When To See A Doctor
There comes to a point when stress and anxiety become overwhelming. There are certain signs you might notice that mean its time to see a doctor. Its a good idea to seek help if your stress is causing a major decline in work or school and if you find yourself simply unable to cope with everyday life. You might notice a change in sleep or eating habits, develop physical problems or have found yourself withdrawn. These mean your stress is taking too great a toll on you.
Most importantly, stress is too much of a problem if youre abusing drugs or alcohol to make it through the day. You should always seek professional help if youre treating yourself or engaging in any unhealthy behaviors.
Doctors can offer a number of solutions for stress. These often include therapy to help you develop and strengthen your stress-management skills. Sometimes, medicine is also something that can calm your worries and anxiety. Medical professionals can offer many natural alternatives to you, too, such as meditation. You might benefit from a combination of different stress-reducing treatments and lifestyle habits. This way, stress is no longer stopping you from leading a happy, productive life.
Ready to reduce your stress and lead a happier, more relaxed life? Visit Mercy.com to make an appointment with a primary care doctor or specialist.
How Do I Know If I Need To See A Doctor About Anxiety
Phyllis Thornton | Answered April 10, 2021
If youre experiencing feelings of anxiety that wont go away, talk with your doctor, especially if you identify with the following signs.
- Your Anxiety Is Harming Your Physical Well-Being.
- You Have Anxiety About More Than One Area of Your Life.
- Your Symptoms Persist for Six Months.
When Should You See A Doctor For Anxiety
As life-disrupting and misery-creating as anxiety can be, its often difficult to know when you should see a doctor about anxiety symptoms. Learning when you need anxiety help will help you feel more confident and less anxious about your decision. Use the following information to help you decide if and when you should see a doctor for anxiety.
If you worry about your anxiety symptoms and wonder if you should see a doctor, then maybe you also worry if seeing a doctor would be silly or pointless because maybe your anxiety isnt actually that bad. This type of worry is a common feature of anxiety known as meta-anxiety, or anxiety about your anxiety.
For those of us who have experienced it, meta-anxiety is not only obnoxious but can be paralyzing. Having anxiety about when you should see a doctor for anxiety can get in the way of treatment. There are times when a trip to the doctor to discuss your anxiety is a very good idea that can help you move forward past anxiety.
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Can Online Doctors Prescribe Anxiety Medication
Telehealth allows you to connect with your provider virtually. Some providers offer telehealth services for medication visits. These are offered over a secure HIPAA-compliant platform. Some people find telehealth more convenient and have an easier time talking more openly with their doctors about mental health concerns.
While telehealth can be a convenient way to meet, online providers cannot prescribe all medications. Because benzodiazepines are a controlled substance, they require that a provider evaluate you in-person, except in certain instances.
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What Kinds Of Questions Can You Expect From A Therapist
In order to gauge how youre feeling and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor might ask any of the following questions:
- What are your symptoms and how are they impacting day-to-day life?
- When did your symptoms start and how long have they lasted?
- Does anything trigger your anxiety or make it worse?
- Do you have a family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions?
- Are you currently taking any medications?
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How Urgently Are You Wanting Or Needing To Start Treatment
If you need to start treatment right away, your best choice will most likely be your PCP. This is true even if your answers to the other questions in this guide suggest that a psychiatrist might be a better choice.
Even though primary care practices can also have waiting lists, the wait times to see a PCP are nearly always shorter than the wait times to see a psychiatrist.
Theres a severe psychiatrist shortage in the United States. It can take several months to get an appointment with oneif theyre even taking new patients at all. Its worth checking whether a local psychiatrist has an opening, but in most cases, youll see a PCP a lot faster than youll get in to see a psychiatrist.
We think it’s much better to get started with a PCPeven if they ultimately refer you to a psychiatristthan to wait to get help until you’re in crisis.
If youre already in crisis, dont wait for an appointment with a psychiatrist or a PCPreach out for help immediately. By calling a national hotline or a local crisis line, you can connect with caring professionals wholl help you get the care you need right away.
How Is Anxiety Diagnosed
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms. Often they will use a detailed questionnaire to do this. The more detailed answers you can give about what youre experiencing, the better.
You may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder if the symptoms are affecting your ability to function in some way, either at work, school or socially. The questionnaire may also pick up if you have depression and how severe the problem may be.
Your doctor will diagnose the type of anxiety disorder you have based on recognised criteria such as those listed in the DSM-5 .
