How a disturbing on-air freakout helped this ABC News anchor find happiness

Dan Harris, ABC Nightline News anchor and author of 10% Happier, tells us how a panic attack on national television changed his life for the better.
Produced by Jenner Deal. Camera by Justin Gmoser.
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[@jaycam8651]

It wasn't embarassing to public per se, though it was embarassing to Dan. That is what happens in a panic attack: You get scared immediately, and other people may not be aware of it.

[@igloososa]

I think this gentleman handled himself like a champ on air during his panic attack and I appreciate his transparency regarding this matter. No doubt he's helped many people with his efforts. Bravo Mr. Harris!

[@rakeeshajones6832]

I love him for his honesty and openness. Good stuff!

[@aeaeaeluis]

Who else is reading 10% Happier ?

[@johnp.mccartney2556]

I, too, had a series of panic attacks that other people couldn't see happening that left me frazzled, short of breathing, every joint and bone in my body aching, with my inner voice telling me what a piece of shit I was. My world was imploding. Life was caving in on me. I was a professional speaker/educator with tremendous control of the English language who couldn't put together two sentences that made sense to anyone but me. I was in constant fear that I would be exposed as a fraud when in fact I was very, very good at what I did. I feel for Dan. We all make bad choices. For him, it was experimenting with drugs like cocaine and X to calm the crazy voices telling us what worthless pieces of shit we are. The simple meditation techniques Harris talks about WORK. It's a process. You start slowly and eventually stumble upon the simplicity of meditation. For all the haters with put-down comments, I hope you never face the pain of something like a panic attack. Dan Harris, you are doing an invaluable service in speaking your truth. Thank you. Stay away from recreational drugs and stay healthy. Keep telling your story.

[@sheilaboland6285]

John, reading this right now has helped me since I feel badly about myself because of negative thoughts.

[@nonument4484]

Dan Harris is awesome. Tells it like it is. Thanks man.

[@Lommy9999]

Good on him for being so honest.

[@tudorjason]

Training to be happy. This is a novel concept. One may think happiness comes from having everything in your life falling into place and being pleased with the results. But for those who aren't this lucky, it seems there's still hope to be happy.

[@sashaharris5196]

Panic attacks happen to people differently. I had one and did not know I was having it. The night before I actually had one, I was in the bed and was short of breathe and couldn't go to sleep. Nothing to the point where I needed to go to the doctor but I knew something wasn't right. My husband kept asking me if I was ok and I kept saying yes I was just a little short of breathe. This came out of the blue. Finally I did go to sleep. The next day I went to work and once I got there, my mind started racing and the shortness of breathe happened again. I sat down and got myself together for bit. I went back to working and started feeling just not right, hard to describe how I was feeling g but it was strange. My manager saw me and asked me if I was ok. I told her I didn't know what was wrong and started crying uncontrollably. She took me to an urgent care. The doctor told me I was having panic attacks. I was like, what!! I recognize the symptoms before hand. The tip of my nose and lips go numb before it happens so I know to do my deep breathing and meditation. It goes away. I know my limits and what triggers them so I know how to handle them. It's been 13 years since I last had a panic attack. It's psychological and ways to prevent them. Mind over matter and practicing good coping skills.

[@3j4mronaldo7]

I have it too for the last 2 years..it goes on and off and it is bad that i have to resign my work..any tips on how to stop it ? Much appreciated ☺️

[@stoneybologna1982]

This happened to my brother. It was caused by smoking weed. He kept taking bong hits trying to chill out and it turned out that that was what was causing it. He ended up calling an ambulance because he thought he was having a heart attack. More than a decade of smoking weed every day and just like that he had to quit.

[@laurenhicks6074]

That's how I quit.

[@UchihaFabio]

Marijuana messes with your brain. Sometimes it makes you have panic attacks Other times it can actually kill you

[@randyjohnson7734]

I thought it might have been the social anxiety that can come with marijuana but anyone who's ever used cocaine or crack knows what this is. it can come on esp. with heavier use even if you give yourself the time the sleep & what you need to be squared away some of the sensations etc can mildly come on you kind of like a flash back.

[@edwardpinnix249]

Happiness is a skill! Love that!

[@ms.courtneyw4312]

Nick Cannon’s show brought me here. Sad he experienced this. Happy he is able to help others now.

[@amosonyoutube]

Ironic that he was talking about health at the same time

[@williambernstein4313]

Yes you'll get dry mouth.... gagging..... heart beating fast....this is all the body's fight or flight response.

[@BestEverFoodReviewShow]

Me: omg. So sad. How could that happen?? This guy: I used cocaine as medicine Me: Oh...

[@elmoblatch9787]

Yep, and you use all kinds of coping mechanisms -- leaning on other people, caffeine, alcohol, aspirin, anti-depressants. These are all powerful drugs -- including the brain chemistry alteration you get by "leaning" on friends and family. Cocaine is one drug among many. It is neither evil or good. It is addictive, that much is true.

[@Vareetha]

I watch your show, and I find this comment unkind. You’ve seen enough of the world, have some empathy. You don’t know what he was going through. You lost a lot of weight and turned your life around and your show is fantastic, Dan did something of that essence too.

[@ANDROLOMA]

If old Mr. Dan Harris wanted a genuine panic attack, he would try enduring the poverty I survived for years, instead of his easy life of privilege.

[@KentKinlen-mo8jn]

Your a drugie by your own choice and you have to change. I'm more sick then you what a joke you are.

