How To See A Psychiatrist
While a PCP should be able to refer you to a psychiatrist, many dont require referrals anymore. You may not need to see a PCP first if youd rather go straight to a psychiatrist.
Its worth noting that many psychiatrists dont accept insurance. You can talk to the provider and/or your insurance company to figure out your payment options. For example, if you have out-of-network coverage, your insurance plan might reimburse you for part of the cost of treatment.
If you cant get an appointment with a psychiatrist right away and feel like youre struggling, your PCP should do their best to make sure you have the care you need. If outpatient psychiatric care isnt an immediate option for a patient, Kakish says, hell consult with a psychiatrist on what to prescribe and how to manage their condition until an opening arises. If you need acute care for issues like self-harm or suicidal ideation, a PCP would recommend in-patient treatment to stabilize your symptoms and keep you safe. Your PCP might also recommend psychotherapy and connect you with community resources and social support.
Ashley Abramson is a writer in Minneapolis.
Dig Deeper
Are There Over The Counter Anxiety Medications
Technically speaking, there are no over-the-counter medications available specifically for anxiety. That said, several remedies are available without a prescription that can help those struggling with anxiety or depression.
Supplements like GABA, Ashwagandha, or Valerian Root have been shown in some cases to be helpful. Be sure to talk with your doctor before adding a supplement, as there could be potential interactions with your current prescriptions.
Natural options such as CBD have been growing more and more popular over the last several years. Aromatic oils, like lavender, chamomile, and peppermint, have shown promise as well. Staying away from caffeine and excessive sugar can lower anxiety levels. Foods like nuts and healthy fats from fish or avocados are great foods for those with anxiety disorders.
Theres no reason to suffer through anxiety alone. If youre interested in anxiety medication then asking a doctor for anxiety medication is the next step.
What Are The Causes For Anxiety
Both hereditary and environmental factors determine the way in which our body reacts.
Read Also: Can Caffeine Make Anxiety Worse
Getting An Emotional Support Animal Letter Online
We have stated this several times now, but we cant emphasize it enough:
The only person who can prescribe or recommend a recognized emotional support animal is a licensed healthcare professional.
Fortunately, for people without a therapist or who have trouble seeing a professional in person, many licensed professionals work remotely and provide services online. Obtaining an ESA letter from a therapist that works remotely is just as valid as getting a letter from a therapist in a more traditional setting. Remote therapists provide an invaluable service for people who cant see a therapist in person, and HUD recognizes that online providers can issue valid ESA letters. Regardless of whether you see a therapist in person or online, it is always important to make sure they are licensed for your state.
There are many websites that sell things like certificates, registrations, IDs, and licenses. However, there is no official registry for ESAs and you will be turned away by landlords and airlines if you only show registration papers you purchased. There is also no such thing as an official certification or license for an ESA, and IDs and vests alone will also not properly qualify an emotional support animal. However, some ESA owners like to use these ID cards, certifications and accessories to identify their animal as their emotional support animal.
Your Primary Care Provider Can Help Treat Your Mental Health Too
When you think of receiving mental health services, you might think this means an appointment with a counselor, clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. But did you know that primary care providers, such as family doctors and internists, can play an important role in providing mental health services too?
They can and they do: Family physicians are one of the primary sources for mental health care in the United States, says the American Academy of Family Physicians .
Primary care physicians are the primary managers of psychiatric disorders in one-third of their patients, the AAFP reports. And two-thirds of patients with depression receive treatment for their depression in the primary care setting, the AAFP says.
Adults made an annual average of 30 million mental health-related physician office visits between 2012 and 2014, according to data published in 2018 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While psychiatrists provided care for 55 percent of these visits, primary care physicians provided care for 32 percent.
So you dont have to wait for an appointment with a psychiatrist if you feel the need for mental health care services. You can bring up any concerns about your mental or emotional health with your primary care provider.
This has become even more important in the COVID-19 pandemic era, as many lives have been upended due to working from home, remote classes, joblessness, grief and isolation.
