Vault: She has random panic attacks

Summary

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The Bert Show — Vault: "She Has Random Panic Attacks"

Episode Date: June 23, 2026
Cast: Bert (Host), Wendy (Co-host), Co-host 1, Callers: Samantha & Cindy

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show centers around co-host Wendy's struggle with sudden, unexplained panic attacks. Using their trademark candid, humorous style, the cast explores the realities of living with anxiety, its triggers (or lack thereof), and the impact it has on daily life. Listeners call in to share similar experiences and coping strategies, creating an honest and supportive discussion about mental health.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wendy Opens Up About Panic Attacks

Timestamp: 02:24 – 03:38

• Wendy describes her panic attacks:
  • Tight chest, racing heart, occurs randomly—sometimes just lying on the couch.
  • Feels panic at the thought: “Am I having a heart attack? I’m only 24!"
  • Difficulty calming herself; hyperfocus on heart makes it worse, making it hard to sleep.
• No clear triggers:
  • Wendy: “There’s no trigger. My mind’s always constantly on anyway, so my mind’s never really shut off.”

"My chest gets really tight and my heart just starts racing for no reason." – Wendy (02:34)

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2. Humor Amidst Anxiety

Timestamp: 03:35 – 04:47

• The hosts use humor to lighten the conversation:
  • Joking about the unhealthy nature of their split-shift radio schedule possibly dooming them to an early grave.
• Wendy admits to covering up anxiety attacks at work.

"You’d be lucky to get to 50 right now because we’re not doing the split shift. So really, you cut that 50 in half. So you got a good year." – Co-host 1 (04:36)

“I've had anxiety attacks in here before, and I just try to cover it up." – Wendy (04:47)

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3. Listeners Relate and Share Their Experiences

Timestamp: 05:11 – 09:08

Caller Samantha

• Relates to Wendy:
  • Experiences identical heart-racing panic attacks especially when trying to sleep, triggered by overthinking about having to get up early.
• Wendy:
  • Sometimes gets attacks during the day, not just at night. Describes one that lasted overnight and was severe enough to nearly visit the ER.
• Radio Host acknowledges mass relatability:
  • Many listeners report similar experiences.

“It’s like this anxiety ticking time bomb. You never know when it’s gonna hit.” – Radio Host (06:20)

Caller Cindy

• Shares her journey:
  • Had anxiety attacks years ago, which recently returned.
  • Describes symptoms: racing heart, hot sweats, cold chills, loss of control.
  • Hospital visit due to dehydration revealed the root was panic attacks.
  • Now manages with low-dose Xanax.
• Encourages professional help:
  • Even a primary care doctor can help temporarily.

“And the way my anxiety starts up, it’s like all of a sudden my heart will race. And then I get like these hot sweats and cold chills and it’s like you just can’t control them or anything like that.” – Cindy (06:37)

Nurse Listener (Caller Kim)

• Highlights the biological side:
  • Anxiety can be caused by chemical imbalance; it's sometimes hereditary.
  • Like adrenaline with “no reason” for the spike.
• Practical advice:
  • Check caffeine, dietary supplements; keep a diary to spot trends.
  • Mental health struggles shouldn’t be stigmatized.

“There can also be a chemical imbalance and it’s hereditary. It’s nothing that she’s done wrong... there is a chemical released in your brain that is almost like adrenaline.” – Nurse Caller (08:04)

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4. Advice, Support & Lightheartedness

