“It’s not always obvious”
Australian weatherman Nate Byrne experienced a panic attack while presenting this week. (Screenshot via @abcaustralia, sourced from Pedestrian TV)
I (Elesha Gordon, MCNZ Manager) am very familiar with the feelings of anxiety and panic in the workplace. For this reason, it has been encouraging to see the positive response to weatherman, Nate Byrne, who experienced a panic attack live on air this week.
My workplace anxiety and panic attacks often went unnoticed. I would retreat to the newsroom bathroom or hide in work pool cars to cope, wiping away tears and putting on a mask of confidence before returning. It's important to recognise that others in your newsroom may be facing similar struggles.
Nate is open about his panic attacks — he’s even written about them before:
”Watching back the videos of me having a panic attack on live television have shown me that it’s not always obvious what’s going on from the outside — I look far more in control than I was feeling, though I can see the telltale signs of panic that others might miss.
I still occasionally have those feelings return– in fact, as I write, even remembering my experiences have raised my hackles a bit — but talking about my anxiety and seeking treatment means that it’s something I can live with and manage.”
“Live TV triggered my first panic attack, and I still deal with anxiety” Check out his story here.
If you are struggling with workplace anxiety or anything affecting your enjoyment of your work, we’d love to chat. Sometimes taking a step and talking aloud about what you are feeling can go a long way when it comes to healing - and enjoying life again.
The good news is Nate is doing okay and getting the support he needs. As he says: “I learned an important lesson that day — making sure your support network knows that you sometimes need assistance, and how they can support you, is essential.”
We’d love to be part of your support team.
Listen to Elesha chat about her experience with anxiety in the newsroom in the latest re-covering podcast episode here.