Don’t Miss: Can You Be Hospitalized For Severe Anxiety
Get Anxiety Treatment From Experts Who Care
Having feelings of anxiety or an anxiety disorder is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. You dont have to go it alone, either. Anxiety is highly treatable, and its possible to manage it effectively and feel fulfilled.
At the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute, we can offer you meaningful support from mental health professionals who want to help you feel whole, physically and mentally. Learn more about our our mental health care or reach out to us to get started.
What Your Gp Can Help You With
If you speak to your GP about your mental health concerns, they can:
ask questions about your feelings and thoughts that may help you better understand what you are going through and what support is available
offer your medication if it’s appropriate and/or free talking therapies
recommend simple lifestyle changes that can improve your mental health
invite you back for another appointment in a few weeks’ time to see how you’re doing. They may refer you to a specialist if they think that would be more helpful.
Samaritans
If you feel very worried about your mental health or are considering taking your own life, you should talk to someone. You can call your GP surgery and arrange to speak to someone immediately, or alternatively the Samaritans offer completely confidential emotional support 24 hours per day:
Don’t Miss: Does B12 Help With Anxiety
Risk Factors For Anxiety Disorders
Factors that can increase a persons risk for developing an anxiety disorder include:
- Experiencing a traumatic event such as the death of a parent
- Functioning under extreme stress
- Having other mental health conditions
- Experimenting with drugs or alcohol
- Having a family history of an anxiety disorder
When To Talk With Your Doctor
Anxiety is linked to many medical conditions, so its always a good idea to speak with your doctor about it. If youre concerned about your feelings of anxiety, thats reason enough to talk with your doctor theres no need to wait.
You dont need to have all of the anxiety symptoms to speak up about them, and you shouldnt wait until they worsen, or you develop new ones. Today is a great time to talk about anxiety with a medical professional who cares about your well-being. With both physical and mental health, prevention always benefits you.
The sooner you have an open and honest conversation about anxiety with a health care professional, the sooner you can feel better.
Also Check: Can Journaling Help With Anxiety
Should I See My Primary Care Doctor For Mental Health Issues
Currently, most people seek out the help of their primary care physician for issues of mental health. In fact, recent studies have estimated that 70% of a primary-care doctors practice now involves management of psycho-social issues.
Why is this?
And, should this be the case?
Reasons Patients Tend To See A Primary Care PhysicianOne reason is ease and comfort. People have been conditioned by insurance companies to start with their primary care physician. In many ways, this is a good thing.
For example, many patients have developed a history and a trusting relationship with their family doctor and feel most comfortable when their doctor is coordinating care.
Others, however, are seeking to avoid seeing a specialist because of the stigma of depression which many fear could be discovered by an employer or nosy family member.
On the whole, patients seeking the care of a primary care physician is a net positive because there is so much need for mental health care in todays society. If primary care doctors didnt offer help, many people would go without it.
The Downside Of Not Seeing A PsychiatristWhile it was mentioned earlier that a large portion of a primary care doctors job deals with mental health issues, research has shown that only about 40% of people in treatment for depression actually get adequate care.
There are numerous reasons why this is the case.
Youre more likely to get the right diagnosis, the right treatment, and the right follow-up.
Be Well!
This Sun Allergy Is More Common Than You Might Think
On the way, I started feeling better my throat loosened up and I began breathing normally again. The EpiPen had saved my life, and I was grateful to have it. But I didnt know anything about how it worked or how often Id need to reach for it. And I had to wonder: Why couldnt Big Pharma come up with a less terrifying way to halt allergic reactions, like an Epi-pill or Epi-inhaler?
Nineteen years later, Im a lot more informed about EpiPens and a lot less nervous when the situation demands whipping one out.
Recommended Reading: What To Do If You Have Bad Anxiety
Thinking Differently About Access
We started thinking critically about how our patients accessed counseling services and the barriers they faced. Penchansky and Thomas first argued for a more precise definition of access to health care in the early 1980s.2 Their ideas are making a deserved comeback in the field of behavioral economics, given the inherent complexity of our modern health care system. Access, they argue, is more than just the ability or willingness to enter the health care system. They describe access as a concept of fit between the client, or patient, and the system. The concept of fit is further subdivided into five specific components:
Availability is about the adequacy of the supply of health care providers and programs.
