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Carson Daly on his panic attacks: 'You feel like you're dying'

By Annie Martin
Carson Daly discussed his struggle with anxiety disorder and panic attacks on Friday's episode of "Today." File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
1 of 2 | Carson Daly discussed his struggle with anxiety disorder and panic attacks on Friday's episode of "Today." File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo

March 9 (UPI) -- Carson Daly says he feels like he's "dying" during a panic attack.

The 44-year-old television personality discussed his longtime struggle with anxiety disorder and panic attacks on Friday's episode of Today.

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"Looking back on my life, I was a worrywart kid. I was always worrying," Daly recalled. "My father died when I was five. I had an ulcer when I was in high school. I've been nervous my whole life."

"My very first panic attack happened -- and, by the way, I didn't know what it was at the time -- when I was a host at MTV," he said. "The success of my career -- I flew to New York and my life changed overnight. I had a hard time breathing. I was terrified for no apparent reason."

Daly said his panic attacks became so severe that he once checked himself into a hospital.

"You feel like you're dying," he shared. "In fact, I went to the hospital. I've got leads [for heart monitoring] on my chest, and I'm like, 'My heart is going to stop or I'm going to have a heart attack,' and of course you're perfectly fine."

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Daly came to fame as a VJ on MTV's Total Request Live, and joined Today in 2013. He denied his anxiety stems from being on television, although he often experiences symptoms while he's at work.

"To this day, whenever I'm on television ... I'm never still," the star said. "Some days I'm just a little anxious. And you'll see me, you'll be able to tell. I'm fidgeting."

Daly's wife, Siri Daly, and his fellow Today correspondent Jenna Bush Hager were among those to praise Daly for going public about his struggle with anxiety.

"More people should talk about this stuff. Proud of you for breaking down a wall this morning @CarsonDaly," Siri tweeted.

"So proud to be your friend @CarsonDaly for so many reasons. Today -- was just one example of your character and courage," Hager wrote.

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