How to cope with a panic attack in the mountains

During any outing to the mountain, unexpected situations can occur that make us suffer a panic attack. Events such as getting lost, adverse weather, dizziness, exhaustion or breakdowns are more common than you might imagine.

These panic attacks can lead us to make mistakes that can turn into avoidable accidents. For this reason, the best thing you can do is stop and call emergencies or professional services for help. As a companion it is important not to force the person who is suffering a panic attack or anxiety crisis and to alert immediately.

In no case should you act as a hero or anticipate events. For. Sit down. Deep breath. Warn.

How to avoid a panic attack in the mountains?

1-. Plan the route correctly.

The first step to avoid unforeseen events is to plan the route correctly, to know the total number of kilometers, the accumulated unevenness or where it passes to avoid ravines in case of feeling vertigo. It will also help to know alternative routes in case you begin to notice fatigue.

The TwoNav LAND software will be of great help when planning your route down to the last detail. You will be able to know the difficulty of each section, slopes and, even, visualize it in 3D before doing it.

Knowing all these elements will help you to know if the route is suitable for your level or that of your companions. For a reason, it is the preferred route planner of professional mountain guides.

2-. Know the weather beforehand

Before going out to carry out any mountain activity, it is important to know what time is planned and, in the event of a possible threat of bad weather, to be able to cancel the activity. A foggy, rainy or snowy day can make our outing not end as we expected. We invite you to read this real case of our friends from the Spanish Mountain and Climbing Federation:

Any other Saturday in the fall. A lesson learned

3-. GPS, your best guide

If you have read the previous article, you will know the importance of always carrying a GPS to the mountain. In the GPS you can download the previously planned route and always have the security of following the correct path, whether you have lost yourself on the path, the signage has been erased or hidden or the fog prevents you from seeing the path.

In addition, the TwoNav GPS will always indicate the easiest and fastest way to return to the starting point and will allow you to analyze the route in situ in case you need to make decisions along the way, such as improvising a new route due to something unforeseen.

4-. Live broadcast

Thanks to SeeMe you will be able to broadcast your position live during all your activity. Knowing that your family or friends know where you are will allow you to go more calmly knowing that, in the event of any accident, it will be easy to locate you.

5-. Emergency notices

Our GPS through SeeMe allows you to send emergency messages to your preferred contacts. Therefore, in the event of a panic attack, it will be as easy as pressing a button and SeeMe will send the alert along with your location, which will allow you not to put yourself in danger and avoid greater risks.

Don’t miss our safety tips depending on the season:

• Autumn recommendations
• FEDME Safety Tips for winter terrain
• Spring and activity in the natural environment

To sum up: the mountain must be enjoyed, but you must never lose respect for it and let your desire override your responsibility. Before leaving it is important that we are aware of our physical condition and level, as well as the previous preparation to be able to choose the destination correctly and thus avoid unpleasant surprises.

Fear is not bad, it helps us to stay alive and alert and that is always important in the mountains. What must be avoided is the blocking panic, which leads us to make bad decisions.

And what scares you the most about the mountain?