Paige DeSorbo Shares What It Was Like to Overcome a Panic Attack While Touring: "My Hands Were Numb, I Was Crying, Throwing Up"

Reality TV might be all glitz and glamour on the outside, but Paige DeSorbo is revealing a raw and very real moment that fans didn't get to see. The Summer House reality star recently appeared on Good Hang, podcast host Amy Poehler's podcast, and spoke candidly about having a panic attack during her podcast tour for Giggly Squad.
Revealing the backstage experience from a Denver show, DeSorbo showed how overwhelmed things got before going on stage. "We're going on stage in like fifteen minutes and I'm like, 'No. I think I'm having a panic attack. My hands are numb, I'm crying, I'm throwing up,'" she recalled, describing the moment of pure anxiety.
Her co-host and good friend, comedian Hannah Berner, tried to calm the situation with spa music and soothing vibes—but chaos didn't end there. While DeSorbo was having her meltdown, Berner also realized she had left behind the shirt she was going to wear on stage. The only option available? A silk pajama top from the merch stash at the venue.
Even though she was in the midst of a panic attack, DeSorbo still couldn't resist chiming in: "You can't wear that shirt on stage!" she instructed Berner, who burst out laughing at the double irony of being dress-policed by a person in crisis. Fortunately, DeSorbo had a backup T-shirt stashed in her purse, which Berner quickly covered up before the two women plowed forward with the performance.
When the panic attack reached its climax, DeSorbo called her mom too—only to experience a clash of generations when it came to mental health. "All I'm hearing is, 'Paige, stop. Paige, stop it. You're fine,'" Berner relayed, with a chuckle adding that it only made things worse. DeSorbo interjected, laughing, "She's like, 'Panic attacks aren't real.'" Berner continued, "She's like, 'Back in my day, we sucked it up.'"

In spite of the chaos, the tale is one of friendship, perseverance, and the little-known mental health issues performers endure—particularly when lights are on and pressure is intense. Paige DeSorbo's openness assures fans that even those in the spotlight experience self-doubt and overwhelm at times—and that a spare T-shirt and shared laughter can be enough to survive.