I turned a burp into a heart attack.

Let’s talk about that.

If you’ve followed my work for a while, you’ve heard this story before. I repeat it on purpose because it was a defining moment for me.

I was at the gym. Finished a hard set. Felt tightness in my chest.

Instant thought:
“Oh no. Here we go again.”

Panic was already warming up.

Then I burped.

Gas bubble.

And I had already written the full disaster movie in my head.

That was the moment I caught myself in the act.

Anxiety gave me a spark.
My internal dialogue grabbed a gas can.

For years, I lived like anxiety was always lurking around the corner. Even on good days, I was scanning for it.

Will it hit at the gym?
While driving?
At lunch?
During a meeting?

High performers are especially good at this. Your brain runs fast. You analyze everything.

Including yourself.

And if you’re not careful, you will analyze your way straight into a panic attack.

What changed for me wasn’t eliminating sensations.

It was changing the assumption.

Instead of immediately going to:
“This is bad.”

I started with:
“What’s the most normal explanation?”

Sore chest? I trained chest yesterday.
Racing heart? I just finished a set.
Tight stomach? Probably something I ate.

I stopped starting with catastrophe.

That “burp moment” made me realize something simple but powerful:

It wasn’t the sensation creating most of my suffering.
It was the story.

And that story was running automatically.

If you want to reduce anxiety, you don’t just manage symptoms. You retrain the voice narrating them.

If you haven’t already, download the free Anxiety Warrior Blueprint. It walks you through the foundational shifts that help you stop fueling anxiety and start taking control of it.

And if you’re ready to go deeper and identify exactly where you may be adding gasoline to the fire, you can apply for a Strategy Session. We’ll identify what’s keeping you stuck, clarify your goals, and I’ll explain how my coaching process works.

Let’s Connect: You can reach me directly at Vinnie@LifeCoachVinnie.com or message me on Facebook or Instagram.

​About Vinnie Merz: Vinnie Merz is a life coach who helps high performers take control of their anxiety and achieve their goals. With a background in law, real estate, and state government leadership, he understands high-pressure environments firsthand. Through practical mindset shifts and internal dialogue work, Vinnie helps ambitious professionals lead with clarity, confidence, and emotional control.