Steven Spielbergs Jaws Trauma: A Full-Blown Panic Attack That Changed His Life

Steven Spielberg, the 78-year-old filmmaking legend, is opening up about the intense experience of directing the iconic shark thriller Jaws in the upcoming National Geographic documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. The film, which turns 50 years old on Friday, June 20, had a profound impact on Spielberg's mental health. In the documentary, Spielberg recalls having a "full-blown panic attack" when the film wrapped in Martha's Vineyard. He says, "I was in it, shall I say, over my head, for about seven or eight months on Martha's Vineyard. It was, logistically, I think the most difficult movie I'll ever make." He continues, "I couldn't breathe; I thought I was having a heart attack. I couldn't get a full breath of air. I kept going to the bathroom and splashing water on my face. I was shaking. And I was out of it – I was completely out of it." Despite the logistical difficulties and long shooting schedule, Spielberg vowed not to throw in the towel. He says, "Even though we wrapped in Martha's Vineyard, the film kept shooting for another two months" at the MGM Studios water tank. Despite the film's success and three Oscar wins in 1976 for Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score, Spielberg says he still had a tough time. He says, "I didn't stop me waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, where the sheets would be soaking wet. We didn't have the words PTSD in those days, and I had consistent nightmares about directing Jaws for years afterwards." Looking back on the experience five decades later, Spielberg can see the bigger picture and feels pride. He explains in Jaws @ 50 that "To me, Jaws was a life-altering experience." He continues, "On the one hand, it was a traumatizing experience for me that was mostly about survival. And I think all of us feel we survived something." Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres July 10 on National Geographic and is streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu. For more on the 50th anniversary of Jaws, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.