Thomas van der Vlugt candid about panic attacks: ‘Was deeply unhappy’

Thomas shares millions of subscribers with his colleagues Giel de Winter and Stefan Jurriens with the StukTV platform. Despite the fact that the men scored hit after hit, this was also the reason that the presenter suffered from panic attacks. “What if it suddenly ends? repressing fear, but instead I lost myself.” Thomas sought distraction by partying and “seeking attention from women.” He also used a lot of alcohol and drugs. This only made Thomas’s life harder. “Of course this had an effect on my daily life.”

The presenter was not the only one who suffered from his own behaviour, but his colleagues were also the victims of this. “I missed performances and let the guys from StukTV down. I was screwing things up.” Thomas soon received an intervention from his StukTV colleagues: “After six months, Stefan and Giel said: ‘What are you doing, man?’ They said I should slow down and maybe talk to someone, then I looked for a coach and followed therapy sessions.”

–

Thomas considers himself lucky to have such colleagues. He is also happy that he has taken the step to seek help. “Going to a coach was the best decision I ever made.” Talking to a coach or a therapist is quite difficult for Thomas, however, because he does not like to talk about his feelings. “I was deeply unhappy, but I didn’t talk to anyone about it, because I thought that was weak.”

The therapy sessions seem to help and are finally bearing fruit. “I can now say that I am happy. My panic attacks have disappeared.”

–

The StukTV men support Thomas through thick and thin. In this way they also express their confidence in their colleague’s relationship.

–