Accessibility is the relationship between the service and the patient or the patient’s transportation resources, including time, distance, or cost.
Accommodation is the patient’s ability to adapt to the clinic’s resources, such as its appointment system, hours of operation, or phone service.
Affordability is the relationship between prices and the patient’s ability to pay, including health insurance, and how the patient perceives worth and value.
Acceptability is how well the patient and the provider can work together.
We used the Penchansky and Thomas framework to consider whether reducing barriers to access would increase patients’ willingness to seek treatment for anxiety and depression in primary care.
Signs You Should Talk With Your Doctor About Anxiety
If youre concerned that you have issues with anxiety, take a moment to breathe. Know that theres nothing inherently wrong with you, and youre not alone.
Almost everyone experiences feelings of anxiety at some point in life, whether its from public speaking, test-taking or even driving in traffic. Feelings of anxiety are common in stressful situations, but theyre usually temporary and resolve quickly.
Anxiety disorders are different. You may have an anxiety disorder if feelings of intense fear or worry continue in situations that arent anxiety-inducing. If that sounds like you, again, dont be alarmed. More than 40 million American adults face anxiety disorders, and theyre highly treatable conditions.
You May Like: Does Anxiety Cause Brain Fog
What Happens During The Appointment
Your doctor will probably complete a physical examination and is likely to take blood samples. He or she may also ask you to go for further tests, depending upon his or her initial assessment. This is to rule out any physical causes of your anxiety, such as thyroid problems, diabetes, or heart disease. The doctor will probably ask you a number of questions, some of which you have answered in the information you wrote down:
-
What are your symptoms and how severe are they?
-
How do your symptoms interfere with daily activities?
You Dont Use Medication Or Have Any Diagnosed Medical Conditions
Sometimes, medication use or an underlying physical health condition is the reason why you have anxiety. If thats the case, you wont be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Instead, your medical professional will help you overcome the underlying illness thats causing your anxiety. If you dont consume prescription or illicit drugs, and youve never been diagnosed with a health condition, your symptoms may be linked to an anxiety disorder.
You May Like: What Vitamins Are Good For Anxiety
What Is The Difference Between A Primary Care Physician And A Psychiatrist
A primary care physician is a doctor who is trained to diagnose, treat, and provide preventative medical care to individuals and families of all ages.
Primary care physicians may refer patients to specialists when needed to further diagnose or for treatment. Many patients with mental health issues will see a primary care physician first and then will go see a psychiatrist if recommended.
PCPs are well equipped to treat mild to moderate mental illnesses and are more convenient and affordable than psychiatrists. Because of this many patients are more open to seeing PCPs for mental health issues instead of going to see a specialist.
Psychiatrists are also medical doctors but they specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the mind. Psychiatrists are well-informed about depression and other mental health illnesses as they are mental-health specialists.
Anxiety In The Primary Care Setting
Anxiety is an emotional and physical health problem. It is marked by feelings of fear, unease, and worry that can sometimes be so severe as to make us feel physically unwell. The source of these feelings is not always known. Sometimes it involves past trauma or injury sometimes it involves fear about something uncertain in the future.
A patient might say to me, I need something for my anxiety. They might have had prescriptions in the past for quick-acting medicines such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium, or Klonopin. Those are benzodiazepines, medicines that should only be prescribed with great caution and awareness of the risk for tolerance and dependence. In some cases these medications are good solutions but they have limitations. As a primary care nurse practitioner I want to move beyond what seems like a quick-and-easy fix but doesnt heal over time. The use of these quick-acting medications is an example of seeking an external locus of control over ones emotional state. Making a lasting and effective change in the dynamic of anxiety is neither easy nor quick, like taking a pill might be.
When we develop the ability to recognize harmful self-talk, we can practice changing the way we speak to ourselves each of us can exert powerful restorative effects on our emotional and physical well-being.
John Todd, APRN, FNP is a family nurse practitioner at Putney Family Healthcare, a department of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.
Also Check: Is Overthinking A Sign Of Anxiety