[Health Concern] Do I need treatment for panic disorder?

I have been suffering from panic disorder for a long time, but since I am an old-fashioned person, I didn't go to the hospital.

I was worried that I might face prejudice if I received a diagnosis related to neurology or psychiatry.

At that time, it was also a period when people didn't really know much about panic disorder...

But I now realize that this is really a foolish thing to do.

Getting a proper diagnosis and taking medication to receive help is the most important thing.

 

In my case, the onset of panic disorder was a little over 20 years ago.

When faced with a specific space or situation, I can't breathe, my mind becomes foggy, and in severe cases, I faint and collapse.

The problem is that such spaces or situations are gradually increasing.

At first, I couldn't breathe and felt anxious when I went to department stores and underground shopping malls, so I completely avoided such places.

I couldn't breathe properly, so I couldn't take a taxi at all, and I also couldn't entrust a driver, which caused many difficulties in my social life.

Since I fainted in crowded and noisy places, such as bus stops with a lot of foot traffic, I have avoided those places as well.

The increasingly difficult situations and spaces are expanding, and I am only avoiding the circumstances by not returning to the places that were once hard.

 

As I generalize and avoid situations and places where panic disorder occurs, I feel like my range of movement is gradually shrinking.

There are many restrictions in social life, and naturally, being alone or at home is the most comfortable.

 

Is it okay to keep just avoiding the situation like this, or could there be problems if I don't take proper medication or receive treatment...

We look forward to the valuable opinions of those who are well-informed on the subject.