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Authors: Charlie Hoehn
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prefer to sit, as I have a tendency to fall asleep whenever I’m laying down.
Ninja Technique
Play Away Your Panic Attacks
My focus is to forget the pain of life. Forget the pain, mock the pain, reduce it. And laugh.
— J IM C ARREY
The thought of having a panic attack in public kept me locked up in my apartment. I envisioned myself laying on the floor of some restaurant, clutching my chest while trying to assure everyone around me that I was fine… Yikes. I wanted to prevent that scenario at all costs.
I noticed that my panic attacks were running through the same sequence each time:
I’d convince myself that something really bad (and highly unlikely) was going to happen.
I would obsess over all the potential ramifications of that really bad thing happening.
I’d become acutely aware of my heartbeat and its rising pace.
My mind began playing an ominous loop that told me I was going crazy, and that I was going to die.
I would freak out, hyperventilate, and lay on the ground for 20 minutes.
It was that first step – convincing myself that something really bad was going to happen – that set the entire sequence in motion. I wondered if I could make it impossible to take myself seriously. That, I suspected, might stop the panic attack in its tracks.
The method I came up with was simple: I would say all of my worries out loud in the most ridiculous voice I could conjure . I wouldn’t resist the thoughts or try to hide from them; I would bring them out in the open and dress them down in the voice of a chipmunk on helium. Or as the Swedish Chef from The Muppets. Or Kenny Powers. Or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Or Ron Burgundy.
As I mocked my worries in a goofy character’s voice, the tension in my body loosened up. I’d snap out of my seriousness as I embellished my worries into outrageous scenarios. I threw in wild hand gestures and talked even louder. It was like I was doing improv comedy with myself.
After about 30 seconds, I was so distracted by my absurd behavior that I was no longer processing my worries. I could only focus on how ridiculous I sounded. I was like a baby whose crying switched to giggling in a matter of seconds. Better yet, I was like a funeral attendee who thought of something funny, and couldn’t help but laugh.
My method was silly, juvenile, and kind of crazy, but it worked for me. It helped me loosen up and laugh at myself. My worries became impossible to take seriously and the impending panic attack faded away.
Mocking your worries might feel awkward or very difficult at first. That’s okay. It takes practice before you can start having fun with yourself. But this is a great technique to experiment with because it’s entirely possible to convert your worrying into something funny.
Try not to think Why isn’t this working yet? Just let go your expectations and focus on the sound of your voice. If you start hyperventilating, go drink a full glass of water. Once you feel hydrated and your breathing has leveled out, try mocking your worries again.
FREQUENCY:
As needed.
COST:
Free.
DO IT NOW:
Practice saying your worries out loud in the voice of a funny character. Do this for 60 seconds.
RESOURCES:
Tom Cat 2 (playitaway.me/tomcat) Not comfortable speaking in a goofy voice? Use this app to have your worries repeated back to you by an animated cat. Surprisingly fun and effective.
Impressions by Isaac (playitaway.me/voices) If you need inspiration, watch this talented kid produce every single funny voice you can imagine.
Raptor Mascot on Rollerblades (playitaway.me/mascot) Each time I watch this video, I can’t help but crack up. If all else fails, just keep watching this on repeat until you’re no longer worried.
Bonus Points
Become Your Own Best Friend
It’s impossible to heal your anxiety if you’re constantly scolding yourself for not feeling normal. You need to be loving and supportive. The best way to do that is by quietly venting to yourself and
Ninja Technique
Play Away Your Panic Attacks
My focus is to forget the pain of life. Forget the pain, mock the pain, reduce it. And laugh.
— J IM C ARREY
The thought of having a panic attack in public kept me locked up in my apartment. I envisioned myself laying on the floor of some restaurant, clutching my chest while trying to assure everyone around me that I was fine… Yikes. I wanted to prevent that scenario at all costs.
I noticed that my panic attacks were running through the same sequence each time:
I’d convince myself that something really bad (and highly unlikely) was going to happen.
I would obsess over all the potential ramifications of that really bad thing happening.
I’d become acutely aware of my heartbeat and its rising pace.
My mind began playing an ominous loop that told me I was going crazy, and that I was going to die.
I would freak out, hyperventilate, and lay on the ground for 20 minutes.
It was that first step – convincing myself that something really bad was going to happen – that set the entire sequence in motion. I wondered if I could make it impossible to take myself seriously. That, I suspected, might stop the panic attack in its tracks.
The method I came up with was simple: I would say all of my worries out loud in the most ridiculous voice I could conjure . I wouldn’t resist the thoughts or try to hide from them; I would bring them out in the open and dress them down in the voice of a chipmunk on helium. Or as the Swedish Chef from The Muppets. Or Kenny Powers. Or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Or Ron Burgundy.
As I mocked my worries in a goofy character’s voice, the tension in my body loosened up. I’d snap out of my seriousness as I embellished my worries into outrageous scenarios. I threw in wild hand gestures and talked even louder. It was like I was doing improv comedy with myself.
After about 30 seconds, I was so distracted by my absurd behavior that I was no longer processing my worries. I could only focus on how ridiculous I sounded. I was like a baby whose crying switched to giggling in a matter of seconds. Better yet, I was like a funeral attendee who thought of something funny, and couldn’t help but laugh.
My method was silly, juvenile, and kind of crazy, but it worked for me. It helped me loosen up and laugh at myself. My worries became impossible to take seriously and the impending panic attack faded away.
Mocking your worries might feel awkward or very difficult at first. That’s okay. It takes practice before you can start having fun with yourself. But this is a great technique to experiment with because it’s entirely possible to convert your worrying into something funny.
Try not to think Why isn’t this working yet? Just let go your expectations and focus on the sound of your voice. If you start hyperventilating, go drink a full glass of water. Once you feel hydrated and your breathing has leveled out, try mocking your worries again.
FREQUENCY:
As needed.
COST:
Free.
DO IT NOW:
Practice saying your worries out loud in the voice of a funny character. Do this for 60 seconds.
RESOURCES:
Tom Cat 2 (playitaway.me/tomcat) Not comfortable speaking in a goofy voice? Use this app to have your worries repeated back to you by an animated cat. Surprisingly fun and effective.
Impressions by Isaac (playitaway.me/voices) If you need inspiration, watch this talented kid produce every single funny voice you can imagine.
Raptor Mascot on Rollerblades (playitaway.me/mascot) Each time I watch this video, I can’t help but crack up. If all else fails, just keep watching this on repeat until you’re no longer worried.
Bonus Points
Become Your Own Best Friend
It’s impossible to heal your anxiety if you’re constantly scolding yourself for not feeling normal. You need to be loving and supportive. The best way to do that is by quietly venting to yourself and
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