What do you think?
Rate this book
No Time to Panic: How I Curbed My Anxiety and Conquered a Lifetime of Panic Attacks
By ABC News’s chief national correspondent, an unflinching look at panic attacks by a reporter whose career was nearly derailed by them, offering readers a guide to making a truce with their warring minds
"Brave, reassuring, and practical...A balm for anyone who has ever suffered panic attacks and who longs to be released from their grip." —Dr. Nicole LePera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Do the Work
“Seamlessly weaves page-turning personal experiences with scientific discoveries…A tour de force." —Ethan Kross, bestselling author of Chatter
Matt Gutman can tell you the precise moment when his life was upended. Reporting live on a huge story in January 2020, he found himself in the throes of an on-air panic attack—and not for the first time. The truth is that Gutman had been enduring panic attacks in secret for twenty soul-bruising episodes that left his vision constricted, his body damp, his nerves shot. Despite the challenges, he had carved out a formidable career, reporting from war zones and natural disasters before millions of viewers on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and 20/20. His nerves typically “punched through” to TV audiences, making his appearances kinetic and often unforgettable.
But his January 2020 broadcast was unusual for all the wrong reasons. Mid-panic, Gutman misstated the facts of a story, a blunder that led to a monthlong suspension, not to mention public shame and personal regret.
It was a reckoning. Gutman’s panic attacks had become too much for him to bear in secret. He needed help.
So begins a personal journey into the science and treatment of panic attacks. Gutman would talk to the world’s foremost scholars on panic and anxiety, who showed him that his mind wasn’t broken; it’s our perception of panic that needs recalibration. He would consult therapists and shamans, trying everything from group treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy to ayahuasca and psilocybin. And he would take a hard look at the trauma reverberating inside him—from his childhood, but also from his years as a conflict reporter.
Unsparing, perceptive, and often funny, this is the story of a panic sufferer who took on the monster within. Filled with wisdom and actionable insights, it’s at once an inspirational journey and a road map—if not toward a singular cure, then to something even more peace of mind.
"Brave, reassuring, and practical...A balm for anyone who has ever suffered panic attacks and who longs to be released from their grip." —Dr. Nicole LePera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Do the Work
“Seamlessly weaves page-turning personal experiences with scientific discoveries…A tour de force." —Ethan Kross, bestselling author of Chatter
Matt Gutman can tell you the precise moment when his life was upended. Reporting live on a huge story in January 2020, he found himself in the throes of an on-air panic attack—and not for the first time. The truth is that Gutman had been enduring panic attacks in secret for twenty soul-bruising episodes that left his vision constricted, his body damp, his nerves shot. Despite the challenges, he had carved out a formidable career, reporting from war zones and natural disasters before millions of viewers on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and 20/20. His nerves typically “punched through” to TV audiences, making his appearances kinetic and often unforgettable.
But his January 2020 broadcast was unusual for all the wrong reasons. Mid-panic, Gutman misstated the facts of a story, a blunder that led to a monthlong suspension, not to mention public shame and personal regret.
It was a reckoning. Gutman’s panic attacks had become too much for him to bear in secret. He needed help.
So begins a personal journey into the science and treatment of panic attacks. Gutman would talk to the world’s foremost scholars on panic and anxiety, who showed him that his mind wasn’t broken; it’s our perception of panic that needs recalibration. He would consult therapists and shamans, trying everything from group treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy to ayahuasca and psilocybin. And he would take a hard look at the trauma reverberating inside him—from his childhood, but also from his years as a conflict reporter.
Unsparing, perceptive, and often funny, this is the story of a panic sufferer who took on the monster within. Filled with wisdom and actionable insights, it’s at once an inspirational journey and a road map—if not toward a singular cure, then to something even more peace of mind.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2023
172 people are currently reading
1308 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 29, 2023
Very relatable in his struggles battling anxiety but not so much in his access to all the treatments
What helped the author:
1. Knowledge- of his panic/ anxiety
2. Know there's help out there
3. Don't let it fester
4. Breathe
5. Cry
6. Move
7. Meditate
8. CBT
9. Meds
10. Ketamine
11. MDMA
12. Ayahuasca
13. Hypnosis
What helped the author:
1. Knowledge- of his panic/ anxiety
2. Know there's help out there
3. Don't let it fester
4. Breathe
5. Cry
6. Move
7. Meditate
8. CBT
9. Meds
10. Ketamine
11. MDMA
12. Ayahuasca
13. Hypnosis
March 28, 2025
This is a courageous and honest account by ABC News's chief national correspondent Matt Gutman about facing the panic attacks that had upended his life. Gutman had his first panic attack while defending his college thesis. It took fifteen years to figure out that he'd had a panic attack. Then, on January 26, 2020, while reporting on the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, he suffered an on-air panic attack. At that point, he realized he must either quit television or figure out how to resolve his panic attacks.
