Matt Gutman, chief national correspondent for ABC News, was in Ann Arbor on Monday night to talk about his experiences with mental health and write about his second book, No Time to Panic: How I Learned. “How did I control my anxiety and overcome a lifetime of panic attacks?” It is part of the Sanger Leadership Center's Leadership Dialogue Speaker Series, a series of events that brings diverse leaders to the Ross School of Business to advise students and pass on lessons learned. The event was moderated by Ethan Cross, professor of psychology and business administration at the University of Michigan.
Gutman spent years researching anxiety and panic attacks for his latest book. Despite appearing brave on the outside, he was inspired to write this book and participate in speaking events such as the Leadership Dialogue Speaker Series because his panic attacks interfered with his job as a reporter. He said he wanted to share the difficulties he faced.
“I was very embarrassed and embarrassed to have had a panic attack,” Gutman said. “My broadcasting reputation has grown. It's as if I'm conditioned to do this kind of work, and I feel an intense sense of fear.”
Gutman, an experienced journalist, said it was difficult for her to realize how much her anxiety was affecting her, highlighting the reaction she received when she shared her experience.
“When I admitted this to colleagues, I was almost universally met with a shrug,” Gutman said. “I said to them…'No, you don't understand. I have panic attacks all the time,' and they said, 'Oh, I'm sorry.' I got a hard look from my colleagues. I was scared to take it and I was scared to go on TV and work.”
Michelle Austin, assistant director of programs and partnerships at the Sanger Leadership Center, said she was pleased to have Gutman as part of the series.
“We want to teach our students the importance of mental health and the importance of caring for other people, no matter what industry they are in, so they can go on to do really great work,” Austin said. he said. “We serve all students and encourage students from a variety of fields of study and backgrounds. We have some great opportunities through Sanger.”
Stewart Sharp, an LSA executive who attended the event, said he appreciated Gutman's willingness to speak openly about his own experiences struggling with mental health.
“I wanted to connect with outspoken speakers whose experiences and journeys I could relate to,” Sharp said. “What I got was someone who was open and honest and willing to share intimate stories, especially about tough times. I mean, it's not an easy thing to do, but it helped me It only increases my respect for him.”
Gutman opened up about some of the coping mechanisms she first used to deal with her anxiety and how she got through it by finding what worked best for her. Gutman has difficulty finding healthy ways to deal with anxiety because of the pressures of work, he said.
“I did push-ups before the air because rushing helps,” Gutman said. “I didn't want my producers or anyone I worked with to know that I was taking Xanax, because God forbid, we all have that vulnerability. Right? We have to be ‘perfect.’”
Business sophomore Elizabeth Webb attended the event and said she appreciated Gutman's vulnerability. Webb also said she believes events like this are important to increasing conversations about mental health topics around campus and in professional spaces.
“This area of mental health is under-covered,” Webb said. “I've struggled with anxiety quite a bit myself, so it was reassuring to hear people's honest experiences. Vulnerability has allowed him to be successful in his career path, but that's not what he I think it really says a lot about his character.”
Daily News contributor Shreya Srivathsan can be reached at: shreysr@umich.edu.
