Panic Disorder

Q Can people with panic disorder maintain their work and daily life?

A. With appropriate treatment, most people with panic disorder can fully sustain their work and everyday activities.

Q I have panic disorder and also feel quite depressed. Can both be treated together with Korean medicine?

A. Panic disorder and depression co-occur in over 50% of cases — Korean medicine addresses both simultaneously with formulas that treat Simdamheogeop (Heart-Gallbladder deficiency) and Liver Qi stagnation together.

Q Is there a method I can use immediately when I feel a panic attack is about to occur?

A. Immediately using abdominal breathing (the 4-7-8 breathing method) and grounding techniques is effective in reducing the intensity of the attack.

Q How should I manage sleep when I have panic disorder?

A. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and eliminating stimulating inputs before bedtime are the core lifestyle strategies for reducing panic attack frequency.

Q Will taking herbal medicine for panic disorder make me more anxious or cause side effects?

A. Herbal medicine for panic treatment is prescribed with a sedative and calming effect, so it generally does not worsen anxiety; however, digestive discomfort or drowsiness may occur rarely.

Q When should I go to the emergency room during a panic attack?

A. If it is your first attack or chest pain and shortness of breath are extreme, you must go to the emergency room immediately to rule out a heart attack.

Q Is it okay to take herbal medicine while taking SSRI anti-anxiety medication?

A. While the combined use of SSRIs and herbal medicine is generally possible, you must inform the prescribing Korean medicine doctor of any medications you are currently taking, and it is necessary to verify that the medication does not contain St. John's Wort.

Q I'm worried about becoming dependent on benzodiazepines. Can Korean medicine replace them?

A. Benzodiazepines are useful for short-term emergency relief, but long-term use leads to dependence — Korean medicine treatment can be combined to support a gradual taper.

Q Can panic disorder be fully cured? Will it come back?

A. With appropriate treatment, 70–80% of patients experience significant symptom improvement and can resume normal daily life — ongoing maintenance is key to preventing relapse.

Q Anticipatory anxiety—the fear that it might happen again—is harder to deal with than the panic attacks themselves. What should I do?

A. Anticipatory anxiety is a core symptom of panic disorder and can be effectively alleviated by combining exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring, and autonomic nervous system stabilization therapy.

Q Why do panic attacks come on suddenly? Is there something wrong with my brain?

A. A panic attack occurs when the brain's amygdala over-processes threat signals and explosively activates the sympathetic nervous system — it is distinct from structural brain damage.

Q Why did I develop panic disorder? Did I do something wrong?

A. Panic disorder is not caused by a lack of willpower — it results from a complex interplay of genetics, stress, and neurobiological vulnerability.

Q I heard coffee and energy drinks can trigger panic attacks. Do I have to quit completely?

A. Caffeine is a major panic trigger — during treatment, it is advisable to reduce intake to under 100 mg per day (about one cup of Americano) or eliminate it entirely.

Q When I drink alcohol, my panic seems worse the next day. Why is that?

A. Although alcohol may feel like it temporarily reduces anxiety, its metabolism triggers rebound anxiety and sympathetic hyperactivation that worsen panic.

Q How often do I need to visit Dongjedang for panic disorder treatment?

A. During the first month, visits every two weeks are recommended; after stabilization, monthly visits are sufficient, with acupuncture sessions one to two times per week.

Q In what order does the Korean traditional medicine treatment for panic disorder proceed?

A. It proceeds in four stages: Differential diagnosis → Prescription of Ondamtang or Gyeobitang → Concurrent acupuncture treatment → Management of anticipatory anxiety → Maintenance stage.

Q Is it more effective to receive both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Korean medicine treatment at the same time?

A. CBT and Korean medicine treatment are mutually complementary — combining them more effectively reduces both attack frequency and anticipatory anxiety.

Q Is traditional Korean medicine actually effective for panic disorder?

A. There are clinical studies showing that Ondamtang and Gyeobitang-based herbal medicines and acupuncture treatment are effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of panic symptoms.