"People who cannot afford to be depressed"... A Pangyo psychiatrist speaks on office worker anxiety and ADHD characteristics

Stories were shared regarding the characteristics of the Pangyo area, where achievement-oriented office workers are concentrated, the psychological difficulties arising from that process, and the characteristics of adult ADHD, which has been rapidly increasing recently.

"I am a person who cannot be depressed"... The loss and anxiety experienced by middle managers

Specialist Lee Gyeong-jun, who operates a mental health clinic in Pangyo, explained that due to the nature of Pangyo, where achievement-oriented workers such as those in IT companies and game companies are gathered, intense competition and the resulting stress are major causes. According to Lee, the most primary concern of those visiting the hospital is 'uncontrollable anxiety.'

In particular, in addition to the anxiety new employees feel in an unfamiliar environment, it is notable that many cases involve middle managers within organizations visiting the hospital. These individuals are in positions where they must produce results for those above them and manage team members below them, and as experienced hires, they are in a situation where it is difficult to immediately change their environment. In this process, they experience various forms of 'loss,' such as resignation or health problems, and suffer psychological difficulties.

Lee mentioned that during the counseling process, middle managers tend not to reveal their condition honestly. Lee added, "They say they are not depressed at all, but to my ears, it sometimes sounds like they mean 'I am a person who cannot be depressed,'" noting that they sometimes express their depression in a diminished way because admitting to depression feels as if it makes their life up to this point a failure.

"There is a large variance in concentration"... The core of adult ADHD is 'distraction'

Detailed explanations were also provided regarding adult ADHD, which has increased about 20 times over the last 10 years. Lee defined ADHD more as a concept of 'disposition' rather than a concept of disease. He cited 'having many stray thoughts' as a core characteristic of ADHD. He stated that regardless of one's own efforts, various thoughts, such as creative thoughts or worries, constantly float up.

This disposition acts as a hindrance when performing activities that require concentration. Lee explained, "While thinking about A, thoughts move to B and C, and 'distraction' frequently occurs, causing them to miss the task they were actually trying to do." However, it is characterized by a variance in concentration where they instead show a state of 'hyper-focus' in fields they are very immersed in or interested in.

Characteristic behaviors appearing in actual clinical settings were also mentioned. Lee reported that among adult ADHD patients, there are cases where they arrive about 15 minutes late for their appointment or show behaviors such as not closing the door properly during consultation. He also explained that during consultation, their attention may shift to other external stimuli (e.g., small items on the desk, etc.), causing them to want to resolve other curiosities before the important counseling content.

"Positive emotions require effort"... Mental management methods for office workers

As a way to manage the anxiety experienced during work life, Lee emphasized the importance of 'relaxation.' He stated that one must find ways to actively relax the body for relaxation, which is the opposite concept of anxiety. He recommended developing one's own methods, such as letting the day's emotions flow while drinking tea after work.

Furthermore, he advised that while negative emotions come to you without effort, positive emotions require a certain amount of attempt. Lee suggested, "To feel positive emotions, efforts such as trying various types of play are necessary," and proposed that creating positive energy through small and diverse activities that one does not usually do, such as walking or exercising, is helpful.