If you’re a fan of the TV show Ted Lasso, like I am, you’ve probably noticed he has developed a case of anxiety and panic attacks since the start of the show and moving to England.  His situation is very similar to many people who suffer from anxiety and panic in that the anxiety and panic are definitely not the main issue that’s driving his or anybody’s disease.

Ted Lasso is Just Like Any of Us

Ted’s a normal guy who just got a divorce and is only a year or so into a new life in merry old England.  He’s taken on a huge career change of coaching a soccer team instead of football, and the only familiar face in his life at the outset was Coach Beard.  If any of the rest of us had a similar set of circumstances, we’d probably develop anxiety and panic attacks, too!  Any big change or set of changes in our lives can trigger a similar reaction in the form of the panic attacks, but a look under the surface surely reveals a different culprit that’s to blame

Ted Lasso Doesn’t Just Struggle With Panic Attacks

Ted just went through a major loss in his life when his marriage ended.  He’s stayed plenty busy coaching his team and trying to get his new life established in England.  So there’s bound to be grief and depression somewhere in the mix, too.  Depression is one of the main tag team partners for anxiety, as well as panic attacks at times.  It’s deceiving though because when he’s having these freak out moments nobody would think that depression is lurking under the surface.  Yet that’s what’s often true of the population in general:  anxiety and depression so often go hand in hand.  Ted’s not a particularly anxious guy, but he is very caring and thoughtful of other people.  So often those who are more focused on others have trouble noticing when something is wrong with themselves, but a panic attack is sure to grab your attention like few other things do.  

Ted Lasso is a Master of Denial

Like so many of us, once the crisis passes we tend to go back to our day to day lives and ignore problems.  That is, until they happen again and we can’t ignore them.  As we get into the second season of Ted Lasso, and I’m not caught up on my watching at the time of this writing, he’s had another panic attack and finally sought out the help of the team psychologist.  Even then he puts up a gruff front by causing a scene in the therapist’s office and storming out.  Anger and irritability can go with both depression and anxiety, but neither of those would be something that would come to mind if he’s called me an expletive and shouted as he left my office.  That’s the way it often works if you're a male:  the anger covers up what is really going on because it’s safer to be angry than vulnerable about what’s really the problem.   

How Can Ted Lasso and You Get Over It

Ted’s kind of a bumbling guy in some respects, but he has already found part of what gets most people out of depression and anxiety:  find good friends.  Not only that, but he’s tried to live the kind of life that is good for everyone no matter what they suffer from.  He’s also finally found some help from the team psychologist.  He thought she was originally there to help one or more of his players, but soon found out that he needed the help himself more than anything else.  He doesn’t have any good coping skills that we know of, but that’s what therapy is for anyway:  to help you build the coping skills that can help you on the road to recovery.  Regardless, he has generally positive people around him that are truly interested in his welfare, and that’s an indispensable asset for anyone in any situation.  That isn’t an accident either, because he attracts that to himself by the way he conducts himself.  He is a good example of getting back what you give.

Ted Lasso and Getting the Help You Need

Most people don’t want to spend a single hour in a therapy session, let alone years in the client’s chair, but Ted started getting the help he needed and managed to come back even after making a scene most people wouldn’t return after.  He’s a good example of how you can get help for what ails you, too.  If you’re not sure about whether you could benefit from therapy, you can give me a call to get a free 20-minute phone consult and I can help you figure that out.  I’ve been helping people from anxiety and depression my entire social work career.  You can also fill out the inquiry form at the bottom if you’d rather reach out that way and I’ll get back to you to schedule something.  The good news is there is help out there if you’re only willing to walk through the right doors to get it.  Therapy isn’t exactly a tasty biscuit, but it can be one of the best things you’ve ever done for yourself.  

Visit our webpage on anxiety to learn more about how Scott can help you with anxiety.  

About the author:  Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland.  He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin.  He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.