For many sports fans just watching a game or match from your couch can cause stress, and it is hard to imagine the incredible pressure that the athletes are under.  Last week, when Charlie Beljan experienced a panic attack while trying to qualify for the PGA tour, the impact of the stress became clear for all to see.   For 5 hours, his heart raced and he wondered if he was going to make it at all.  He shot a spectacular 64, but was carted away in an ambulance at the end of the match. 

Fortunately for Charlie Beljan, 28, he wasn’t seriously ill, he had experienced the most painful of all stress symptoms- PANIC ATTACK. 

Panic attacks can affect people in all walks of life.  They may surface before a presentation, on a business trip, or may make it difficult to go to work in the morning.  In Charlie’s case, panic had already crippled him earlier in the year when he had to request an emergency landing on a plane. 

What Charlie did for all of us is to help remind us that panic attacks can happen at any time, and can be very scary and confusing for those witnessing it, as well as the person suffering. 

Here are 5 things we know about panic attacks: 

1. A panic attacks is just a stress symptom, albeit painful and impossible to ignore. 

2. Stress symptoms can develop because of major life changes. 

3. Most people ignore earlier warning signals of stress overload until a more serious symptom develops. 

4. Deep breathing may be the best way to stop a panic attack in its tracks, but ruling out a serious medical issue with a physician is critical. 

5. Try to see stress symptoms as a gift.  They can be gentle or harsh reminders to take care of ourselves when we are facing pressure or change. 

Are you tracking your stress symptoms?