Timestamp: 09:08 – 10:00

• Wendy expresses willingness to do “anything at this point” for relief.
• Host suggests eventual doctor visit—primary, psychiatrist, or psychologist.
• Show keeps things light with jokes about studio defibrillators and teasing about the panic attacks ("Are you calm enough to do the traffic right now?").
• Wendy, maintaining some humor, says she’s fine to continue.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Wendy on the unpredictability:
  “Nothing springs it on. It just happens.” (09:32)
• Host on relatability:
  “There’s a crapload of people that are saying the exact same thing, that they go through the same thing.” (07:57)
• On seeking help:
  “At one point or another, you’re going to have to go see a doctor about it, either like your general practitioner or a psychiatrist or psychologist about it or Southside Steve.” – Radio Host (09:14)
• Humor about job stress:
  “I’m working with somebody that has a bad heart, and I don’t want to scare them in any way, shape or form.” – Radio Host (09:40)
• Team banter on health precautions:
  “Do we need to put [a defibrillator] in the studio? … Just in case, in my room.” – Co-host 1 & Wendy (09:46–09:55)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:24 | Wendy details her panic/anxiety attacks | | 04:36 | Co-hosts joke about work stress and longevity | | 05:11 | Listeners call in with similar stories | | 06:37 | Cindy explains her symptoms and treatment | | 08:04 | Nurse caller explains genetic and chemical aspects | | 09:08 | Advice on tracking triggers and seeking medical help | | 09:36 | Lighthearted wrap-up and banter before traffic segment |

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Overall Tone and Takeaways

• The tone is a blend of genuine concern, empathy, and the show’s usual humor.
• There's strong validation for anyone experiencing similar anxiety or panic attacks.
• Emphasis on not stigmatizing anxiety, and willingness to seek help is underscored.
• Listener participation underscores how common and relatable the subject is.
• Despite the heaviness of the topic, the crew maintains warmth and camaraderie, balancing seriousness with moments of levity.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with panic attacks, consider journaling triggers, consulting medical professionals, and remembering—you’re not alone.

Transcript

[Bretzky]

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[Radio Host]

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[Radio Host]

The third show I was telling these guys the other day, you know, like, sometimes I'll hit my Lunesta. It's the sleeping pill I take. And I've been taking it for like six years now. And I'll get a little loopy right when I'm watching TV the next morning, I'll wake up and go, you know what? Just as I'm fading out, did I see what I really just saw? And I got confirmation from Wendy this morning. You guys seen that big Mac? That McDonald's is doing a Big Mac now in a tortilla?

[Co-host 1]

No, but that just makes my heart hurt hearing that.

[Radio Host]

A Big Mac wrap.

[Wendy]

Why does it make your heart hurt? It's less 400 calories.

[Radio Host]

I thought it was the most bizarre, disgusting looking thing I've ever seen in my life.

[Co-host 1]

It sounds gross.

[Wendy]

It looks gross.

[Radio Host]

Have you seen it yet? I haven't seen it, but I mean, it's everything that's in a Big Mac. It's everything. It's the mustard, it's the meat, it's the lettuce, it's everything. It's not mustard. It's special sauce. Yeah, whatever. Yeah, mustard. And it's all in a wrap now. I just thought it was the most bizarre thing. Like, man, my taste buds aren't ready for that.

[Wendy]

It's a Big Mac. It needs to be on a bun.

[Radio Host]

Exactly.

[Wendy]

Wrapped in a tortilla. It's not going to make it healthier.

[Radio Host]

Don't mess with the classic.

[Wendy]

Yeah, just don't think it's healthier, people. It's the same thing.

[Radio Host]

Real weird.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah, that's their Way of having another thing on the health menu, you know, it's like, oh, how can we do that? Okay, we'll just put it in a tortilla, right?

[Radio Host]

And wrap it up, I guess. The carbs in the bun. If you take that thing out, then you're still gonna. You're going from 600 calories to 560, right? Doesn't really matter.

[Co-host 1]

Fat content the same.

[Radio Host]

Have a dozen less fries, and you're accomplishing the same thing. Wendy here was telling us that she's been having trouble sleeping lately because she's having, like, this new round of panic attacks.

