A sudden panic attack is not something that occurs simply because one is weak-willed. It can be seen as an intense malfunction of the survival instinct, manifested through complex reactions of our body's sophisticated system, especially the brain and nervous system. The small almond-shaped organ deep inside the brain, the amygdala, is our body's alarm system. When it detects danger, it immediately declares an emergency and activates the sympathetic nervous system via the hypothalamus and brainstem.
At this time, stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol pour out of the adrenal gland like a waterfall. Palpitations occur, breathing quickens through hyperventilation, cold sweats break out all over the body, and blood pressure rises, resulting in an extreme manifestation of the fight-or-flight response. The body prepares to fight desperately or flee, just as if it were facing a real lion. However, a panic attack is precisely when these reactions manifest excessively even though there is no actual threatening situation, much like a malfunctioning fire alarm.
People who experience panic attacks often have an overactivated fear circuit in the brain, alongside reduced function in the prefrontal cortex that regulates this fear response. Furthermore, an imbalance in neurotransmitters, especially regulatory abnormalities in serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA, is identified as a major cause. These hormones play a central role in regulating our mood, anxiety, and sleep. When stress becomes chronic, the resilience of such brain functions declines, and even minor stimuli can easily lead to a panic attack.
What Korean medicine calls restlessness of heart-mind is very closely linked to autonomic nervous system imbalance in modern medicine. Acupressure on Shenmen (HT7) is also viewed as being connected to branches of the vagus nerve in the wrist. The vagus nerve is the core nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for balancing the autonomic nervous system and calming the stress response. Stimulating Shenmen (HT7) can relax an overly heightened sympathetic nerve and activate the parasympathetic nerve, helping to stabilize heart rate and relieve anxiety. It essentially acts like a switch that temporarily turns off the brain's overheated alarm system, helping both body and mind regain serenity.
