All Panic, No Disco

An introduction to balls-out anxiety.

An hour before an important Zoom call with a client, I experienced my first-ever panic attack. 

I’ve heard of these little bastards. A close friend had one for years. I’ve worked with, coached, and mentored people that these panic attacks mentally crippled. But I’ve never experienced one myself. 

Even when I’m stressed or anxious, there is nothing a glass of whisky can’t fix. What does a panic attack feel like? In short: Death. For a longer, slow-burning dread, read on.

Trick or Threat: a Halloween Special 

As mentioned, I was working on my laptop at a cafe and preparing for that important Zoom call. On a scale of one to 10—sunkissed normalcy to balls-out panic—I was at a zero. 

Work was routine; I’ve done this a million times. Then, the little bastard came knockin’. The following 30 minutes was a rollercoaster ride in hell. 

A random deep breath, and suddenly, it felt like I inhaled a Dementor — those pesky creatures in Harry Potter. A rising swell of fear, anxiety and dread engulfed me, a…