Anxiety and Panic
Panic Disorder
Related terms · Panic symptoms
Panic disorder is a condition characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and the subsequent worry about future attacks or changes in behavior to avoid them.
Overview
Panic Disorder: Please look at these three things first
- Panic disorder is a condition where unexpected Panic attackattacks recur, and the worry or avoidance regarding whether they will happen again changes one's daily life.
- We look not only at the frequency of attacks but also at post-attack behaviors, such as repeated emergency room visits, checking pulse, or avoiding the subway or driving.
- We verify physical illnesses within the necessary scope and establish a treatment plan to reduce avoidance while maintaining mental health treatment and medication.
Meaning and Distinctions
What is panic disorder?
Even after an attack stops, the fear of "Will I be able to get out if it happens again?" remains. Therefore, panic disorder evaluation must look at not only the frequency of attacks but also the places and behaviors that have been avoided since. Panic disorder is a state where unexpected panic attacks recur, and one worries about their recurrence or changes their behavior.
- Easily confused terms
- A panic attack refers to a single episode of acute symptoms, while panic disorder includes cases where worry and lifestyle changes follow the attacks.
- Why this is checked during medical evaluation
- We do not dismiss panic as simply being "due to anxiety." We first check for new chest pain, fainting, thyroid, or heart issues, and while continuing current treatment, we examine which of the following surges first and which lasts longest: heart rate, breathing, gastrointestinal symptoms, sweating, or body heat.
- What to write down for your visit
- In addition to the frequency of attacks, we verify instances of checking pulse, repeated emergency room visits, and avoidance of the subway and driving. We check the current diagnosis, testing, and psychotherapy stage, as well as the full medication list including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements, and examine whether throbbing comes first or if shortness of breath, nausea, heat sensation, or cold sweats come first Pattern Identificationto determine prescription priorities. Please write this information down with the dates and show it during your medical evaluation.
Learn more
Connecting panic disorder to my symptoms
Worry and avoidance on days without attacks are also targets for treatment
Even on days when attacks are rare, if you cannot go out alone or avoid specific places because of the thought that 'I won't be able to get out if it happens again,' please record these daily limitations. It is easier to verify the actual impact of the symptoms if you write down who you can go with and how far, as well as the number of times you stopped working or canceled appointments.
Distinguish remaining physical discomfort while maintaining current treatment
Do not arbitrarily stop psychotherapy or prescriptions from the psychiatry department. Record the date you changed medications along with changes in attacks, sleep, digestion, and throbbing. If you are receiving Korean medicine treatment concurrently, inform both medical teams of your full medication list to check for overlaps and interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions when looking into panic disorder
If tests are normal, is panic disorder confirmed?
It is not confirmed by normal tests alone. Along with necessary physical evaluations, recurrent attacks, Anticipatory Anxiety, avoidance, and lifestyle changes are comprehensively judged during a mental health evaluation.
If I still cannot take the subway even though attacks have decreased, is treatment necessary?
If avoidance and anticipatory anxiety limit your daily life, they need to be addressed separately from the frequency of attacks. Record the places you avoid, whether you are accompanied, and the amount of time you endured the anxiety to set gradual goals with your treatment team.
Sleep and Mind Glossary
Compare similar terms here
You can check the brief meaning first and then proceed to the detailed explanation.Read More
Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuidePanic disorderPanic disorder is a condition characterized by unexpected panic attacks followed by a process of changing behavior due to fear of recurrence. While chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and abdominal discomfort are actual physical symptoms, for new attacks, other causes such as heart, respiratory, or thyroid issues are checked first. Recovery of daily functioning is achieved not just by counting the number of attacks, but by reducing pulse checking, repeated emergency room visits, and avoidance of the subway or driving. Severe chest pain, fainting, neurological symptoms experienced for the first time, or urges for self-harm should not be dismissed as familiar panic.→
- Medical GuideHow can I distinguish other causes from what feels like a panic attack?A panic attack can involve a rapid increase in symptoms such as throbbing, shortness of breath, trembling, and dizziness, along with sudden intense fear or discomfort. However, first-time chest pain, fainting, symptoms during exercise, or one-sided paralysis are not dismissed as panic. If these recur, record the starting scene, the time it took to reach the peak, and the places you have come to avoid, and then distinguish between physical causes, panic, agoraphobia, and social anxiety in order.→
- Sleep & Mind ColumnWhat do panic disorder, agoraphobia, and social anxiety fear? Differences between the fear of attacks, escape, and evaluation→
Evidence and Update Information
The following materials were referenced to verify the basis and scope of the definitions and treatment explanations.
- NIMH: Anxiety DisordersBasic explanations of generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and difficulties experienced in daily life