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Coping Support And Resources
In addition to your prescribed treatment, you may want to join a support group. It can be very helpful to talk with other people who are experiencing symptoms similar to yours. Its good to know that you are not alone. Someone else with similar symptoms can understand what youre going through and offer support and encouragement. Being part of a group can also help you develop new social skills.
Your community will likely have several support groups, either for your specific disorder or for anxiety in general. Check with your medical professionals to learn what resources are available in your area. You might ask your:
- mental health provider
- county mental health services agency
You can also participate in support groups online. This may be a good way to start if you have social anxiety disorder or feel uncomfortable in a face-to-face group setting.
Treatment of diagnosed anxiety is often multi-disciplinary. This means you may see one or all of the following medical practitioners:
- primary care physician
What Types Of Medication May Be Prescribed
For short-term management of anxiety, benzodiazepines are often prescribed as the first line of defense, but these are not usually appropriate for long-term use due to concerns about dependency, lack of effectiveness, and adverse reactions. Common benzodiazepines include Ativan, Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin. They act as a sedative by enhancing the tranquilizing effects of the neurotransmitter GABA by slowing down activity in the brain and reducing the symptoms of anxiety.
They take effect more quickly than the antidepressant medications often prescribed for anxiety. But there are drawbacks. You can build up a tolerance to them if they are taken over a long period of time and then you need a higher dose to get the same effect. Some people may even become dependent on them.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are a mainstay treatment for anxiety and considered an effective treatment for all anxiety disorders.
Additional classes of medications including tricyclic antidepressants and mood stabilizers may be used when anxiety is harder to treat.
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How To Find The Right Doctor And Therapist
Some people are fortunate enough to be able to go to their primary care provider and get a good referral on the first try. However, you may find you need to shop around to find a therapist who is the right fit for you. This is particularly the case for people of color and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Therapy can also be expensive and may not be covered by insurance. While you may be able to reduce the cost by choosing telemedicine, although this does not work for everyone or every situation. There is more and more evidence that digital CBT², which offers online or app-based therapy, can be a helpful alternative to regular therapy.
Other than a referral from a doctor, there are several ways you can potentially find the right provider.
Online listings
A number of websites that list therapists you could contact. For example, the Anxiety & Depression Association of America³ has a database of therapists. SAMSHA also has a behavioral health treatment locator.
Minorities or people in certain communities can have particular issues finding the right therapist for their individualized needs. To help with this, there are websites that list therapists of color and LGBTQI+ friendly therapists. These specialist listings can help you to match with a therapist with whom you feel heard and respected.
Local hospitals and universities
Support groups
You can, of course, also talk to friends or family members who have similar conditions to get a recommendation.
Online matching services
How Much Does A Visit For Anxiety Treatment Cost
The treatment cost might vary based on your location, insurance provider and other factors.
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.
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What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities. Adults with generalized anxiety disorder may worry about job responsibilities, the physical health of themselves and/or loved ones, financial obligations, and others. The focus of worry in children with generalized anxiety disorder tends to be on their abilities and their performance across various activities. While worrying is a normal experience, people who have generalized anxiety disorder typically experience worry as being difficult to control and as interfering with their daily functioning.
We do not know the exact cause of anxiety disorders, genetics play some roles as research shows that having a family member with significant anxiety raises the risk for anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders may also be brought on or worsened by stressful life events.
Work Related Stress: What Are My Rights
As discussed, your employer has some duties to be considered under the Health & Safety Act and, they should make sure to limit stress at work claims by looking after your welfare. Your employer has a legal duty to take reasonable action and steps to promote your well-being by stopping or reducing:
- Excessively High workloads.
- Dangerous working environment.
- Support employers through difficulties .
These are just a few examples but there could be plenty additional risks your employer should make sure to identify and prevent, but it is also responsibility of the employee to bring your stress related issues/concerns to their attention. If you dont, they can state they had no idea of those issues in the event of an employment tribunal.
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Which Doctor Should I See For Anxiety Treatment
If you think or know you have anxiety, you may go to a doctor for anxiety treatment. This person will prescribe medication to calm the effects of anxiety. While you may be able to get this medication from your primary care doctor, youre better off seeing a psychiatrist for mental health medication. Here are some reasons why you should talk to a psychiatrist, not a primary care doctor, for your anxiety treatment.
