Theatre student's film has helped put panic attacks on centre stage

But beneath the surface lies a hidden pool of anxiety that can strike at any time.

The 21-year-old University of Chichester music and theatre student suffers from panic attacks, despite her love of the stage, and knows looking confident is not the same as feeling confident.

Lydia wants to raise awareness of the condition to help others understand extreme anxiety and learn how to deal with it effectively.

She is working with Fixers, a charity that gives young people a voice, to make a film showing how to help someone suffering from a panic attack.

“On the surface I seem like a really confident person but I suffer from panic attacks which can strike at any moment,” explained Lydia.

“A crowded situation is usually the trigger. I struggle with my breathing, my chest gets very tight, sometimes I shake or I can’t physically move and I feel unsafe.

“People often accuse me of looking dazed or drunk and others have just told me to calm down or to stop being a drama queen.

“Attacks are more common than people think and I want to let others know that not everyone’s experiences are the same.”

The two-minute film, called Don’t Judge, Just Understand, shows a young woman entering a canteen and expresses her feelings as her panic begins to rise.

It goes on to show the reactions from others in the canteen, which are mainly judgemental and lack sympathy.