This was heartbreaking and honest. In Gutman's journey to find peace, he opens his heart and bears his soul on the pages of this book, revealing all the things he'd kept hidden for so long. You can't help but feel for him. His journalistic prowess shows as he describes, in detail, what the panic attacks feel like. He shares an exhaustive list of medications and therapies. He even recounted his use of ketamine, stating, "Then all the colors fused into black. Then there was nothing. Not even me. Matt Gutman had ceased to exist. The person who was me had disappeared. So had the pillows, the bed, the room, the state of California, the Earth, the known and unknown universe. There was no time, no space, no history, no self. I retained just enough baseline consciousness to know that I was a speck in a limitless void but not enough to know who I was or to recall any prior existence." In true journalistic style, he offers actionable advice for a roadmap with many possible solutions. If you, or anyone you know, suffers anxiety or panic, get this book!
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
This was heartbreaking and honest. In Gutman's journey to find peace, he opens his heart and bears his soul on the pages of this book, revealing all the things he'd kept hidden for so long. You can't help but feel for him. His journalistic prowess shows as he describes, in detail, what the panic attacks feel like. He shares an exhaustive list of medications and therapies. He even recounted his use of ketamine, stating, "Then all the colors fused into black. Then there was nothing. Not even me. Matt Gutman had ceased to exist. The person who was me had disappeared. So had the pillows, the bed, the room, the state of California, the Earth, the known and unknown universe. There was no time, no space, no history, no self. I retained just enough baseline consciousness to know that I was a speck in a limitless void but not enough to know who I was or to recall any prior existence." In true journalistic style, he offers actionable advice for a roadmap with many possible solutions. If you, or anyone you know, suffers anxiety or panic, get this book!
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
December 8, 2023
In this book “No Time to Panic: How I Curbed My Anxiety and Conquered a Lifetime of Panic Attacks”, ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman shares a candid account of his 20-year battle with debilitating panic attacks, hidden beneath his fearless exterior while reporting from dangerous locations worldwide. The book reveals how a public panic attack during the Kobe Bryant tragedy forced Gutman to confront his anxiety, leading him on a quest for understanding and effective treatment.
Overview:
The book begins with Gutman's public panic attack during the coverage of Kobe Bryant's helicopter crash, leading to suspension, shame, and regret. This incident serves as a catalyst for Gutman to address his panic disorder, hidden for decades, through research, consultation with experts, and various treatments.
Understanding Panic:
Gutman delves into the basics of panic attacks, tracing his own struggles back to childhood trauma. He explores the science behind panic, explaining how the brain's emergency system can misfire, causing the body's acute stress response to everyday stresses. Gutman emphasizes the prevalence of panic disorders, affecting around 5% of Americans, with millions experiencing at least one panic attack.
Evolutionary Roots of Anxiety:
Interviews with neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky shed light on anxiety's evolutionary origins. Gutman examines how stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol evolved over millions of years, enabling early vertebrates and apes to respond to threats. He emphasizes how humans' advanced cognition allows anxiety to extend beyond tangible threats, causing excessive stress.
Stigma Surrounding Panic:
Gutman highlights the stigma associated with panic disorders, noting the lack of formal support networks. He explores the historical roots of shame in mental health care and discusses the invisibility of panic, perpetuating silence and inhibiting advocacy efforts. Gutman shares his experience with an online support group, discovering the profound impact of panic on others' lives.
Treatment Journey:
Gutman explores various treatments for panic, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychedelics. While CBT offers practical techniques, Gutman finds psychedelics provide a more profound transformation by allowing him to confront deep-seated fears. He emphasizes that there's no surefire remedy for anxiety, but these treatments offer hope and potential relief.
Key Takeaways:
After extensive research and interviews, Gutman distills six key takeaways for combating panic: understanding the fleeting nature of panic attacks, seeking professional help, opening up to someone trustworthy, practicing slow breathing, reframing crying as therapeutic, and incorporating exercise for endorphin release.
