Shortcuts to a Happier Life (eBook)

Chapter 2:
Anxiety

The Voice of Panic Attacks

And seven things you can do today to reduce their occurrence.

“It just happened again. I was having a good day. Work went well; I had lunch with an old friend, and my commute home was smooth. After dinner, I decided to take a hot shower and watch a movie. After all, it was Friday night. Why not unwind and enjoy a quiet evening?

When I stepped out of the shower, my chest felt tight, my breathing became harder, and my fingers and hands went numb. “No!” I said as I wrapped myself in a towel and ran to my bedroom.

I had another panic attack.

If you’ve never had one, let me tell you, it feels like you’re dying. Your heart beats so fast you think it’s going to burst. Your body betrays you. Then, the negative thoughts start. You feel like you’re going crazy. You begin to think your whole life is a lie. Everyone is phony. No one loves or cares about you. Why would they? You’re worthless.

Sometimes, my panic attacks last a few minutes, sometimes longer. But each one feels like an eternity. And here’s the worst part: They can happen anywhere. Most of the time, they hit me without any notice. Recently, I was at a friend’s wedding, and I had to lock myself in the bathroom until a panic attack passed. When I came out, everyone kept saying, “Are you alright?” I went home early. I wish I could have stayed.

I lie about my panic attacks.

Sometimes, I say that I have the flu or an upset stomach. What else can I do? The few times that I’ve told people, they’d reacted severely. Like they didn’t believe me. Or they give me lame advice. My gym-obsessed friends ask me to work out. As if cardio cures everything. They don’t mean to be insensitive, but sometimes their advice feels cruel. They’ve never had a panic attack. They don’t know how bad it can be.

Lately, my panic attacks are getting worse. Sometimes, just worrying about having a panic attack can trigger one. The other day, I was waiting in line at my grocery store. Suddenly, my hands start to tingle. I got dizzy. I had chest pains and felt like everyone was staring at me. I left the line and walked out of the store. On my way out, the store manager yelled, “Please don’t leave your shopping cart there!” I ignored him, kept walking, and hid in my car until the panic attack passed. Now I’m afraid to go back to the store. It was so humiliating.

Panic attacks are shrinking my life.

I’m starting to isolate myself. I travel less, fear family gatherings and work events, and I’ve stopped dating. I’m afraid if I don’t do something, my fear of panic attacks will ruin my life.

What if I start to have panic attacks at work?
What if I lose my job? What will I do then?

I can’t keep pretending my panic attacks will get better. I’ve got to get professional help.

Here are seven things I started to do to reduce my panic attacks:

1. I made a list of foods to avoid, like caffeinated food or drinks.
2. I started a journal to record when I have panic attacks and under what conditions.
3. I found a support group for panic attacks.
4. I called a psychotherapist who specializes in panic disorders. I made an appointment and asked a friend to go with me.
5. I bought a panic attack workbook.
6. I slowly started exercising again with a friend.
7. I started listening to relaxation podcasts.

I know it sounds like a lot, but I’ve concluded that defeating panic attacks is a battle that I’m determined to win.”

Social Anxiety? Acting Class Can Help

Acting teacher Terry Knickerbocker explains how actor training can lower anxiety.

Social anxiety negatively affects every area of people’s lives. It can hurt them professionally, limit them romantically, and damage their friendships. While group therapy is an effective treatment for reducing social anxiety, acting class is another invention that can deliver astonishing transformations.

I sat down with Terry Knickerbocker, Director of Terry Knickerbocker Studio, an acclaimed acting school in New York City. Terry has coached actors on over 300 films, television, and theater projects, both on and off-Broadway and regionally, in addition to consulting with playwrights and screenwriters and coaching Oscar-winning actor Sam Rockwell.

Can you explain how acting classes benefit someone with social anxiety?

In my experience, being too self-involved often triggers social anxiety. Not that people who feel anxious in social situations are narcissists — but they tend to have their attention turned inward rather than outward. When your attention is on yourself, you get anxious. However, when your attention is focused on another person or an activity, your anxiety usually dissipates.

As humans, we are hardwired to connect. The problem is, when we’re worried about connecting, we’re inherently making ourselves unavailable to do so. People with social anxiety are worried about the future rather than the now — “What should I say next? What if I say something that makes me look dumb/silly?” “What if they don’t like me?”

Learning to be present and a better listener is a big part of our actor training. Being in the moment and building an experience organically — be it a conversation or scene — is the quickest and simplest way to catapult yourself out of an anxious headspace and into contact with another human being.

The Sanford Meisner approach to acting, which we teach at the studio, also draws on the idea of play. Acting is a form of playing with someone else. It’s hard to be anxious under those circumstances. (Think small children fully engaged in play- not a lot of anxiety for the most part.)

What tools would they gain from an acting class that they can apply in life?

Students at the studio learn to be extremely good listeners. They become more self-aware and in touch with their feelings, thoughts, and attitudes. They learn how to improvise from moment to moment and to be present rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

Our students learn to identify and vocalize their thoughts and feelings in real-time. They learn how to read intonation and body language. We urge them to foster curiosity and hold space for their effect on others. Good acting training encourages humanity, empathy, and self-awareness.

This training is a very personal and individual journey of self-discovery. For example, our students might explore something that excites them, makes them mad, or feel romantic. With greater self-knowledge comes greater self-confidence.

Do you need acting experience to take classes at your school?

We seek diverse, generous, curious, collaborative, open-hearted, spirited, uncompromising, and real students. The work we do at the Terry Knickerbocker Studio exemplifies impeccable integrity, joyous practice, bold choices, and a lively sense of play.

This technique is unique in that it gives actors a blueprint by which to expand their understanding of themselves as artists and human beings. It celebrates the fact that we are each individual with our own unique life experiences. Unlike other Conservatory Programs, TKS aims to mold non-cookie-cutter artists who can play any role they’re handed.

Many of our students come to us with significant previous training and impressive resumes, but another group has no experience. In fact, here’s a blog article which is written by a current student about this very topic: How Can I Get Into Acting With No Experience? We have a beginner class, a summer class, and a two-year intensive class.

What do you recommend for someone who is interested in taking classes at Knickerbocker Studios?

All admission is done by an in-person or Skype interview. We’d love to meet you and hear about your goals, even if you’re anxious. Please visit us at
terryknickerbockerstudio.com for more information!

5 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Try these simple stress-relieving techniques.

Everyone experiences stress and anxiety from time to time. Stress often occurs when you encounter a frustrating situation or a dilemma. Social pressures, heavy workloads, and financial instabilities also cause stress, which can reduce productivity, cause health problems, or lead to chronic symptoms of anxiety or depression.

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