In this story, an adaptation from Schulz (please forgive me, Schulz fans, as I obviously can’t be as good as the original!), I’ve created a scenario where Charlie Brown experiences a panic attack. Following this fictional narrative, I’ve analysed some of the key aspects of his panic, offering insights into the symptoms, triggers, and internal dialogue that characterise his experience. As I said before, I’m nowhere near Schulz’s level, but on the other hand, my analysis and description of symptoms are definitely better than the DSM-5, I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself! (The DSM-5 is a manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose and classify mental disorders.)

If you’re more interested in the analysis, feel free to skip to the second part of the article.

Please note that any reference to people or events is purely coincidental, and I am not borrowing any content from clients.

The story

Charlie Brown was preparing for another day at school. He had packed his lunch, double-checked his homework, and even polished his shoes. Yet, something gnawed at him deep inside, an unease he couldn’t quite shake off.

In the schoolyard, everyone was buzzing with excitement. Today was the big day — the day of the annual school talent show. Every year, Charlie watched from the sidelines as others showcased their talents, but this year, something was different. His friends had convinced him to sign up, but now that the moment was here, he regretted it.

What was I thinking? Charlie Brown thought to himself as he stood outside the gymnasium where the talent show was to take place. His heart thudded in his chest, and his palms were slick with sweat. His act — a simple magic trick with a deck of cards — seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, though, it felt like a monumental mistake.

Snoopy, his trusty dog, stood beside him, tail wagging as if to say, “You’ve got this!” But even Snoopy’s unwavering confidence couldn’t calm Charlie’s nerves.

“Hey, Charlie Brown!” Linus called out, waving his blanket as he approached. “You ready for the big show?”

Charlie tried to smile but ended up frowning. “I don’t know, Linus. My hands are shaking, and I can’t even think straight. What if I mess up? What if everyone laughs at me?”

Linus adjusted his blanket thoughtfully. “You’ve done this trick a hundred times in front of me, and you’ve always pulled it off. Don’t let your mind get the better of you.”

But Charlie’s mind was already spinning. His thoughts raced: What if I forget the trick? What if the cards fall? What if I make a fool of myself in front of the whole school? He began to feel a strange tightness in his chest. His breath came quicker, and his vision blurred at the edges.

He leaned against the wall, trying to steady himself, but his hands trembled uncontrollably. “Linus, I don’t feel so good,” Charlie muttered.

Linus, noticing the fear in Charlie’s eyes, gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Charlie Brown, it’s okay. You’re just anxious. Take a deep breath.”

But Charlie couldn’t calm down. His mind was now racing faster than before. His heart pounded so hard he thought it might burst out of his chest. His throat felt tight, and it was like the air had been sucked out of the room.

“I’m having a panic attack,” Charlie whispered to himself. It was something he’d heard his teacher mention once, and now he knew what it felt like. His legs were weak, his stomach churned, and the feeling of dread hung over him like a storm cloud ready to burst.

Just as his world began to close in, he felt a familiar nudge on his leg. Snoopy, ever faithful, had nudged his head into Charlie’s knee and looked up at him with calm, loving eyes.

You’re not alone, those eyes seemed to say. And in that moment, Charlie realised he wasn’t alone. Linus was here, Snoopy was here, and somewhere inside him was the courage to face what he feared the most.

“I… I don’t think I can do it, Linus,” Charlie said quietly, his breath still shaky.

Linus smiled gently. “You don’t have to be perfect, Charlie Brown. Just try your best. Even if you make a mistake, it’s okay. We’ll all still be proud of you.”

Charlie closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused on the warmth of Snoopy beside him. He felt the storm of panic begin to pass, like a wave that had hit its peak and was now gently receding. He could do this — not perfectly, but he could still try.

As his name was called, Charlie Brown stood up straight and gathered every ounce of bravery he had. He walked out onto the stage, the lights blinding him for a moment. His hands still shook, but he reminded himself of what Linus had said.

He fumbled with the deck of cards but managed to begin the trick. His voice wavered, and when he reached the grand reveal — the card his volunteer had picked — he realised with horror that it wasn’t the right one. The crowd was silent for a beat, and Charlie felt the familiar rush of embarrassment.

But then, something miraculous happened. Lucy, from the front row, shouted, “Nice try, Charlie Brown!” And to his surprise, the entire audience erupted into applause — warm, genuine applause.

Charlie Brown’s face flushed, but this time it wasn’t from shame. He grinned, a wide, goofy grin that spread across his face. He had done it — not perfectly, but he had faced his fear and survived.

As he walked off the stage, Snoopy greeted him with a celebratory dance, and Linus gave him a thumbs-up. For once, Charlie Brown didn’t feel like a failure. He had overcome his panic, and that was worth more than pulling off the perfect magic trick.

As they left the auditorium, Charlie felt a lightness in his step he hadn’t felt in a long time. He realised that maybe, just maybe, he could face whatever challenges life threw at him, panic attacks and all.

And with Snoopy by his side, maybe he wouldn’t be so alone after all.

