©2025 – Amy Morin, LCSW. All Rights Reserved
Panic attacks and anxiety are common. But almost no one talks about how to deal with them.
For years, Matt Gutman, the Chief National Correspondent for ABC News, kept his panic attacks secret. He worried what people would think if he revealed his mental health struggles. After years of suffering in silence, followed by years of searching for help, he’s written a book to help others learn how to cope with panic attacks. Some of the things he shares are the link between anxiety and his childhood trauma, the treatments he found most effective, and the steps he takes to manage his mental health.
“A panic attack is your brain telling the rest of your body that you are under a very significant threat.” – Matt Gutman
“I was a coward because I didn’t want anybody to know that I had panic.” – Matt Gutman
“I had this fear that I would be cast out of my group and suffer massive social rejection, which we feel viscerally in our bodies.” – Matt Gutman
0:00 Understanding the Intensity of Panic Attacks
5:13 The Intense Physiology of Panic Attacks
8:07 Unrecognized Panic Attacks and Personal Revelations
10:10 Understanding Panic Attacks and Their Physical Manifestations
12:04 The Paradox of the Courageous Coward
14:56 A Journalist’s Career-Altering Error Amidst Tragedy
15:49 Confronting Personal Trauma and Panic
17:03 Exploring Evolutionary Fears: Physical and Social Survival
17:33 Overcoming Phobias and Professional Setbacks
18:45 Confronting Fears and Professional Setbacks in Broadcasting
22:21 Survival, Healing, and Transformation Through Altered States
25:46 Overcoming Panic Through Exposure Therapy and Understanding Safety Behaviors
27:57 Secret Coping Mechanisms in High-Pressure Careers
28:23 The Paradox of Anxiety-Driven Excellence in Live Reporting
31:44 Exploring Panic Treatment Through Personal Experimentation
32:25 Understanding Panic Attacks Through Evolutionary Psychology
33:57 Exploring Psychedelics in Therapy and Personal Growth
36:12 Exploring Psychedelics with Professional Guidance
37:16 Overcoming Panic Attacks Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
38:48 Triumph, Murder, and Doorstep Confrontations
39:25 Transforming Panic Into Empathy and Understanding
42:49 Destigmatizing Panic Disorder Through Personal Stories
45:08 Overcoming Panic Through Personal Experiments and Support
49:17 Boosting Mental Strength Through Community and Resources
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