Denise Welch opens up after suffering a panic attack on stage

Former Coronation Street star Denise Welch has been flooded with support after speaking out about suffering a distressing panic attack on stage.

The actress was appearing in a matinée performance of the touring musical Calendar Girls when she felt an attack coming on at the weekend.

Denise continued with her performance and was back for the evening show after fighting back against the anxiety, performing a "mantra".

"It was my first panic attack on stage in years," she said, explaining that the attack was probably brought on because she was suffering from a virus.

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Denise, who played Natalie Barnes in Corrie, has been in the Gary Barlow and Tim Firth musical for eight months, but she found she had to "really concentrate rather than being in the moment and letting words happen."

"I started thinking 'I can't remember the lyrics to that song, I can't remember that line'" she said on the ITV1 chat show Loose Women.

"I could feel the old horrors."

Denise is grateful that the audience in Dartford didn't realise, but she says her supportive co-stars noticed 'a look in her eye.'

"They could see I was getting tearful," she said.

"I was in quite a distressed state."

After the attack Denise told herself there was way she was going to let the panic stop her from performing, and she and was back on stage that evening.

One fan told her on Twitter: "Unless you’ve experienced a panic attack, no one can understand the sheer terror so a big well done."

And another follower said: "It’s good to see you posting about panic attacks Denise. They impact so many people. Glad you got back on stage."

Denise, from Alderley Edge, decided to speak out as a mental health advocate who has in the past been open about battling clinical depression.

Fellow Loose Women panelist Coleen Nolan also opened up about the time she had a frightening panic attack.

"Until then I had never understood them. I thought I was going to die," she said.

Show host Andrea McLean also said she suffers panic attacks and feared she would have one on live TV if she was to recall her own experience.

A panic attack, which usually last five to 10 minutes, is a rush of intense anxiety and physical symptoms include racing heartbeat, sweating, shortness of breath, trembling, nausea, dizziness, tingling fingers and ringing in the ears.

The mental health charity Mind can be contacted on 0300 123 3393 (lines are open 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday), text 86463 or email info@mind.org.uk or visit mind.org.uk for more information.

Anxiety Care helps people to recover from anxiety disorders. Visit their website anxietycare.org.uk for more information.

Anxiety UK gives advice and support for people living with anxiety. Call 03444 775 775 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm) or visit anxietyuk.org.uk .

No Panic Provides information, support and advice for those with panic disorder, anxiety, phobias and OCD. Visit nopanic.org.uk or call the helpline on 0844 967 4848.

For someone to talk to the Samaritans are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.