Conclusion:
"No Time to Panic" is Gutman's personal journey of confronting and managing panic attacks. The book encourages a shift in societal attitudes toward panic disorders, advocating for understanding, support networks, and effective treatments. Gutman's narrative serves as a beacon of hope for those struggling with anxiety, emphasizing that small steps can bring significant change.
Overview:
The book begins with Gutman's public panic attack during the coverage of Kobe Bryant's helicopter crash, leading to suspension, shame, and regret. This incident serves as a catalyst for Gutman to address his panic disorder, hidden for decades, through research, consultation with experts, and various treatments.
Understanding Panic:
Gutman delves into the basics of panic attacks, tracing his own struggles back to childhood trauma. He explores the science behind panic, explaining how the brain's emergency system can misfire, causing the body's acute stress response to everyday stresses. Gutman emphasizes the prevalence of panic disorders, affecting around 5% of Americans, with millions experiencing at least one panic attack.
Evolutionary Roots of Anxiety:
Interviews with neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky shed light on anxiety's evolutionary origins. Gutman examines how stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol evolved over millions of years, enabling early vertebrates and apes to respond to threats. He emphasizes how humans' advanced cognition allows anxiety to extend beyond tangible threats, causing excessive stress.
Stigma Surrounding Panic:
Gutman highlights the stigma associated with panic disorders, noting the lack of formal support networks. He explores the historical roots of shame in mental health care and discusses the invisibility of panic, perpetuating silence and inhibiting advocacy efforts. Gutman shares his experience with an online support group, discovering the profound impact of panic on others' lives.
Treatment Journey:
Gutman explores various treatments for panic, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychedelics. While CBT offers practical techniques, Gutman finds psychedelics provide a more profound transformation by allowing him to confront deep-seated fears. He emphasizes that there's no surefire remedy for anxiety, but these treatments offer hope and potential relief.
Key Takeaways:
After extensive research and interviews, Gutman distills six key takeaways for combating panic: understanding the fleeting nature of panic attacks, seeking professional help, opening up to someone trustworthy, practicing slow breathing, reframing crying as therapeutic, and incorporating exercise for endorphin release.
Conclusion:
"No Time to Panic" is Gutman's personal journey of confronting and managing panic attacks. The book encourages a shift in societal attitudes toward panic disorders, advocating for understanding, support networks, and effective treatments. Gutman's narrative serves as a beacon of hope for those struggling with anxiety, emphasizing that small steps can bring significant change.
September 7, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Matt Gutman, ABC News Chief National Correspondent, has suffered from panic attacks for over twenty years. He details how these panic attacks affected him physically and have even affected his career, almost to his detriment, particularly when he provided inaccurate information related to a tragic helicopter crash in January 2020. This event was the catalyst for Gutman to explore the different ways in which he could try to "cure" his panic attacks and anxiety, asking psychologists, psychiatrists, and shamans about their practices in either maintaining or "purging" anxiety and panic.
When I found out earlier this year that this book was being released in September, I knew I had to pick this up. Luckily for me, it was a book on NetGalley of which I was able to obtain an advanced copy and review. I appreciated the vulnerability that Gutman exhibited throughout this book. I've seen him numerous times on ABC News, and we tend to look at our reporters as these celebrities if you will. You don't really know what they're dealing with, but it really turns out that we all have something that we're dealing with in our lives; it's just a matter of how we deal with it. Gutman really showed how in a situation that could have potentially ended his career, he made lemons into lemonade to essentially ease his mental maladies.
While I most certainly would never take psychedelics (it's just not for me), the book was great in showing the different ways to treat mental illness, particularly panic, whether it's a purge of one's toxins, CBT, or otherwise. (Of course, treatment is always on a case-by-case basis and consulting professionals is key). I never knew the evolutionary piece of anxiety, and it was interesting to find out.
I'm someone who also suffers from anxiety and depression, and the fact that I could relate to the symptoms he faces made it feel as if I was reading a friend's book. This book is a great example of and contributes to the conversation in order to break the stigma surrounding discussing mental illness and mental health. Whether you suffer from mental illness or otherwise, Gutman's openness will keep you engaged in his continuing journey.
