The British-Kosovar singer Rita Ora (33) has suffered from panic attacks for many years and has always been open about her mental illness. In several interviews over the last few years, she has spoken about how she deals with the seizures and tries to encourage other sufferers. In a recent conversation with British businessman and politician Evgeny Lebedev (63) on his “Brave New World” podcast, she also explains her methods for recognizing panic attacks early and keeping her “really bad” anxiety states under control.
She regularly goes into an infrared sauna for 40 minutes, followed by cooling down in a cold pool or shower. Acupuncture, ice baths and methods from traditional Chinese medicine also helped her: “I love Chinese medicine, I try to incorporate many different methods.” The attacks used to feel “foreign” to her, but now she can deal with them better. She also believes that everyone in her industry suffers from anxiety: “It’s really great that this topic can now be discussed openly.”
There would be better and worse days in her life – just as her attacks would also be of different nature. But above all, she has adapted the way she deals with the illness: “I have now really learned to recognize when it is coming.” If one of these attacks overwhelms you, lie down and breathe for about 20 minutes.
She is also a big fan of the Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof (64), who created a special breathing technique based on a Tibetan meditation practice. This is said to have a positive effect on physical and mental health. She was “obsessed” with Hof and even invited him to her home: “I asked him to come and surprise my husband for his birthday.” She then meditated with her husband, the New Zealand director Taika Waititi (48): “I just thought: ‘Wow, he’s real!’ because I’ve only ever heard his methods and watched him online.”
