How Do I Talk To My Doctor About My Anxiety

Can Doctors Prescribe Medicine Over The Phone

Yes, doctors can prescribe any medication during a phone appointment that is not classified as a controlled substance by the FDA .

Antidepressants can help control anxiety and can be prescribed after a phone or video appointment with a doctor.

However, benzodiazepines like Xanax are controlled substances that you can only get a prescription for by seeing a doctor or psychiatrist in person.

If you would like to talk to an online doctor about your anxiety, PlushCare is here to help. Make an appointment any time by or calling 798-0620.

For as little as your regular copay, you can talk to a board certified doctor about your symptoms.

If they feel itâs appropriate, the doctor can send an electronic prescription for a non-controlled anxiety medication to your local pharmacy, where you can pick it up as soon as itâs filled.

Take steps now to start controlling your anxiety. Talk to a trusted PlushCare doctor today!

What Your Doctor Looks For

When you talk with your doctor, theyll assess your physical health. The physical symptoms of anxiety can be easily confused with underlying medical conditions.

Your doctor may examine and interview you for some illnesses that often imitate, or trigger the onset of, anxiety disorders, like:

• Central nervous system damage
• Low blood sugar
• Substance use

If your doctor determines that your anxiety isnt linked to drug use or a physical medical condition, they can refer you to a mental health professional who can diagnose you appropriately.

How Will The Doctor Diagnose My Anxiety

You will discuss your symptoms with the doctor: what they are, how they interfere with your life, and how long youâve been struggling with them.

The doctor will then likely perform a psychological evaluation and compare your symptoms to criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , published by the American Psychiatric Association.

With that information, your doctor will diagnose you with a specific type of anxiety and recommend a medication to help treat your symptoms.

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Tip #1: Be A Persistent Advocate For Yourself

Your doctor is the best first responder for all of your health concerns including those impacting your mental health, and should be both willing and able to tackle this challenge. But in the unlikely event that he or she does not act upon your concerns, dont give up. If necessary, work with your health insurance provider to connect with other resources. Most health insurance providers offer an option for self-referral to a mental health provider.

Pick Two Or Three Issues Per Appointment

If you have several things going on, your doctor might not be able to tackle it all during one appointment. Reciting a long list of every pain or issue youve been having can make it hard for your doctor to focus.

Chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia can often require several doctor visits before your doctor is able to gather enough information to form a diagnosis. They can also cause a wide variety of symptoms, which might appear at different times.

To avoid frustration on both ends, Dr. Bergin recommends picking the two or three most painful or concerning symptoms to address for any one appointment. You can then schedule a follow-up to address additional issues.

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Asking About Anxiety Treatment

There are no quick fixes for anxiety, but effective treatment is available. The two most common treatments for anxiety are psychotherapy and prescription medicine. Oftentimes, therapy and medication are combined. Ask your doctor which treatment approach she recommends for you. Many people start with talk therapy however, if your symptoms are severe, your doctor may advise starting medication first.

If your doctor recommends therapy, ask her to recommend nearby providers who specialize in treating anxiety.

If your doctor prescribes medication, be sure to:

• Learn the name of the medication.

• Ask about potential side effects. If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking anxiety medication, tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Ask for the number to call.

• Ask your doctor when you can expect to feel some relief, and what you should do if you begin to feel worse and not better.

When you return for follow-up appointments, honestly share your experiences with your physician. Describe your current symptoms and talk about your response to treatment. Together, you and your doctor can create an effective anxiety management plan.

Dont Delay Talk Today

Common patient concerns include:

• Fear of being labelled and judged by their GP,
• Fear that information will then be on their medical record and that other people will read it and gossip,
• Fear that a future employer will be able to access the information about their condition.

For many of the common mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, these feelings can actually be part of the condition themselves:

• Feelings of lack of self worth,
• Doubts that one will be listened to,
• Doubts that anyone cares,
• Fears that one will not be able to explain what is wrong,
• Fear that ones problems would not be understood.

All too frequently used in self justification for avoiding the subject.

Many of us find it difficult to find the words to explain what it is that we are feeling, often not recognising that or not wanting to acknowledge that our problems have an element of mental health involved and instead insisting that they have some undiagnosed physical problem that is causing all of our distress.

As a consequence, many people suffer unnecessarily by delaying talking to their GP until they reach a real crisis point.

Getting help rapidly is the best way to manage mental health difficulties and to reduce the suffering that a mental illness causes. As GPs are normally the first medical professional we do talk to, theyre used to dealing with all mental health issues. Around third of GP appointments involve some discussion of ones mental well being.

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Talking To Your Gp About Anxiety

Your GP may ask you questions about:

• any physical or psychological symptoms and how long you have had them for
• your worries, fears and emotions
• your personal life

You may find it difficult to talk about your feelings, emotions and personal life.

But it’s important that your GP understands your symptoms and circumstances so the correct diagnosis can be made.

You’re most likely to be diagnosed with GAD if you have had symptoms for 6 months or more.

Finding it difficult to manage your feelings of anxiety is also an indication that you may have the condition.

To help with the diagnosis, your GP may carry out a physical examination or blood tests to rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms, such as:

• anaemia

What Questions Do I Ask When Choosing A Gp

If you dont have a regular doctor already, you can find one by asking family and friends for recommendations and speaking to your local pharmacist. You can also look at websites of practices in your area.

