ABC News Australia weather forecaster Nate Byrne suffered a panic attack on-air this week and used the opportunity to speak out for people with anxiety disorders around the world.
As he began his weather report, Byrne said, “I’m going to take a quick break because as you all know I have panic attacks every now and then, and I’m actually having one right now,” before turning the conversation back to anchor Lisa Miller, who referred to an article Byrne had previously written on the subject.
“It’s great that he’s been so open and transparent about this,” she said. Byrne was joined by his colleagues later in the show. “I’m sorry if I scared anyone a little bit,” he said, and their colleagues expressed their support for him.
The post resonated with TikTok users, with one saying: “Only someone who’s been through this can understand. Panic attacks are so scary,” another saying: “This is the best way I’ve ever seen media handle a simple mental health reality so successfully, seamlessly and maturely,” and another saying: “Isn’t it interesting how being authentic and vulnerable can actually be empowering? Thank you for being strong. Stay well.”
Byrne and others’ reactions to the situation show the power of being honest with your audience about your mental health.
“I wish I could live a normal life” – What my friend with anxiety wants you to know
“I didn’t realize there was a total lack of control.”
Sure, lots of people suffer from anxiety, but not everyone has an anxiety disorder. The Mayo Clinic describes a clinical anxiety disorder as “recurrent episodes of sudden, intense feelings of worry, fear, or terror that peak within minutes (panic attacks).”
“I understood that things like anxiety and depression were real, but I didn’t realize that sometimes we don’t have full control over our brains, and the ways in which they can take over,” Byrne previously wrote.
There are many different types of anxiety disorders, including 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 in their lifetime. Treatments range from therapy to medication to mindfulness.
Experts recommend seeing a doctor if your anxiety is interfering with your work or other parts of your life. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, see a doctor as soon as possible.
If you’re having panic attacks, TikTok users say this candy might just be the cure, and experts actually agree.
“Talking about it and exploring it has lifted the veil.”
Carson Daly is another TV host who has spoken out about his anxiety: “When I’m doing The Voice live on Monday nights, I usually have my right hand in my right pocket, literally clutching the flesh of my thigh, because I’m waiting for the moment of panic to pass,” Daly previously said.
Daly first spoke about his mental health on the show in 2018, during which he opened up about his struggles with cognitive behavioral therapy.
He says he still has occasional panic attacks and hyperventilations, but is in a “much better place” since talking openly about it.
“Knowing that other people have it — that it’s actually a diagnosable thing and there’s a whole psychology and physiology behind it — it puts things in perspective. And learning about it and talking about it and exploring it all has lifted the veil, I think,” he said, adding, “I’m just on a really good path.”
Everyone has their own way of dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, and may even have sour candy on hand. The key is to focus on finding the strategies that work for you and to seek mental health care if the symptoms become unbearable.
You are not alone.
Contributor: Jenna Liu