The Uncontrollable Machine: Charlie Brown’s Panic Attack

In the story, we see his body react as if it’s a machine running on autopilot, spiralling out of control as the stress builds up before the school talent show. This is not just his usual anxiety; it is something more intense — an automatic, mechanical response that he can’t stop, as if his body is malfunctioning.

During my university training, we were asked to voluntarily hyperventilate — rapidly breathe for a short time — to show how hyperventilation triggers a panic attack and help clients understand that the symptoms aren’t dangerous. However, what I took from this somewhat masochistic experiment was how panic operates like a machine on autopilot, driven by physiological reactions beyond our control. My contribution here is the idea that panic is largely mechanical, like a car malfunctioning. Just as a car breaks down due to a system error, the body reacts mechanically to stress, often beyond immediate contro

According to cognitive and behavioural models of panic, a key factor in panic attacks is hyperventilation (HV) , where rapid breathing causes a drop in carbon dioxide levels (hypocapnia). This leads to symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, and a racing heart, which are then catastrophised — misinterpreted as signs of something far more serious. For example, someone might feel dizzy and immediately think, “I’m going to faint,” or “Something is terribly wrong with me.” This panic about physical sensations fuels a negative feedback loop, where anxiety makes the physical symptoms worse, and the worsening symptoms increase anxiety, eventually leading to a full-blown panic attack.

In Charlie Brown’s case, as his heart began to race and his hands trembled, his thoughts spiralled into worry: “What if I mess up? What if I embarrass myself?” These catastrophic thoughts only made his symptoms worse. His body reacted more intensely to these thoughts, just like a machine reacting to an input signal, creating a vicious cycle of panic.

During our training, this was illustrated when we voluntarily hyperventilated. Our instructors asked us to breathe rapidly for a couple of minutes. Within seconds, many of us experienced the common symptoms of panic — dizziness, shortness of breath, and a feeling of being lightheaded. These physical sensations mirrored what happens during a real panic attack, proving that panic is often mechanical. Our bodies react automatically to changes like rapid breathing, and our minds then misinterpret these bodily responses, leading to fear.

This ties directly into cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), which often uses HV intentionally in therapy to expose clients to the sensations they fear. However, I personally don’t believe in this practice (interoceptive exposure). Inducing panic-like symptoms intentionally might reinforce distress rather than alleviate it, as it can feel too harsh or overwhelming for some clients. I prefer approaches that focus on helping clients manage their anxiety in a gentler, more controlled way, rather than forcing them to confront it head-on through such intense methods.

Breathing, unlike other automatic anxiety responses, can be consciously controlled, allowing people to break the cycle of panic.

Here’s the link to a video I made four years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsiLroGTLxk

For Charlie Brown, if he had been able to understand that his symptoms — trembling hands, shortness of breath, and dizziness — were simply automatic reactions to stress, he might have been able to stop the feedback loop of panic before it spiralled out of control. Just like in our training exercise, his body was reacting automatically, and with practice, he could have learned to manage those reactions consciously.

Physical Symptoms

• Trembling and Sweating: Charlie’s hands trembled uncontrollably, and his palms were slick with sweat. His nervousness physically manifested through the shaking, a common sign of anxiety where the body responds to fear. As he prepared for the performance, this trembling worsened, showing how fear builds and intensifies these symptoms. It’s as though his body was stuck on autopilot, reacting in a way Charlie couldn’t control.
• Shortness of Breath: As his thoughts spiralled, Charlie struggled to breathe, describing it as if the air had been “sucked out of the room.” This shortness of breath was a key indicator of his panic attack, making him feel as if he were losing control over his body. This sensation created a feedback loop — the more he felt he couldn’t breathe, the more panicked he became, just like a machine malfunctioning.
• Heart Racing: As his panic escalated, Charlie’s heart pounded in his chest, thudding furiously, as though his body was in a state of emergency. His fear of failing in front of the school fuelled this sensation. The more he worried about what might go wrong, the faster his heart beat, like an engine in overdrive, unable to slow down under the pressure. His body reacted to the stress much like a machine overheating when it can’t handle the load.

Psychological Symptoms

• Racing Thoughts: The most obvious sign of Charlie’s panic is in his racing thoughts. Before stepping on stage, he wonders, What if I forget the trick? What if the cards fall? What if I make a fool of myself in front of the whole school? These anxious thoughts fuel his physical reactions, making his symptoms worse. His mind is stuck in a catastrophic loop, where every possible failure is blown out of proportion in his head. This mental spiral makes his body respond as if he’s in real danger, further heightening the sense of panic.
• Feelings of Dread: Charlie Brown’s long-standing fear of failure only intensifies during this moment. His usual worries, like messing up in front of others or being laughed at, are amplified, creating a crushing feeling of dread. This dread fuels his panic attack, as his mind convinces him that embarrassment is certain, no matter what he does. For Charlie, this feeling is like an engine running on full power with no brakes to stop it.
• Helplessness: As his thoughts spin out of control, Charlie whispers to himself, “I’m having a panic attack.” His realisation of what’s happening only heightens his sense of helplessness. At that moment, he feels powerless, as though the machine of his body and mind has taken over and he no longer has control. His attempts to calm down feel futile, reinforcing the panic that’s already gripping him.