You can then call a general practice to ask:

• how to make appointments
• what is their billing policy
• if the practice is easily accessible in terms of location and opening hours
• if the practice meets any special needs or preferences you may have, such as language, culture or gender of the doctor

You might want to ask your doctor if they have an interest in mental health, and about their qualifications and experience in mental health.

Ask yourself if you feel comfortable talking to your doctor about how you are feeling. A doctor who helps you with mental health should be able to provide support, assessment, ongoing care and referrals to psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health services, if required.

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Talking With Your Doctor About Anxiety

A little anxiety is healthy. Too much anxiety can be paralyzing. If your thoughts, fears and worries are getting in the way of your life, you might have an anxiety disorder. A lot of people do. In fact, nearly 20% American adults has anxiety.

The good news is anxiety is highly treatable. Unfortunately, many people continue to suffer in silence. Its not necessarily easy to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your anxiety, but doing so opens the door to effective treatment.

Healthcare professionals who treat anxiety include:

• Psychiatrists

• Family medicine doctors, such as your primary care doctor. In cases of moderate to severe anxiety, a may make a referral to a for a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis.

• Nurse practitioners who specialize in mental and behavioral health

• Physician assistants to primary care doctors or to psychiatrists

• Professional counselors and therapists

• Psychologists

Among these providers, psychologists, counselors and therapists offer testing and therapy but they do not prescribe medicine.

Tip #: State Your Concerns As Plainly As You Can

If you describe your symptoms too vaguely, the doctor may look for physical causes, rather than honing in on emotional factors. Instead, use clear statements like I think I might be depressed, or I am experiencing the following symptoms to begin the conversation. The more direct and specific you can be, the easier it will be for your doctor to respond effectively.

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What If They Dont Listen To Me

The last thing anyone needs is to gather up their courage to speak up, only to feel brushed off with patronising advice like you just need to exercise and sleep more. Or, try to take some time for yourself.

Or, worse, to just be offered medication after a quick 15-minute chat. Which can hardly be a full overview of you and your life.

The best advice here is to arrive prepared.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

• What type of mental health problem might I have?
• Why cant I get over this problem on my own?
• How do you treat this type of problem?
• Will counseling or psychotherapy help?
• Are there medicines that could help?
• How long will treatment take?
• What can I do at home to help myself?
• Do you have any brochures or other printed material on my condition that I can have?

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What To Expect When Going To The Doctor For Anxiety

by Health Writer

When you have anxiety, it is hard to take that first step – calling the doctor and setting up an appointment. You aren’t sure what to expect and it is scary to think about talking about how you are feeling with your doctor. Will he think you are crazy? Will he find something terribly wrong with you?

The Annals Of Talking To Your Doctor About Depression And Anxiety Refuted

Discover extra hotlines and organizations for assistance in our emergency mental health resources directory site. If you are experiencing a psychological health crisis, or if a person you love is in danger, connect to a certified mental health and wellness expert. Someone with a parent or sibling with MDD has a two or three-times higher danger of developing depression than the average individual . In a meta-analytic research study from 2010, psychotherapy talking to your doctor about depression and anxiety had a little however substantial impact when compared to manage teams. Nevertheless, psychotherapy is substantially less efficient than pharmacotherapy in direct contrasts. The signs and symptoms may create considerable problems or distress in social, work, academic, or various other significant areas of life functioning. If an individual is experiencing severe depression, or thoughts of fatality or self-destruction, they should call a doctor as soon as possible.

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What If I Dont Know If I Have Anxiety Or Depression

Its possible to have both. And anxiety can lead to depression. So dont get obsessed over which one it is if you really arent sure. Instead:

• make a record of the thoughts you are having
• and the physical symptoms you are noticing
• then clearly explain the difference between what you were like before all this started, and now.

Your doctor should be able to spot if its anxiety, depression, or both. And if they are confused too, what matters is that they can see your daily life is suffering, and can then give you a referral to a mental health professional.

How To Book An Appointment With A Gp

Its easy enough to book an appointment with your GP. Simply ring them up or call into the surgery to make an appointment with the receptionist. You can request a male or female doctor if there is one available.

When booking the appointment, you shouldnt have to say what its for, but if you are asked you can simply say that its a mental health issue without going into much detail. However, if you are very distressed or feeling suicidal it is important to say that you need an urgent appointment.

You need to be registered to your GPs practice in order to access their services. If youre not registered ask if they are accepting new patients, and sign up.

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When Should You See Your Doctor For Anxiety Symptoms

• Whether you are experiencing anxiety symptoms for the first time or your existing symptoms are worsening, a trip to the doctor is important. Whenever you have new or worsening symptoms regarding anything, a check-up is in order. Youll establish a baseline that will be used to measure progress or regression.
• You should see a doctor for anxiety, especially generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder symptoms or the experience of panic attacks, to rule out underlying causes of your anxiety. Many medical conditions either mimic anxiety or have anxiety as a symptom and need to be treated directly.
• Checking in with him/her about over-the-counter medicines and herbal treatments for anxiety can help you get to the bottom of the problem. According to WebMD, some of these supplements contain chemicals that worsen anxiety symptoms.1
• You should see your doctor for anxiety if you feel that it has taken over your life and is negatively affecting your thoughts, feelings, and actions. A visit to your doctor about what is happening is important to get anxiety treatment recommendations. He/she might talk to you about medication and give you a prescription, and/or might refer you to a reputable therapist or psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders.
• Always see your doctor, or go straight to the emergency department of your local hospital, if you are having suicidal thoughts.