[@stars.-]

so I’m a Muslim 11 yr girl w stage fright and anxiety, I go to a all girls school which my mom works in as a teacher,so there was this one time where I was reading the Quran and I had told one of the Islamic teachers that I would read, SO I GOT ON THE STAGE AND I WAS ABOUT TO DIG MY HANDS INTO MY HEAD- I GOT ON STAGE INFRONT OF 6-12 GRS WITH THE MOST SHAKYIST VOICE AND HANDS COULDNT TAKE A BREATH EVEN THO I HAD MEMORIZED WHAT I WAS GONNA READ - SO AFTER I WENT BACK UP TO THE SEATS LEGS LITERALLY UNSTABLE WANTING TO CRY

[@macaroon147]

I wouldn't have even noticed it if he didn't mention it

[@frankfrank2582]

I would have told them he was feeling ill, rather than mention it was due to anxiety, since that would require a physical exam to make sure it's not due to a physical cause. Often an asthma attack will generate an anxiety attack, due a loss of oxygen to the brain - even a stroke or brain tumor could cause such symptoms. Even the start of flu-like symptoms can include an anxiety attack in some patients, due to the sudden onset of a fever, so it's something that should be determined by a doctor or nurse practitioner..

[@TheWorldisALie007]

It did not have a panmoc attack. That was a drug induced trip.

[@lanitomas5793]

What's Rudy up to now Steinberg

[@lanitomas5793]

Is rudy still under investigation and would welcome the wecome. The financial protection of Donald trump

[@nabajjamilika]

Wendy brought me here😉😊

[@Jeremy-ql1or]

Huh...this dude is on the Daily Show right now talking about how this episode changed his life. It just kind of seemed like he got something caught in throat or there was a teleprompter problem or something like that.

[@KnifePhD73]

Did you just come here while watching the Daily Show to see what this is all about too? Man, the internet is crazy!

[@KnifePhD73]

But that meltdown was some BS.

[@anniewilson6737]

Derrick Barnett I did

[@MrJattsongs]

You should see the british guy on tv who had one. Mans a champ, had a much worse one with guest and went thru it like a champ.

[@sheilaboland6285]

I didn’t see a meltdown

[@brendanboiyo]

Who said there was a meltdown? He had a panic attack.

[@mguest1020]

Here cause of the Wendy Show

[@vtaylor6498]

mguest1020 ..same here

[@JT-xf9sw]

This is a meltdown, come on. Is there more to this video? To me it just seems like he was clearing his throat.

[@LydiaKelso123]

Joe Tavarez you can tell he's struggling to speak

[@tgiaps]

Joe Tavarez he also jumbled his words and said 'cancer production' lol (disclaimer: I read his book and use his app)

[@CB-vm8pl]

Yes it is a panic attack. He was stammering and couldn’t finish his sentence because he was out of breath, and even read it wrong and used the wrong names when passing it back to them

[@Solidsteakx]

I know man I really don’t see it. I’m thinking he faked it to promote his book. Not really but I still don’t see it

[@frankfrank2582]

That wasn't a "meltdown" - that's a word of the 21st Century that is used when someone doesn't know what they are talking about. An anxiety attack can be due to a psychological cause (PTSD primarily) or due to a physical illness that is causing a loss of oxygen to the brain (stroke or asthma attack, etc.)...

[@margalitvanbergen6620]

This guy Harris ... Drama Drama Drama ... Very American ...

[@nkt1]

He's right though. I'm a dour Scot, and I recently had to bail out in the middle of a job interview due to a panic attack. I couldn't concentrate on my breathing and the interview at the same time and it quickly fell apart. It's so embarrassing and you feel like a fool.

[@Jayandhis25cents]

Well dan everyone has these some of us don't make 6 figures a year or don't have insurance we just deal with it!!!! Try getting laid off with a pregnant wife and a eviction notice then u see panic attack!!!

[@MosaicTileUniversity]

Hey Recon - I'm really sorry about you getting laid off and then facing eviction. At the end of last year, after dealing with 4-5 years of depression and suicidal thoughts, my wife moved out after 12 years of marriage, I wasn't allowed to have any contact with my 18 year-old stepdaughter who just left for college (I was the primary father-figure in her life for 12 years) and I was fired after 18 years of working for the same company (I'm 39 years old). All of that happened in the span of 2 weeks. Reason I share all this is I believe pain is pain. A panic attack is a panic attack. A broken bone is a broken bone. The point Dan is making is that he found a path that enabled him to come to terms with his crap that led to him being more happy and fulfilled. And that path is one that is available to everyone. I stumbled upon Eckhart Tolle by accident about a month after my life fell apart - and it is not an exaggeration to say that daily meditation (I had been using the Headspace app) and reading The Power Of Now literally saved my life. I then was also introduced to the Wim Hof Method and between the three of those things I have my life back on track. It's not on track in terms of finances or a job, but rather when it comes to my mental and spiritual approach to it all. THAT is the point of all this. Not comparing the amount of suffering to annual income to determine who "wins" the panic attack trophy...

[@obedirect5491]

Exactly! Privileged whiny azz elites, but @Geldy,l agree that meditation, Tolle and other Eastern philosophies can be instrumental in helping us move inward for self-actualization, peace and happiness. We arent comparing ppls pain but pointint out the huge wealth disparities that make it z hardship to get to a library, pay a cell pho e bill or get access to the internet.

[@jamiecrete149]

Oh how embarrassing.