Causes of Panic Disorder, When the Balance of the Mind is Lost

Hello, I am Choi Yeon-seung of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

Hello, I am Choi Yeon-seung, the director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic. Today, I would like to talk about panic disorder, which many modern people frequently experience. Many people suffer from panic disorder symptoms such as sudden extreme anxiety, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing. When these symptoms recur, they cause significant disruption to daily life. At Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, based on 16 years of clinical experience, we help improve panic disorder symptoms through customized treatment tailored to each individual patient. Let us recover the health of your mind together.

An unwelcome guest that disrupts daily life, panic disorder symptoms

Whenever I go outside, my heart beats so fast and it becomes hard to breathe that I feel like I might collapse. Interpersonal relationships are difficult, and now I am afraid to leave the house at all. Will I be okay like this?

Many people experiencing panic disorder struggle with a very wide range of symptoms. The most common symptoms include intense anxiety that comes without warning, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, sweating, trembling, and more. In addition to these physical symptoms, they also report mental anguish such as fear of death, loss of reality, and fear of losing control. Since they never know when an attack might occur, they are constantly anxious and end up avoiding going out, and they also experience great difficulties in interpersonal relationships and social life.

Panic disorder, what kind of illness is it?

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which panic attacks occur repeatedly without warning. A panic attack is a phenomenon in which physical symptoms accompanied by extreme anxiety and fear suddenly appear, peak within a few minutes, and then gradually subside. It typically first develops in one's 20~30s, and is about 2~3 times more common in women than men. Panic disorder can also occur alongside various other conditions such as major depressive disorder and other anxiety disorders. While it may start with mild symptoms in the early stages, if the intensity gradually worsens and persists, quality of life can decline significantly.

Various causes of panic disorder

The causes of panic disorder are very diverse. It is known that genetic factors, imbalances in brain neurotransmitters, and stress act in combination. In particular, excessive stress and psychological vulnerability are among the primary causes of panic disorder. As chronic daily stress accumulates, the sympathetic nervous system becomes excessively activated, which becomes a factor that triggers panic attacks. Additionally, psychological characteristics such as an unstable home environment, a tendency toward excessive worry and anxiety, low self-esteem, and a perfectionist personality are also deeply related to the onset of the disease.

Panic disorder from the perspective of Korean Medicine

In Korean Medicine, panic disorder is viewed as a disease occurring due to an imbalance between the mind and body. Symptoms such as palpitations and heart pounding are regarded as dysfunction of the Heart (心), difficulty breathing as a decline in the function of the Lungs (肺), and digestive symptoms as a decline in the function of the Spleen (脾). It can be said that panic disorder symptoms appear when the harmony of mind and body is broken due to imbalances in the organs, disorders in the circulation of Qi and Blood, and the stagnation of Dam-eum (phlegm-fluid). Additionally, innate vulnerability (稟賦不足), damage to the Spleen and Stomach (脾胃) due to usual imbalances in dietary and lifestyle habits, and stagnation of the Liver (肝) caused by excessive thinking and worry are also cited as important causes.

Korean Medicine treatment to restore the harmony of mind and body

At Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we aim to resolve the causes of panic disorder by restoring the destabilized balance of the mind and body. First, after closely identifying the patient's symptoms and constitution, we proceed with personalized prescriptions. For symptoms such as palpitations and insomnia, we use medicinal herbs that nourish the heart and calm the spirit (養心安神), and for chest tightness and dyspnea, we use medicinal herbs that regulate qi and relieve depression (理氣開鬱) to alleviate symptoms. Additionally, we balance the mind and body with medicinal herbs that help smooth the circulation of qi and blood and harmonize the functions of the internal organs. Combining this with exercise therapy, meditation, and breathing techniques can further enhance the treatment effect.

Treatment at Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic that touches even the heart

Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic provides customized treatment tailored to each individual patient based on extensive clinical experience. We consider communication with the patient to be the most important part of the treatment process and focus on finding and resolving the cause of the disease. In the treatment of panic disorder, we do not stop at simple symptom relief but carefully examine the patient's psychological factors and lifestyle habits. Our medical philosophy is to listen to and empathize with each patient's concerns when determining the direction of treatment. As a graduate of Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine, I will combine the wisdom of our ancestors with modern Korean medicine to achieve the best treatment outcomes.

Patients enjoying changes in their lives after treatment

I was always anxious that a panic attack might occur and couldn't even go outside, but now my symptoms have improved significantly. I am so happy because I feel like I've reclaimed my life.

Patients who received treatment for panic disorder at Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic consistently say they have experienced positive changes in their lives. Patient A, a woman in her 20s, struggled with daily life due to severe heart palpitations and dyspnea, but she was delighted that her symptoms improved greatly with a customized prescription for one month. Another patient, B, a man in his 30s, found it difficult to even go outside due to anticipatory anxiety, but he regained his confidence and was able to return to social life through consistent herbal medicine intake and meditation training. In this way, many panic disorder patients have reclaimed healthy lives together with Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

The positive effects brought by changes in small habits

Along with the treatment of panic disorder, it is also very important to improve small daily habits. Maintaining a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and a regular sleep pattern alone helps improve immunity and restore physical rhythm. Additionally, it is necessary to stabilize the mind and body through deep breathing or meditation and practice expressing negative emotions honestly. These seemingly trivial efforts gather to play a major role in preventing the recurrence of panic disorder and improving the quality of life. For the patient to listen to the state of their own body and mind and create healthy habits—this is the beginning of the healing that Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic aims for.

Panic disorder, let's gather our strength and overcome it together

Panic disorder, is it a problem only I have? There is no one around me who understands, and I am afraid it will not get better.

We have looked into panic disorder in detail so far. Are you experiencing inconvenience in your daily life because you suspect you have panic disorder? Please do not worry alone and do not hesitate to seek medical help. At Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we prioritize the patient's mental and physical health and will extend a healing hand through warm empathy and communication. By gathering the wisdom of ancient prescriptions and modern Korean medicine, we will provide customized treatment that is just right for each individual patient. We sincerely support you in regaining your mental health and returning to a vibrant daily life. Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic will always be by your side.