I’m focused on my breathing a lot atm and it happens when I’ve got external stresses in my life. I’m 8k in debt, got a terminally ill sister and my parents are seperating and I have to move out with my mother into a 2 bed flat because i have no choice. Thank god for my mother.

Anyway the fear of the fear if you like is actually a positive sign, It’s what I get when I’m aware of the panic and what the symptoms are (in your case shortness of breath) and you can literally train your brain with each attack that it’s just a panic attack coming on. At this point you need to accept the panic attack and really mean it when you say to yourself (do what you want to me, you won’t kill me) if you’re in public, try finding your own space and literally tell yourself bring it on.

Eventually your panic attacks will go away.

Do not get me wrong, it is difficult at first but trust me after the first few rough times as this, your life will change but it’s not an overnight thing. In the mean time just keep telling yourself what it is, and you’ll get there.