My heart pounds really hard, things seem unreal, and there's a powerful feeling of impending doom.
Between attacks there's dread and anxiety that it's going to happen again. It can be very debilitating, trying to escape those feelings of panic."
These are the words of Brian, who suffers from panic attacks.
Today is Panic Awareness Day - look out for these symptoms
Sense of being overwhelmed by fright and terror with accompanying physical distress for between four and six minutes
Racing or pounding heart
Chest pains
Dizziness
Light-headedness
Nausea
Difficulty breathing
Tingling or numbness in the hands
Flushes or chills
Sense of unreality
Fear of losing control, going "crazy", or doing something embarrassing
Fear of dying