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This week a meteorologist stepped away from a live broadcast when he noticed familiar feelings of panic start to arise. We can all learn from how he and his colleagues handled it.
Aug. 16, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET
A meteorologist in Australia was delivering the weather report on live television this week when he started having a panic attack.
Nate Byrne, the news presenter, later explained to BBC News that he was heading to the studio’s “weather wall” when he realized he was suddenly out of breath.
“The specific position — in front of the wall — is a trigger for me,” he said. “My body starts tingling. I start sweating. Just everything in my body is screaming: Run. Go. Get out.”
Because he had dealt with on-air panic attacks before, he and his colleagues knew what to do. Mr. Byrne explained what was happening to viewers, then quickly tossed to the anchor of the show while he went off camera to recover.
How can you help if a friend, family member or colleague is having a panic attack? We asked experts for tips.
First, what is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden wave of overwhelming fear and anxiety that is accompanied by physical symptoms.