Matt Gutman, ABC News Chief National Correspondent, has suffered from panic attacks for over twenty years. He details how these panic attacks affected him physically and have even affected his career, almost to his detriment, particularly when he provided inaccurate information related to a tragic helicopter crash in January 2020. This event was the catalyst for Gutman to explore the different ways in which he could try to "cure" his panic attacks and anxiety, asking psychologists, psychiatrists, and shamans about their practices in either maintaining or "purging" anxiety and panic.
When I found out earlier this year that this book was being released in September, I knew I had to pick this up. Luckily for me, it was a book on NetGalley of which I was able to obtain an advanced copy and review. I appreciated the vulnerability that Gutman exhibited throughout this book. I've seen him numerous times on ABC News, and we tend to look at our reporters as these celebrities if you will. You don't really know what they're dealing with, but it really turns out that we all have something that we're dealing with in our lives; it's just a matter of how we deal with it. Gutman really showed how in a situation that could have potentially ended his career, he made lemons into lemonade to essentially ease his mental maladies.
While I most certainly would never take psychedelics (it's just not for me), the book was great in showing the different ways to treat mental illness, particularly panic, whether it's a purge of one's toxins, CBT, or otherwise. (Of course, treatment is always on a case-by-case basis and consulting professionals is key). I never knew the evolutionary piece of anxiety, and it was interesting to find out.
I'm someone who also suffers from anxiety and depression, and the fact that I could relate to the symptoms he faces made it feel as if I was reading a friend's book. This book is a great example of and contributes to the conversation in order to break the stigma surrounding discussing mental illness and mental health. Whether you suffer from mental illness or otherwise, Gutman's openness will keep you engaged in his continuing journey.
January 13, 2024
ABC News correspondent, MATT GUTMAN, writes in great detail his battle with anxiety and panic. In the very beginning he describes the history of panic and it is a little slow to start but still very interesting.
October 26, 2024
This was a really badly written autobiography aka him bad mouthing ssris while continuing to talk about all the psychedelics he has tried 👎
June 4, 2024
This book was a raw look at someone hiding their panic and their journey to be open about it and their trials of finding effective treatments. It leans a more towards personal narrative, but has some good tips and things to be aware of if you are struggling with panic as well.
March 16, 2024
I like Matt Gutman. From a healthy distance.
January 23, 2025
(Read via Blinkist)
March 7, 2025
I think this did a good job at making me feel less alone but everything else was kinda mid. Cool guy tho
October 14, 2024
More people need to come out of the closet about their panic attacks. Bravo to Matt Gutman for opening up! His book is informative, which makes it sound boring. It’s not in the least. With this subject matter, which is serious shit, Guttman is also a very funny writer.
October 2, 2023
This made me feel seen, I learned quite a bit, and an entertaining read. :)
September 29, 2023
High-achieving ABC reporter writes about his journey through crippling on-air panic attacks and using his journalistic skills to explore and experience all forms of anxiety and panic interventions.
Honestly enjoyed for the amount of time spent on his experiences with psychedelics including ketamine, DMT/ayahuasca, and mushrooms/MDMA. Treatment with psychedelics are being increasingly researched in clinical settings and are steamrolling the efficacy of most prescription drugs. Groups like MAPS and books like “How to Change Your Mind” cover this a greater depth, but Matt’s personal journey was a great read.
The conclusion is there’s no one answer, but a collection of tools to practice, modify, un-shelf, and re-shelf as your life circumstances and skills change. These include gathering knowledge and challenging your fear beliefs, talking about it with people, a higher power/spirituality practice, breath-work, crying and expression, movement, meditation, medications, and psychedelics.
My main gripe is the anxiety 101 of the first 1/3 that EVERY anxiety related book discusses, please just cut it down or exclude it - it’s been covered 327 times before. BUT a good read (ha!) nonetheless.
Honestly enjoyed for the amount of time spent on his experiences with psychedelics including ketamine, DMT/ayahuasca, and mushrooms/MDMA. Treatment with psychedelics are being increasingly researched in clinical settings and are steamrolling the efficacy of most prescription drugs. Groups like MAPS and books like “How to Change Your Mind” cover this a greater depth, but Matt’s personal journey was a great read.
The conclusion is there’s no one answer, but a collection of tools to practice, modify, un-shelf, and re-shelf as your life circumstances and skills change. These include gathering knowledge and challenging your fear beliefs, talking about it with people, a higher power/spirituality practice, breath-work, crying and expression, movement, meditation, medications, and psychedelics.
