A weatherman had a panic attack live on air. What it teaches us.
Nate Byrne, an ABC News Australia weatherman, had a panic attack on air this week – and in doing so spoke up for those with anxiety disorders around the world.
As he began his weather report, he said he was "going to need to stop for a second. Some of you may know that I occasionally get affected by some panic attacks, and actually that's happening right now." He handed it back to anchor Lisa Millar, who referenced a previous article Byrne wrote on the topic.
"It's fantastic that he has been so open and transparent about it," she said. Byrne rejoined his colleagues later in the show. "Sorry if I gave anybody a bit of a scare there," he said, before they assured him he had their support.
This resonated with TikTok users: "Only folks who deal with this can understand. A panic attack is so scary." "This is the greatest, seamless, grown-up media handling of simple mental health realities I’ve ever seen." "Isn’t it interesting to see that being authentic and vulnerable is in fact empowering? Thanks for being strong and I hope you are well."
Byrne and others' reaction to this situation shows viewers the power in being honest about mental health.
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'I had no idea about the complete lack of control'
Yes, many people have anxiety – but not everyone has an anxiety disorder. The Mayo Clinic describes clinical anxiety disorders as involving "repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks)."
"While I appreciated that things like anxiety and depression are very much real, I had no idea about the complete lack of control you can sometimes have over your brain, nor the ways in which it can take over," Byrne previously wrote.
Different types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders may be more common than you think: About 31% of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder over the course of their lives. Treatments range from therapy to medication to mindfulness.
Experts recommend seeking medical attention if anxiety is interrupting your work or other parts of your life; if you have suicidal thoughts, get medical care as soon as possible.
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'Talking about it, exploring it has just ripped the veil'
Carson Daly is another TV anchor who's discussed his anxiety. "On 'The Voice,' when I'm live on Monday nights, most of the time, my right hand is in my right pocket, and I'm literally gripping onto the flesh of my thigh because I'm waiting for a high-panic moment to pass," he previously said.
Daly first spoke about his mental health in a vulnerable on-air discussion in 2018, during which he opened up about coping with cognitive behavioral therapy.
He says his moments of panic and hyperventilation still come and go but he's in a "much better place" since talking about it openly.
"Once you realize that other people have (generalized anxiety disorder) – that it's an actual diagnosable thing, and there is a whole psychology and physiology behind it – you have context, and I think learning about all that, talking about it, exploring it has just ripped the veil," he says, adding that he's "just on a really good personal path."
Everyone handles anxiety and panic attacks differently – including even having sour candy at the ready. The key is to focus on finding a strategy that works for you and seek mental health care if your symptoms grow untenable.
You're not alone.
Contributing: Jenna Ryu