Do you remember panic attacks that you experienced while scuba diving? Panic attacks are dangerous. Hyperventilating and holding your breathe can all lead to panic attacks that can leave you with a high blood pressure, suffocating your air supply, and possibly even causing you to lose your ability to breathe. In the process, your visibility will decline and you'll likely do stupid things like make silly decisions. Worse, you may die as you breathe compressed air, which changes your blood chemistry, ten to fifty meters below the surface.
Panic attack treatment scuba diving
Understanding panic attacks while scuba diving is important. Panic can lead to injury because a diver is unable to think clearly and consciously control their actions. They have a singular focus on the surface and are dangerously unpredictable. Panic is a physiological response to severe stress, and it impairs the ability to control a person's actions and pay attention to the environment. This can cause dangerous behavior and can even lead to death.
Once a panic attack begins, there are several things that can be done to avoid further damage. Divers need to be aware of the surrounding and learn to communicate.
Panic attacks in scuba diving
To determine if your buddy is relaxed while scuba diving, you should keep an eye on them. If your buddy is staring blankly and is unable to make eye contact, that may be a sign of early panic. Ask your diver to stop panicking if he or she appears to be in a panic attack.
An anxious diver should be calmed down, reassured, and encouraged to relax. A panicked diver should not try to escape the diving area. Doing so could cause more anxiety and even worsen the situation. Also, it is important not to grab onto the diver in an attempt to startle them. You could make the diver lose control over their air supply, and cause them to become immobile. Keep a safe distance from the diver and help them to get out of the water.
A panic attack while scuba diving can have many causes. For example, a diver may be prone to panic attacks if they are sensitive to caffeine or alcohol. You should also avoid caffeine or alcohol before diving.
You can use these observations to distract from panic attacks while scuba diving
Observations can be a powerful distraction from the panic attack. Panic attacks are characterized by rapid breathing and higher levels of carbon dioxide. Your brain responds quickly to an increase of carbon dioxide by emitting stress hormones. This signaling your heart, lungs and heart to work harder. But this can also deplete your oxygen supply. If panic attacks start, do what you can to stop them.
When panic attacks are approaching, you can focus on familiar sensations such as water on your skin or the dive watch. If possible, swim shallower or ascend at a slow, safe rate. This will help you get past panic and keep the dive going.