Mother releases footage of herself suffering a panic attack to raise mental health awareness

'Some people may find it strange I picked up my phone, but it shows real life at its most ugly and raw'

A mother who suffered a panic attack as her children played nearby has released a video of the incident to raise awareness of mental health issues.

Sophie Mei Lan struggled to breath and crying hysterically as she attempted to hide her anguish from her family.

In the minute-long video, the mum-of-two broke down in tears.

“I just don’t want to be here, I just can’t cope," she said.

Despite being distraught Sophie, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire managed to film the episode to show other parents what the frightening disorder looks like.

She said: “I wanted to show what mental illness can be like – warts and all. Some people may find it strange I picked up my phone, but it shows real life at its most ugly and raw."

She added: “Filming this clip has been therapeutic for me because on paper I am successful, and I look normal. I have a loving family, friends, a home and children and yet I still experience severe mental illnesses as it doesn't discriminate.”

In the video, blogger Sophie tells the children she is ill to explain away her streaked make-up and tears.

“Panic attacks are hard to control or predict. They can happen out of the blue or if I feel tired, ill, upset or like I have let someone down," she said. "When I have an attack, I’m engulfed in a toxic mixture of guilt and feeling overwhelmed. I want to be in the present for my children for them but sometimes it's hard and I feel like I've failed them.

“I’m responsible for looking after my children so I can’t walk out and get help – which all mums will recognise. The attack has to pass and filming it will help others realise that your attack will eventually end.”

The clip was released by ChannelMum.com to raise awareness of mental health issues among mothers. A new poll by the parenting website reveal 85 percent of mums say they suffered from some form of anxiety or mental health issue while pregnant or since becoming a mum.

Three in 10 respondents said they had suffered at least one panic attack and more than a quarter of these have had multiple stress-related episodes. In total, 23 percent have had a panic attack when their child was present.

Two in five worried they would be judged for having panic attacks while a quarter fear their children could be taken away if they admit to suffering. The most extreme symptoms include being unable to breathe, suffered by seven in ten and 63 percent who broke down crying uncontrollably.

Three in five describe the feeling as "overwhelming dread" with 22 percent even contemplating suicide.

SWNS