My main gripe is the anxiety 101 of the first 1/3 that EVERY anxiety related book discusses, please just cut it down or exclude it - it’s been covered 327 times before. BUT a good read (ha!) nonetheless.
June 8, 2024
Matt Gutman has always been one of my favorite reporters on ABC News. I really appreciate his vulnerability in writing such an honest account. I couldn't read this before bed, because his descriptions of his panic attacks were so vivid, they practically got me feeling the same way. The chapters about hallucinogens were a bit much.
October 29, 2023
Couldn’t even get 1/2 way through it. Too much talk about all the anxiety drugs he tried.
January 3, 2025
This is probably the hardest book I've read in 2024. I almost DNF’d it because exploring someone's anxious psyche and learning how to cope with it can be an anxiety-inducing activity in and of itself.
Matt is the Chief National Correspondent at ABC News, so he is no stranger to danger. He’s braved war zones in Afghanistan and Lebanon, been detained by Venezuela's secret police, swum with anacondas in the Amazon and tiger sharks in the Bahamas, and reported on the devastation of tornadoes and hurricanes.
To the audience back home, his fearless live reporting from some of the world’s harshest conditions might be awe-inspiring. But behind the camera, Matt was fighting a hidden battle: he had been masking debilitating panic attacks for over two decades of his career.
The cracks finally showed during a live report when a severe panic attack happened while he was covering a well-known tragedy: the 2020 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter.
Blending his own experiences with expert insights, Matt explores the causes of his anxiety, the stigma surrounding mental health, and his journey to healing through almost everything: standard formal medication, various types of breathwork, 20+ years of therapy, and even psychedelics like ketamine, toad venom, and Ayahuasca.
His journey encompasses medical, spiritual, and mystical experiences.
Matt bravely and open-mindedly tries each one of them, hoping for a magic cure to stop his anxiety and panic attacks from interfering with his life.
The answer: everything works, and yet nothing works.
I won’t elaborate further so as not to spoil your curiosity to explore it even further yourself.
This book feels deeply personal, both for the author and for readers battling similar struggles.
Matt is the Chief National Correspondent at ABC News, so he is no stranger to danger. He’s braved war zones in Afghanistan and Lebanon, been detained by Venezuela's secret police, swum with anacondas in the Amazon and tiger sharks in the Bahamas, and reported on the devastation of tornadoes and hurricanes.
To the audience back home, his fearless live reporting from some of the world’s harshest conditions might be awe-inspiring. But behind the camera, Matt was fighting a hidden battle: he had been masking debilitating panic attacks for over two decades of his career.
The cracks finally showed during a live report when a severe panic attack happened while he was covering a well-known tragedy: the 2020 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter.
Blending his own experiences with expert insights, Matt explores the causes of his anxiety, the stigma surrounding mental health, and his journey to healing through almost everything: standard formal medication, various types of breathwork, 20+ years of therapy, and even psychedelics like ketamine, toad venom, and Ayahuasca.
His journey encompasses medical, spiritual, and mystical experiences.
Matt bravely and open-mindedly tries each one of them, hoping for a magic cure to stop his anxiety and panic attacks from interfering with his life.
The answer: everything works, and yet nothing works.
I won’t elaborate further so as not to spoil your curiosity to explore it even further yourself.
This book feels deeply personal, both for the author and for readers battling similar struggles.
December 7, 2023
To combat panic in six simple steps:
First, understand that panic attacks are fleeting – the acute danger assessment phase only lasts 15 seconds to a minute. Remind yourself that you can survive the terror, and that your anxiety afterward is manageable. Panic is never as debilitating as it feels.
Second, don't hesitate to seek help from mental health organizations or a therapist if needed. The cost of letting panic fester is too great.
Third, open up to someone you trust. The relief of sharing a burden often exceeds any cure. If that’s not an option, try free clergy counseling.
Fourth, use slow breathing to counter the blood chemistry that panic draws on to intensify. Practice long inhales and exhales. Try breathwork anytime you need in-the-moment relief.
Fifth, reframe crying as free therapy. This one especially goes out to all the men who’ve been conditioned not to show their emotions! Crying is a natural way to purge anxiety and grief. The more intense the cry, the greater the chemical relief.
Sixth, exercise to release endorphins. These chemicals bind to the same brain receptors as morphine, and deliver a healthy high. Any activity, even 10 minutes of walking, is a win. Don't let perfectionism deter you.
