A 34-year-old female has severe anxiety and tells you she is having a panic attack. She tells you she has been depressed since her son was born two months ago. Her vital signs are P 88, R 18, BP 132/84, and SpO2 is 99% on room air. You should:

• A. Reassure her and transport.
• B. Place your hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
• C. Discuss with her why her son is causing her to be depressed.
• D. Tell her to relax, and she will be fine.

Answer: (A)

When someone is experiencing a panic attack, the priority is to calm them and get them to a setting where they can be evaluated and treated if needed. Her vitals aren’t showing a medical emergency, but intense anxiety can mimic serious conditions and still requires prompt assessment. Reassuring her helps reduce fear-driven sympathetic arousal, encourages slow breathing, and signals safety, which is key to aborting the panic response and preventing escalation.

Transport ensures she receives further medical or psychiatric evaluation and helps rule out other causes that could mimic panic (such as asthma, cardiac issues, or thyroid problems) and allows appropriate management for any mood disorder that may be present postpartum. A comforting touch might offer support, but it doesn’t address the immediate need for safety, monitoring, and access to care. Telling her to relax or discussing why her son is causing depression during an acute episode can dismiss her distress and won’t resolve the immediate symptoms. The aim is to stabilize the episode with reassurance and ensure she gets definitive care.