[Wendy]

Yeah, I think they're anxiety attacks. I'm not really sure of what to make of it, but it's been happening for about a month or a month and a half or so. And it's just. My chest gets really tight and my heart just starts racing for. For no reason. It comes out of nowhere. I could be laying on the couch, and all of a sudden my heart will start racing. And then as soon as your heart starts racing, it's all downhill from there because you can't really get back to breathing normal because you're so focused on your heart beating. And you're like, why is my heart beating so fast? You're like, am I having a heart attack? I'm like, I'm only 24. I'm not having a heart attack. But then you start getting panicky, and then you can't wind down from these anxiety attacks, so I can't go back to bed.

[Radio Host]

Is it something that triggers it every night?

[Wendy]

There's no trigger. I mean, I guess my mind's always constantly on anyways, so my mind's never fully shut off, so that makes it tough to sleep anyways. But the. That comes out of nowhere. I don't know where it stems from. I don't know what causes it. If I knew what caused it, I would take something for it. But as soon as. As soon as I could just be laying on the couch. Like last night. Laying on the couch.

[Radio Host]

Are you having one right now? Because you're giving me one. Just talking about it.

[Wendy]

It's almost like that. I mean, your chest gets super tight and you don't know how to calm yourself down. You can't focus on your breathing, because once you focus on your breathing, it just worse because all you hear is your heart pounding in your head. That's all you hear.

[Co-host 1]

Well, I mean, you shared with us a few weeks ago about your anxiety over, you know, being broke. I mean, having money problems, which Is such a. Such a source of stress for so many people. And so, I mean, I just wonder, do you think it's just a side effect of the stress that you kind of feel? You know, like, you say there's no trigger, but it could be, like a delayed response from you being stressed out all day about concerns over money or whatever else is going on.

[Wendy]

It could be concerns over money. I mean, concerns over. Maybe it stems from worrying. I don't. I don't know.

[Radio Host]

Probably a bunch of things. I mean, you do the split shift here at the station, so that's exhausting. You know, my doctor told me months and months ago that because we get up the time we do, your whole body chemistry is off to begin with. You'll be dead by 50. Yeah. I mean, you're gonna be dead by 38. Yeah, you'd be lucky to get to

[Co-host 1]

50 right now because we're not doing the split shift. So really, you cut that 50 in half. So you got a good year.

[Radio Host]

Yeah.

[Wendy]

Well, this is. I mean, I've had anxiety attacks.

[Co-host 1]

Just start panicking right now.

[Radio Host]

One year. One year.

[Wendy]

I mean, I've had anxiety attacks in here before, and I just try to cover it up, but, I mean, I sit over and my heart just starts. It just starts going, and then that's it.

[Co-host 1]

Do you really think it's. I mean, I sit next to you. Wendy, are you sure that it's just.

[Radio Host]

Yeah, you do that for me, too. It's not so much my heart that starts racing. The thought of you draining your ears. Here is Samantha. Hey, Samantha. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller Samantha]

Hey, Bert, what's going on?

[Wendy]

Good morning.

[Radio Host]

Well, we're okay, but Wendy's having, like, panic attacks every day.

[Caller Samantha]

Yeah, I can definitely relate. Particularly when I'm about to go to sleep, I have the same thing that happens especially when I have to wake up early, which I obviously do. I'm on the way to work right now, but when I have to wake up early and I'll start thinking about how I have to wake up early. So I just think about it and think about it and think about it, and then I end up, like, my heart starts racing and I just can't go to sleep at all. I'll be wide awake. And every time I'm about to go to sleep, I feel my heart start racing again. So I have to, like, be awake longer.

[Radio Host]

That's how my sleeping disorder started. Just the same. The exact same way, really. And even now, when I don't take it, I guess you could call it a panic attack. Right when I put my head on the pillow, my heart starts racing.

[Wendy]

Really? Because sometimes this happens just in the

[Caller Samantha]

middle of the day.

[Wendy]

It happened before the super bowl started on Sunday for no reason. I was just chilling on the couch and all of a sudden I. I had to sit up because I'm like, my heart started racing so bad. My mom had to ask me if I was okay. And I'm like, you know. Yeah, my heart's just racing fast for no reason. I don't know why.