First, understand that panic attacks are fleeting – the acute danger assessment phase only lasts 15 seconds to a minute. Remind yourself that you can survive the terror, and that your anxiety afterward is manageable. Panic is never as debilitating as it feels.
Second, don't hesitate to seek help from mental health organizations or a therapist if needed. The cost of letting panic fester is too great.
Third, open up to someone you trust. The relief of sharing a burden often exceeds any cure. If that’s not an option, try free clergy counseling.
Fourth, use slow breathing to counter the blood chemistry that panic draws on to intensify. Practice long inhales and exhales. Try breathwork anytime you need in-the-moment relief.
Fifth, reframe crying as free therapy. This one especially goes out to all the men who’ve been conditioned not to show their emotions! Crying is a natural way to purge anxiety and grief. The more intense the cry, the greater the chemical relief.
Sixth, exercise to release endorphins. These chemicals bind to the same brain receptors as morphine, and deliver a healthy high. Any activity, even 10 minutes of walking, is a win. Don't let perfectionism deter you.
December 7, 2023
Book of the Day!
For over 20 years, ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman secretly battled crippling panic attacks while reporting from some of the world's most perilous places. Though known publicly for his fearless coverage on shows like Good Morning America, Gutman's composure crumbled during mundane live shots, triggering debilitating anxiety.
His condition exploded into public view in January 2020 when an on-air panic attack led Gutman to botch details while covering Kobe Bryant's tragic helicopter crash. The incident resulted in a suspension, intense shame, and regret over falsely depicting the crash scene.
This watershed moment forced Gutman to finally confront his anxiety head-on after hiding it for decades. He embarked on a personal journey to understand the science behind panic and find effective treatment. Gutman consulted the world's top experts, trying everything from therapy and medication to experimental psychedelics.
Though a singular cure for panic disorders remains elusive, this book of Gutman’s story offers wisdom and hope to fellow anxiety sufferers while illuminating a path forward.
For over 20 years, ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman secretly battled crippling panic attacks while reporting from some of the world's most perilous places. Though known publicly for his fearless coverage on shows like Good Morning America, Gutman's composure crumbled during mundane live shots, triggering debilitating anxiety.
His condition exploded into public view in January 2020 when an on-air panic attack led Gutman to botch details while covering Kobe Bryant's tragic helicopter crash. The incident resulted in a suspension, intense shame, and regret over falsely depicting the crash scene.
This watershed moment forced Gutman to finally confront his anxiety head-on after hiding it for decades. He embarked on a personal journey to understand the science behind panic and find effective treatment. Gutman consulted the world's top experts, trying everything from therapy and medication to experimental psychedelics.
Though a singular cure for panic disorders remains elusive, this book of Gutman’s story offers wisdom and hope to fellow anxiety sufferers while illuminating a path forward.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2023
Loved this book! As someone who has dealt with general anxiety most of my life and panic attacks throughout, Matt Gutman’s story was both so comforting in some of his similar experiences but also so completely foreign and interesting in some of the very unique ways and lengths he’s gone to in order to manage and conquer, to some degree, his panic attacks. I love learning how others deal with their panic and also realizing I’m not alone. I also appreciate the vulnerability and ease (and humor!) with which he wrote as well as the personal stories and technical explanations around our body and mind and what causes anxiety. He’s clearly an investigative reporter based on the technical details and ‘why’ behind panic/anxiety that he digs into which I appreciate as someone who also deals with these issues.
Bottom line - this was a great book about one man’s panic experiences and how he’s managed it and learned from it. I recommend it to anyone who has suffered panic or any sort of anxiety or knows someone who does and wants to better empathize with what they’re going through.
Bottom line - this was a great book about one man’s panic experiences and how he’s managed it and learned from it. I recommend it to anyone who has suffered panic or any sort of anxiety or knows someone who does and wants to better empathize with what they’re going through.
December 25, 2023
This is written like a boring autobiography. "Then this happened, then this happened, then this happened." We don't need to know every single thing he has ever done or achieved. A true memoir focuses on one aspect of a person's like; we don't need to know their whole life story.
A lot of it read like it was a cover letter for a job. Where he kept explaining how he had messed up, how sorry he was, how he loves his work, how much he achieved. It was like hundreds of pages of PR to fix his image.
