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\u201cAre you currently having your nightly panic attack<\/a>? Me too. So let\u2019s do some Tae Bo.\u201d<\/p>\n Audri Pettirossi, who goes by \u201cDri\u201d on TikTok<\/a>, usually opens her social media videos along these lines. Almost every night for the past few weeks, she\u2019s posted a video of herself doing a Tae Bo workout in her pajamas. Pettirossi suffers from OCD<\/a> and panic attacks, and uses Tae Bo videos online to help with her panic symptoms. Her comment sections are full of people who are trying Tae Bo for themselves, and finding that it helps them with their panic attacks, too<\/a>.<\/p>\n Invented by karate champion and infomercial star Billy Blanks<\/a>, Tae Bo is a \u201890s workout phenomenon that blends taekwondo, rhythmic boxing, aerobics, and dance. Many of Blanks\u2019 vintage home workout videos are available to watch for free on YouTube, where he leads a group in choreography that involves kicking, punching, jumping, and stepping to the rhythm of up-tempo dance music. It\u2019s high-intensity<\/a>, and will leave you feeling sweaty and out of breath by the end\u2014pretty much the opposite of the slow, measured breathing<\/a> exercises you\u2019d normally associate with quelling panic attacks and anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, does the Tae Bo method have any merit? And, can upbeat fitness really stop a panic attack in its tracks? Here\u2019s what a therapist thinks.<\/p>\n Meet the expert: <\/strong>Aleksandra Rayska<\/a>, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in New York City who specializes in somatic and dance therapy.<\/p>\n It turns out, Tae Bo girl is onto something.<\/strong><\/p>\n When you have a panic attack, your brain releases heaps of adrenaline and cortisol<\/a> (often called \u201cthe stress hormone\u201d) into your bloodstream, triggering that terrifying fight-or-flight sensation. When you work out, you also experience a cortisol spike, but it\u2019s temporary\u2014and those levels actually decrease back to your baseline (or below it!) right after, says Aleksandra Rayska<\/a>, PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City who specializes in somatic therapy<\/a>. Plus, when you exercise, your brain gets an immediate boost of serotonin and dopamine<\/a> (the feel-good neurotransmitters), she adds.<\/p>\n Though working out in a state of oncoming panic may seem counterintuitive (and it\u2019s definitely not for everyone), the physiological benefits of exercise directly counteract the brain\u2019s fear response. \u201cIt sometimes works to match fire with fire, and speed up in order to slow down,\u201d says Rayska.<\/p>\n Think about it: If you\u2019re already in the throes of a panic attack, then the idea of slowing your breathing and controlling your thoughts might feel completely unfathomable. Jumping into a quick exercise, however, can be an opportunity for your body to work with adrenaline instead of against it. Plus, moving your body can be a welcome distraction when you\u2019re experiencing acute panic or anxiety.<\/p>\n Exercise can also be incredibly self-regulating; when you\u2019re spiraling, going through the motions of an exercise you love can feel comforting and calming. What\u2019s more, your body has a natural cortisol come-down after exercising; your nervous system intuitively knows to slow down after a lot of exertion, take a rest, and reset, says Rayska. When you take all of this into consideration, it makes sense why workouts\u2014especially high-intensity ones<\/a>\u2014could serve as the perfect counter for a panic attack.<\/p>\n High-intensity exercise<\/a> can also help decrease panic attacks in the long term. In a 2026 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry<\/a>, researchers split 72 people who suffer from panic disorders into two exercise groups for 12 weeks: one with stretching, jogging, and intermittent sprinting; and one with deep breathing and relaxing different muscle groups. The study found that the high-intensity exercise group had larger improvements in their panic symptoms, even five months after the study.<\/p>\n Try the seven-day WH+ Ultimate HIIT Challenge.<\/a><\/p>\n How to Use Fitness to Curb a Panic Attack<\/strong><\/p>\n You can think of fitness as a tool, not a treatment for panic attacks and anxiety, Rayska says. It can be a helpful coping mechanism, but to really get to the root of your panic and improve your long-term anxiety, it\u2019s best to work with a licensed therapist<\/a>.<\/p>\n That said, exercise is certainly a tool worth using to support mental well-being<\/a>. While high-intensity workouts might work for some, slower movements like yoga<\/a> work just as well for others. You can stick with whatever intensity you like\u2014just pick the kind of exercise that feels calming, familiar, and fun<\/a>. \u201cPlayfulness can really feel regulatory. It can signal to our nervous system that things are fine and safe, and there’s nothing to be on guard about,\u201d says Rayska.<\/p>\n Throwing on an upbeat fitness video<\/a>\u2014whether it be Tae Bo or a Peloton biking class\u2014can be so beneficial. Moving in sync with others, even through the digital ether, can generate a sense of connection that helps calm your nervous system, says Rayska. And, you don\u2019t have to worry about making up exercises on your own when you have a digital coach walking you through it. (Consider it one less thing to worry about.)<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth highlighting that dance, especially, has been shown time and time again to effectively reduce stress and promote self-esteem and resilience, per a 2025 review in Psychology in Sports and Exercise<\/a>. Plus, it\u2019s accessible. Music is an important factor, too: Matching your movements to the beat of a song can feel almost like a rhythmic breathwork in and of itself. The predictability of rhythm can even help you access more of a \u201cflow state\u201d and leave the panic behind, says Rayska. When in doubt, turn on your favorite music and dance it out.<\/p>\n Halle Newman is a freelance journalist and copywriter based in New York City. When she\u2019s not writing, she\u2019s probably strolling through Central Park with a matcha or trying out a new dance class.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5ce94b68-0882-422b-a86e-b3ffad6ff287_1772120975.file.png\" "\\"Headshot")
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