GH Josh Swickard Reveals His First Anxiety Attack To Maurice Benard

Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) and Josh Swickard (Detective Harrison Chase) from ABC’s General Hospital (GH), chatted on the State of Mind podcast on Sunday. And, Josh opened up a lot about mental health. Read on for more details.

Getting Into The Dark Stuff

As so often happens with the real-life Sonny Corinthos, the conversation about life and mental health problems seemed raw and very personal. Swickard opened up about how he spent years not really understanding what mental health even was.

Josh Swickard related how he grew up in Illinois and his dad was a pastor. Next, he  related how, in high school, he witnessed someone experiencing an anxiety attack. At the time, the real-life Detective Harrison Chase had no idea what was going on.

He told Maurice, “I remember someone in high school having an anxiety attack. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.” And yet, he later realized that he also struggled with anxiety.

The First Anxiety Attack

In fact, only when he prepared for college, did Josh Swickard realize his own mental health problem. Out of the blue, while watching a movie in a theater, he suddenly felt unable to swallow “a slurpy.” So, scared, he ran outside and called his dad who told him it might be anxiety about going to college.

Later, on airplanes or in movie theaters, it seemed as if his face went “numb” and tingled. Back then, he referred to the sensations as being in “a tizzy.”

Josh Swickard and Maurice Benard discussed their mutual experience like two old veterans chatting about going to war. Both of them fight to stay on top of their anxiety.

How Does Josh Cope?

As GH fans heard before, from other guests on State of Mind, Josh uses a breathing technique to help him. Additionally, he tried listening to music. Well Maurice related to that, and the men talked about how anxiety sometimes feels like a “monster.”

Actually, Maurice has a name for that monster: Freddy Krueger. Talking about family, the duo realized that support seems the best way to help them cope. Still, despite a loving environment, that monster seems to want to pop out regularly. Additionally, both of them believe in God.

The Spiritual Side Helps

Religion plays a big part in how they try and find some meaning in their dark times. Maurice related his experiences in a mental institution years ago and breaking a latch off the wall to make a cross.

He spoke about a terrible time, saying:

I’m in a room tied down. My wrists, my waist, my ankles in one bed, four walls. I want to get out…There’s a latch on the wall. I get to the latch. I break it and I take it and I go to my wrist. And then I pray, “God,” I open my eyes. I take the latch, break it in half, make it into a cross, put it by my bed. 

These days, he believes that his own experiences help him reach out to others. Josh agreed that it’s a good thing to be candid so others don’t need to feel alone. Sometimes, he prays through his tough times as well.

Clearly, both of the GH stars moved beyond sitting tight on their problems, because they both seemed a bit vulnerable and very candid.

Another thing that came through was their mutual respect for each other as actors and as anxiety sufferers. And, both men moved past the point of being embarrassed.

Fans React

As so many people who struggle with their own problems follow Maurice, plenty of comments rolled in. One of them penned, “This was great. Love these podcasts! Thanks Maurice for doing these!!”

Here are a few more responses:

• Exactly what your guest is saying. God didn’t impose bad things that happened in our life but he gives you the strength. If you allow him to to get through that bad time it gives you the tools to walk through it and get to the other side. 
• What a great show, so nice to see a young man, who truly loves life I learned a lot today as I suffer from anxiety as well and have had symptoms that they both were talking about, the mind can be a scary things sometimes.
• It’ll be interesting to see his grandfather, my dad turned 100 in September and his memory is bad.

Talking about Josh’s grandfather, it sounds as if he might appear on next week’s podcast as well. Folks feel excited because he’s over hundred years old. What tales will he tell?

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below and come back here often for all your General Hospital cast news and updates.