Also navel gazing and self-congratulatory.
He claims to have tried so many anxiety cures. But in reality he tried very little. He would say that an option didn't sound appealing, so he wasn't even going to give it a chance.
He would leave out information that did matter. All of a sudden he writes that he has been taking an antidepressant for years, for example. When the heck did this happen. That would have been relevant to this book.
I think this would have worked better as a newspaper article. Or a couple of essays.
A lot of it read like it was a cover letter for a job. Where he kept explaining how he had messed up, how sorry he was, how he loves his work, how much he achieved. It was like hundreds of pages of PR to fix his image.
Also navel gazing and self-congratulatory.
He claims to have tried so many anxiety cures. But in reality he tried very little. He would say that an option didn't sound appealing, so he wasn't even going to give it a chance.
He would leave out information that did matter. All of a sudden he writes that he has been taking an antidepressant for years, for example. When the heck did this happen. That would have been relevant to this book.
I think this would have worked better as a newspaper article. Or a couple of essays.
August 29, 2024
A brave recounting of a TV news reporter's battle with panic attacks. But his approach to dealing with his mental health challenges don't seem widely applicable. I'm so glad they worked for him and it is clear that other treatments (e.g. main-stream pharmaceuticals typically used for depression/anxiety/panic disorders) didn't work for him.
But the majority of the book is spend discussing psychedelics. He does talk about how difficult it is to access some of these products legally AND also mentions the prohibitive cost, not to mention the time investment needed to go on retreats where these psychedelics are given. Basically - this is only a feasible solution if you're wealthy, have someone to take care of your children (if you have any), and are able to do a fair amount of research.
Again, glad this worked for him and I support the increased use of natural products to combat mental health disorders, but there isn't really any great solution for people who are left without means or access to anything beyond the regular scope of solutions (meds + therapy).
But the majority of the book is spend discussing psychedelics. He does talk about how difficult it is to access some of these products legally AND also mentions the prohibitive cost, not to mention the time investment needed to go on retreats where these psychedelics are given. Basically - this is only a feasible solution if you're wealthy, have someone to take care of your children (if you have any), and are able to do a fair amount of research.
Again, glad this worked for him and I support the increased use of natural products to combat mental health disorders, but there isn't really any great solution for people who are left without means or access to anything beyond the regular scope of solutions (meds + therapy).
January 12, 2024
I was drawn to this book first because it is a hybrid memoir. That is a book which includes experiences of a particular time in the author life along with scientific or factual information about the subject. The other reason I was drawn to it was because it was about panic attacks. I have not experienced a major panic attack in my life but I have experienced anxiety and depression.
In his book Matt Gutman talks about the journey he has taken to deal with a long experience with major panic attacks. He tried many types of treatment including anti-depressants, psychiatrists, yoga, various drugs including psychedelics, cognitive behavior therapy, ADHD medications, mindfulness and mediation. In detail he describes how each worked for him and the science behind using them.
This is a well written book and what it shows even more is that our culture needs to take mental health seriously and not demonize people who are dealing with these types of problems.
November 13, 2023
2.5 stars. This book is ABC news correspondent Matt Gutman's story in his life long struggle with panic attacks. He has done A LOT of research and experimentation on the mechanisms behind panic attacks and different ways to cure them. You learn some about the physiology behind it, but he takes an evolutionary perspective that I don't believe in. He also goes through a lot of drugs and things to get healed. I can relate to the need to find a remedy, but so many of the things he does in this book are not only not accessible to most people, but they're so outlandish that I spent a lot of time wondering what the point of the story was. I liked the very end and honestly felt like that was the only part that could apply to most people. This may have been cathartic for him but he's got a somewhat arrogant tone throughout that I just couldn't jive with.
April 20, 2024
Delightful journey through an ABC reporter's efforts to figure out his panic attacks. Thoughtful and frequently very funny.
Readers who are interested in anxiety research may particularly like this one (as biography, not advice), but Gutman's personal perspective, humor, and interesting cast of characters make for enjoyable storytelling a lot of other people would appreciate. Also a good choice for the 52 Book Club 2024 Challenge's prompt for lowercase letters on the spine (finding a book with ONLY lowercase letters on the spine was trickier than I thought!)
Props to whoever at my library put the "new book" sticker over the "no" on the spine. I've seen plenty of titles on the theme of why everything is going to hell in a handbasket, but "TIME to Panic" was so straightforward, I had to see what crackpot could possibly advise this. Fortunately this book is not that.
