Anxiety and Panic Disorder
Anxiety and panic disorder — a room for getting through it together
A panic attack is not an illness that kills you
A panic attack is a state in which your heart suddenly races, you feel unable to breathe, and a terror of dying rushes over you; it usually settles by itself within 10 to 20 minutes. It is very distressing, but it is not in itself life-threatening, and it is a condition that responds well to treatment. That said, chest pain and shortness of breath you are feeling for the first time have to be told apart from a heart problem, so it is safer to have it checked by a doctor once.
Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-05
How it is treated
- In psychiatry, combining medication (antidepressants and others) with cognitive behavioral therapy makes most people much better
- If fear of an attack makes you start avoiding the subway, driving and so on, that avoidance feeds the illness. Facing these things again bit by bit, alongside treatment, is the core of recovery
- Caffeine, heavy drinking and lack of sleep easily become triggers for an attack
Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-05
What to do when an attack comes
- Tell yourself, 'this is a panic attack, and it will pass soon'
- Repeat slow breathing: in through the nose for 4 seconds and out for 6 seconds (this eases hyperventilation)
- Finding 5 objects around you and naming them (grounding) also helps
Frequently asked questions
Will I become addicted if I take tranquillisers?
Fast-acting anti-anxiety medicines can be used safely when taken short term or as needed, following your doctor's instructions. The center of treatment is antidepressant-type medicine, which is not addictive, and the problems come from taking or stopping medicine on your own. Talk honestly with your doctor about anything that worries you.
Sources for this page
· 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 (as of 2026-08-05)Last checked: 2026년 8월 5일
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