diving is important. Panic can result in injury as a diver becomes unable to think clearly or 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 you to dangerous behaviors and can even cause death.
There are many things that can be done once panic attacks start to subside. Divers must be aware of their surroundings and be able to communicate with one another.
Signs of panic attack while scubadiving
You can check if your buddy is calm and relaxed when you're scuba diving. You may notice a sign that your buddy is having panic attacks. If your diver is having panic attacks, you should ask him/her for help.
Calming down and reassuring panicked divers is essential. The diver must not run over the side of the dive as this could further complicate the situation and put the diver at risk. It's also important to avoid triggering the attack by latching on to him or her. This could lead to the diver losing control of their air supply. You should not attempt to calm the diver. Instead, you should keep your distance and get the diver out of the water as quickly as possible.
Many reasons can lead to panic attacks while scubadiving. A diver who is sensitive to alcohol or caffeine may experience panic attacks. Additionally, caffeine or alcohol can increase the risk of having an attack, so it's important to limit these substances before diving.
These observations will distract you from worrying about panic attack scuba diving
Observations are an effective way to distract from panic attacks. The body's reaction to panic is rapid breathing and increased levels of carbon dioxide. Your brain reacts to an increase in carbon dioxide levels by producing stress hormones. This signals your heart and lungs that it is working harder. This can cause a depletion of your oxygen tank. You can reduce panic attacks by taking preventive measures if you feel they are coming on.
After you have recognized that panic attacks are coming, you can start to focus on familiar physical sensations such water on the skin, or the dive-watch. Swim shallower and ascend at a safe, slow pace if possible. This can help you overcome panic and allow you to continue diving.