Readers who are interested in anxiety research may particularly like this one (as biography, not advice), but Gutman's personal perspective, humor, and interesting cast of characters make for enjoyable storytelling a lot of other people would appreciate. Also a good choice for the 52 Book Club 2024 Challenge's prompt for lowercase letters on the spine (finding a book with ONLY lowercase letters on the spine was trickier than I thought!)
Props to whoever at my library put the "new book" sticker over the "no" on the spine. I've seen plenty of titles on the theme of why everything is going to hell in a handbasket, but "TIME to Panic" was so straightforward, I had to see what crackpot could possibly advise this. Fortunately this book is not that.
July 3, 2024
3.5 rounded up. I love memoirs, but this read less like the half poetry/half prose I usually see in memoirs and more like an autobiography with some emotional aspects thrown in. I wish I could explain it better, because it’s not like it was robotic, but the telling of Matt’s own story seemed a little distanced. I really appreciated his honesty with his reaction to the many (though completely unrelatable) treatments he tried and his earnest account of the panic, shame, and rock bottom he experienced. This was really well-researched and I found myself questioning what I know about my own treatment. Though I’m one of those people that relies on traditional pharmacology and would absolutely never try ayahuasca/psychedelics (if you have ever thought you were dying after taking an edible, you probably get me), I am now curious about the history of these outdated meds.
September 4, 2024
I applaud Gitman for having the courage to write a book about this topic, especially given the industry he works in.
The book started out good but the sort of dips into a sort of autobiography more than how he cured his panic. In fact, he never really did cure anything. By the end of the book, he mentions that he had a panic attack out of nowhere. The book talks a lot about stuff he tried, and those chapters dragged on a bit. Just a lot of stuff that did not help me on my own journey to curing this ailment.
While I enjoyed his narration, I was disappointed in the book. There are far better books that can help you deal with this (ie: D.A.R.E or The Panic Switch).
I'd only listen if you want to hear about Gutmans journey, rather than an actual structured plan on how to recover from anxiety /panic disorder.
The book started out good but the sort of dips into a sort of autobiography more than how he cured his panic. In fact, he never really did cure anything. By the end of the book, he mentions that he had a panic attack out of nowhere. The book talks a lot about stuff he tried, and those chapters dragged on a bit. Just a lot of stuff that did not help me on my own journey to curing this ailment.
While I enjoyed his narration, I was disappointed in the book. There are far better books that can help you deal with this (ie: D.A.R.E or The Panic Switch).
I'd only listen if you want to hear about Gutmans journey, rather than an actual structured plan on how to recover from anxiety /panic disorder.
February 23, 2025
Just another book from a man who realized he doesn’t actually have severe anxiety and also indirectly learns he has no imagination (and might even be an NPC, why would you admit this on record) by not being able to have any kind of meaningful psychedelic trip.
I enjoyed the parts about the history of where fear and anxiety stems but this man has no real right to be discussing this from an angle of someone with severe anxiety and his ignorance into how deeply other people feel this fear is apparent when he begins talking to others that ~actually~ experience debilitating anxiety.
Author comes off as pompous and incredibly lacking self awareness, incapable of really understanding true struggle compared to those around him (as shown by his inability to dig into his shallow emotional state during the ayahuasca trip). I’m embarrassed for him.
I enjoyed the parts about the history of where fear and anxiety stems but this man has no real right to be discussing this from an angle of someone with severe anxiety and his ignorance into how deeply other people feel this fear is apparent when he begins talking to others that ~actually~ experience debilitating anxiety.
Author comes off as pompous and incredibly lacking self awareness, incapable of really understanding true struggle compared to those around him (as shown by his inability to dig into his shallow emotional state during the ayahuasca trip). I’m embarrassed for him.
August 22, 2024
I found this book infinitely helpful and highlighted vast portions of it plus took a bunch of notes about how my personal experiences related. And I'm not a usual reader of books I'd stereotype as "self-help". I happened to come across it at a bookstore before a dinner with friends and the description resonated with me. While as the author says, there's no one "cure", I found his story extremely relatable, his framing of and perspective anxiety & panic attacks valuable, and his tips for getting help & dealing with them helpful. I highly recommend reading this book if you are suffering from the symptoms of any mental health issue, but especially anxiety, including panic attacks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews