Did you know that panic attacks can cause physical symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations—and even be mistaken for a medical emergency? 

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Tom Power shares his journey with anxiety—something he didn’t realize he struggled with until his adult years. Tom recalls a terrifying incident in his mid-twenties at a social gathering where he thought he had a heart attack. “All I could think about was, what is happening to me?” Tom shares, “Why am I feeling this way? Am I having a heart attack? Am I having a stroke? What is going on?"

Tom sought medical attention only to learn it was a panic attack. He was also diagnosed with panic disorder. In this episode, Tom reflects on several instances of anxiety in his life, including at the dentist and the grocery store, and while interviewing Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro.

With therapy, lifestyle changes, and self-reflection, Tom has done the work to put his panic "in remission." He now recognizes that experiencing the unlikely catastrophe of losing his father to an illness after only 4-5 months, along with several other personal and professional life changes, fueled negative thinking patterns.

Through exposure therapy, Tom learned that panic attacks only last so long and that he can get through them—an invaluable lesson that has helped him until this day. Anxiety is still present in Tom's life, but he shares that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), limiting substances like cannabis and alcohol, and daily meditation has helped him manage it.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a panic attack, it’s important to remember that you are not in danger. If experiencing chest pain during a panic attack, know that it is simply a result of muscle tension (part of our body’s natural “fight-flight-freeze” response). To learn more about panic, check out HeretoHelp BC’s resource on Panic Disorder.

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#OurAnxietyStories is brought to you by Anxiety Canada™, a leader in developing free evidence-based resources, including the free anxiety-management app, MindShift CBT. To learn more about Anxiety Canada, visit www.AnxietyCanada.com. 

Anxiety Canada is proud to be affiliated with HeretoHelp, a project of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information. The BC Partners are funded by the Provincial Health Services Authority.