[Radio Host]

It's like this anxiety ticking time bomb. You never know when it's gonna hit.

[Wendy]

Yeah, it's really. It's been scary before where the. To one point it would not go away for overnight. And I woke up with it and I almost took myself to the emergency room. Cause it was so painful.

[Radio Host]

Damn. Hey, Cindy, good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller Samantha]

Good morning.

[Radio Host]

Good morning.

[Caller Cindy]

I have anxiety attacks. And actually they just started up recently. I had them years ago. And then I started up recently again. When you're under a lot of stress and a lot of things that are going on, stress, sometimes you don't recognize it as a stress or something bothering you. And the way my anxiety starts up, it's like all of a sudden my heart will race. And then I get like these hot sweats and cold chills and it's like you just can't control them or anything like that. And I started seeing a doctor. Well, actually I went wound up in the hospital because I got dehydrated. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, couldn't do anything. And we found out it was anxiety attacks. And they put me on low doses of Xanax and I just. I'm down to taking just like one Xanax a day. And it helps, it helps control it. And so that you can sleep and that you can function. And even just your primary care doctor can give that to you on a temporary basis until you can get the anxieties under control.

[Radio Host]

How long has this been going on now?

[Wendy]

Probably a month and a half. But I used to get anxiety attacks every now and then, like every couple of months. But now it's like reoccurring, like where it's almost weekly, if not twice a week. So it's getting pretty scary, especially when I had the one for like two days.

[Radio Host]

There's a crapload of people that are saying the exact same thing, that they go through the same thing. Hey, Kim. Good morning.

[Caller Samantha]

Good morning.

[Radio Host]

Good morning.

[Caller Cindy]

I just.

[Caller Samantha]

I wanted to let Wendy know I'm a nurse first all. And second, I've dealt with anxiety for many years. And you have to look into not just lifestyle and stressors, but. But there can also be like a chemical imbalance and it's hereditary. It's nothing that she's done wrong and it's nothing that her parents did. But there is a chemical released in your brain that is almost like adrenaline. So it's almost. When someone comes up and boo scares you, that adrenaline is released, but you have a reason for it to have been released. Well, if you're just sitting on the couch, nothing's going on and that adrenaline

[Caller Cindy]

is released, it can be a scary thing.

[Caller Samantha]

You also need to look at your caffeine intake, what kind of foods you're eating, if you're using any kind of dietary supplements that have a lot of caffeine in them. Just kind of take a diary of what you're doing that day and then when they happen and you'll see there'll be a trend.

[Wendy]

No, I definitely appreciate the advice. I'll do anything at this point to make them stop or make them not occur as often.

[Radio Host]

At one point or another, you're going to have to go see a doctor about it, either like your general practitioner or a psychiatrist or psychologist about it or Southside Steve.

[Wendy]

I'm always very anxiety.

[Radio Host]

That's where it all started right there.

[Commercial Announcer]

He hovers.

[Radio Host]

So it could happen at any time, any moment.

[Wendy]

It just. Nothing springs it on. It just happens.

[Co-host 1]

All right.

[Radio Host]

Are you calm enough to do a traffic right now?

[Wendy]

No, I don't want to.

[Radio Host]

I feel like I'm all right.

[Wendy]

No, I'm fine.

[Radio Host]

I'm working with somebody that has a bad heart, and I don't want to scare them in any way, shape or form.

[Wendy]

I'm not scared to do traffic because

[Co-host 1]

I know we're doing. We're doing Bear Speak adventure next week. And when you walk around Disney, you see defibrillators everywhere. Just in case. Do we need to put one in the studio?

[Wendy]

Just in case.

[Co-host 1]

Just in case.

[Wendy]

In my room.

[Radio Host]

Here comes the traffic. Are you ready?

[Wendy]

Don't give rain. Just push the button.

[Radio Host]

It's coming in two seconds.

[Bretzky]

Get it?

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[Bretzky]

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