Triggers for Charlie Brown’s Panic Attack

The story highlights specific triggers that pushed Charlie into this panic attack. These are moments and situations familiar to him, but in the context of the talent show, they escalate his anxiety to an uncontrollable level.

• Fear of Failure: One of Charlie’s biggest triggers is his fear of failure. His mind constantly replays scenarios where things go wrong. The thought of messing up his magic trick in front of the whole school becomes too much to bear. His usual concerns about not being good enough turn into full-blown panic. It’s a fear he’s lived with during past failures, like his many attempts to kick the football, and now it’s at the forefront, causing his body to respond as if he’s in real danger.
• Social Pressure: Charlie is no stranger to feeling nervous in social situations. The talent show represents a high-pressure environment, where he fears public embarrassment. In his mind, the idea of being laughed at or judged by his classmates triggers intense anxiety. The thought of performing in front of an audience, with all eyes on him, makes his body react as if it’s a life-or-death situation. This social pressure is a familiar trigger for Charlie, but in this case, it escalates into panic.

Charlie Brown’s Inner Dialogue During Panic

During his panic attack, Charlie’s internal dialogue reveals the depth of his fear and self-doubt. These thoughts keep running through his mind, feeding his anxiety:

• “What if I mess up? What if everyone laughs at me?”
• “Why can’t I calm down?”
• “I’ve done this trick before, but now I feel like I can’t do anything right.”

These thoughts create a cycle of anxiety, where his fear of failure fuels his panic attack, making it harder for him to find a way out. The more he questions himself, the more intense his physical symptoms become.

Why is the Machine Malfunctioning?

In moments like these, we are reminded that anxiety does not arise from a vacuum — it is often the cumulative result of unresolved emotional pain, stress, and a sense of disconnection.

For Charlie, this moment of panic is compounded by his long-standing fear of failure and not being “good enough.” In many ways, his experiences mirror those of people who, from an early age, internalise messages of inadequacy. When he steps onto the stage, Charlie is not just fighting the fear of embarrassment; he is confronting the deeper wounds of self-doubt and a yearning for acceptance. The power of this scene lies in how it highlights the human tendency to judge ourselves harshly, often amplifying our distress.

However, Charlie is not alone in this struggle. The support he receives from Linus and Snoopy is essential in helping him navigate his fear. Linus, with his simple and compassionate words — “You don’t have to be perfect, just try your best” — offers Charlie the emotional grounding he desperately needs. This is the power of human connection. In moments of panic, the presence of someone who sees and accepts us can shift the entire emotional landscape. For Charlie, this reminder of acceptance softens the impact of his fear and helps him realise that he does not need to carry the weight of perfection alone.

The Nature of Panic: A Response to Disconnection

In Charlie Brown’s case, panic reflects a heightened state of disconnection — from himself and from the present moment. The racing thoughts, trembling hands, and pounding heart are all signs that his body and mind are in a state of hyper-arousal, seeking to protect him from perceived danger. In reality, Charlie’s deeper fear is not the performance itself, but the internal belief that he will fail, be rejected, and is not good enough. This reflects a common dynamic in those who struggle with chronic anxiety — a pattern rooted in early experiences of feeling unseen or unsupported.

From a broader perspective, panic attacks are not merely physiological events; they are the body’s response to deep emotional distress. The body, in its wisdom, reacts to unresolved tension within — attempting to alert us to the pain that needs healing. For Charlie, this moment of panic is a reminder of the emotional burdens he has carried for so long. But it is also an opportunity — a moment where, through the support of others, he can begin to see that he is more than his fear, more than his panic.

Resilience Through Connection

Charlie Brown’s experience ultimately teaches us about resilience. While his body may feel out of control and his mind overwhelmed with fear, he still steps onto the stage. This act of courage — taking action in the face of fear — reminds us that resilience is not about the absence of anxiety, but about moving forward despite it. In Charlie’s case, his resilience is bolstered by the presence of Linus and Snoopy, who provide the emotional safety he needs to take that step.

This speaks to a deeper truth about healing: that we cannot face our fears alone. Whether it is a friend, a loved one, or even a compassionate therapist, human connection is a vital ingredient in our ability to confront the sources of our anxiety. It is through relationships — through being seen and accepted in our vulnerability — that we can begin to heal the wounds that underlie our panic.

Conclusion: Moving Beyond Fear

Charlie Brown’s panic attack serves as a powerful reminder of how deeply anxiety can affect us, turning our bodies into what feels like an uncontrollable machine in moments of intense fear. Yet, his journey also illustrates that panic is not the end — it is part of a larger process of self-understanding and growth. With the right support and a compassionate mindset, we can confront the fears that arise within us and realise that we are capable of much more than we think.

Ultimately, Charlie’s experience teaches us that healing and resilience do not come from eradicating fear, but from accepting it as part of the human experience. It is the act of trying — of stepping onto the stage, even when our hands are trembling and our hearts are pounding — that shows true courage. And with the help of others, we can navigate life’s overwhelming moments and find our way back to peace. As Mary Anne Radmacher wisely said, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” True strength lies not only in bold gestures, but in the quiet determination to keep going, even when the path feels uncertain.