What Type Of Doctor To See
If you believe you have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, your family practitioner will be able to make this diagnosis. Describe the situation. Dont just say, I feel dizzy.
BruceBlaus/CreativeCommons
A hallmark feature of BPPV is that the patient feels the dizziness only when they move their head.
For example, youre busy at your computer. Your head is not moving left to right because your eyes are glued to the screen. All is fine.
You then turn your head 90 degrees to the right to grab your coffee mugand you feel a wave of dizziness.
The room may seem to shift a little, but this isnt always the case. Sometimes with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, you feel only that annoying dizziness.
For some patients this disappears when they lie down. For others it gets worse. Often, rising from a lying position will trigger the dizziness.
If they close their eyes while feeling the dizziness, they may feel a sensation of their body or the room spinning about.
In severe cases, the symptoms can be way out of proportion to the benignity of this disorder.
Intense dizziness, especially accompanied by vomiting, will be frightening to someone who doesnt realize this is due to those canaliths.
So if BPPV sounds like what you have, see your general doctor. If your symptoms dont quite fit this benign type of vertigo, you should still first see your primary care doctor.
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What Should You Do In An Emergency
Anxiety attacks are unpleasant and their symptoms can sometimes mimic serious physical conditions, such as heart attacks. Acute anxiety can also turn into a panic attack, which may have the following symptoms:
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Faintness or dizziness
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A feeling of loss of control or a sense of doom
-
Racing heartbeat
-
Tingling in fingers or lips
While panic attacks are not dangerous, and they tend to subside after 530 minutes, their symptoms can overlap with symptoms of serious physical conditions. If you experience a panic attack, especially if you have not experienced them in the past, you may need to go to the ER. If you are also having suicidal thoughts, you should go to the ER.
The ER will do blood tests, an electrocardiogram , and other tests to make sure you do not have a heart problem or other serious medical condition. You may be given medication to help with the acute panic. If you experience repeated panic attacks, this is best treated through outpatient clinics.
When A Psychiatrist Is Needed
A psychiatrist is needed whenever someones anxiety does not allow them to do the things they want to do. When a doctor rules out any medical issues, talking with a professional therapist can help solve someones anxiety problems.
Ready to make an appointment?
Ready to better understand where your anxiety is coming from? We completely understand how difficult it can be for those living with anxiety to get by from day to day. Most psychiatrists also offer depression treatment in addition to treating anxiety, if that is your situation. The good news is that there is a solution to your anxiety or depression it is simply a matter of finding out what it will be. Contact us today, we are waiting for your call.
Request an appointment in our Columbia office here: .
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Do You Have To Take Medication
If you are not interested in taking prescription medication for anxiety, other options are available, including therapy and self-help workbooks. Talk with your doctor about what might be best for you.
Your doctor can also provide referrals to therapists or counselors specializing in anxiety treatment.
What Causes Stress In The Body
Sometimes, it seems like stress comes from all sides. Almost any kind of physical or emotional situation can cause stress. Work, relationships and family life are common reasons people feel stress. Stages of life that include aging, pregnancy, menopause or being a teenager are stressful. Stress can come at any age.
The causes of stress break down into four categories:
- Physical or mental illness
- Lack of social support networks
- A family history of stress or problems
These normal, common situations can make you anxious and nervous. You might easily get distracted from day-to-day responsibilities. They cause you to worry, feel bad and have trouble sleeping. When it lasts over a long period of time, stress can greatly impact your health.
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The Surprising Effects Of Antihistamines On Anxiety And Depression
Doctors sometimes prescribe a drug for use outside of its listed purposes, especially if it looks safe and they believe it will be effective. This off-label use is common with many classes of drugs. That includes antihistamines, which have emerged as a promising way to treat short-term anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychological conditions in the United States. This large class of conditions includes many specific disorders and affects an estimated 32% of American adults at least once in their lives. Often, this is a short-term issue. Many people experience bouts of anxiety, disturbed sleep or restlessness for 12 months or less. In these cases, certain antihistamine drugs have shown promising results for the off-label treatment of anxiety disorders.
Although the literature shows a link between antihistamines and anxiety treatment, the FDA hasnt approved every antihistamine for this use. Only a doctor can give medical advice, and you should always consult with one before adjusting a course of medication. This is true even for over-the-counter drugs like Benadryl. Antihistamines arent an approved treatment for anxiety that lasts more than 12 months. Theyre also not for use with serious psychotic or other disorders that require specialized care from a psychiatrist.