How To Talk To Doctor About Anxiety

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 , 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?

What Will My Doctor Do For Me

You might not feel comfortable talking to your doctor about any mental or emotional problems you are having. But your doctor can help you. He or she can:

• Ask you questions about your thoughts and feelings that might help you better understand what you are going through.
• Give you reassurance that you arent crazy but have a medical problem.
• Tell you what kinds of support are available, such as counseling.
• Offer you medicine, if its appropriate.
• Recommend lifestyle changes that can help improve your mental health, such as exercise.
• Refer you to a specialist, if they think that would be more helpful.
• See you at follow-up appointments to monitor how you are doing and how you are responding to treatment.

Do I Need To See A Doctor

Every mental illness has its own list of symptoms. But there are common ones that could be a red flag that something is wrong. These include:

• Loss of appetite.
• Thinking negative thoughts about yourself.
• Frequently feeling anxious or worrying a lot.
• Irritability or moodiness.
• Not enjoying life as much as you used to.
• Finding day-to-day life difficult .
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Seeing or hearing things that arent there.

If you have noticed any of these changes over the last few weeks or months, you should consider making an appointment with your family doctor.

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How To Know When Its Time To Take Medication For Anxiety

Until a couple years ago, I didnt think I was an anxious person. On the outside, Im easygoing. Im adventurous, spontaneous and social. Im not afraid of flying, public speaking or crowds.

But throughout my entire life, I have worried, silently and constantly, about almost everything. Ive worried about possibilities that I knew, deep down, werent at all rational. Ive always feared that worst-case scenarios would come true even though they hardly ever do.

I didnt realize that these thoughts stemmed from mental illness. Since I never had full-on panic attacks, I didnt think that I had anxiety. I thought it was normal to feel this way. I thought I was fine that is, until I went on anti-anxiety medication at 29 years old. And it changed my life.

Little did I know, I was one of the 40 million Americans adults dealing with an anxiety disorder about 18% of the population. And up until last year, I was also part of the majority of people with anxiety who dont receive treatment.

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Who Regulates Online Therapy

Online therapy is one of the newest health fields and its regulations are still changing. There are a few levels of regulation in the United States: Federal, State, and ethical.

On the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission try to regulate online therapy apps, though they are still developing many rules and laws.

On the state level, mental health professionals need to follow state licensing requirements. This often includes doing background checks, having relevant education for the practice, and passing a state-recognized counselor exam.

Beyond federal and state regulation, online mental health services need to follow the law set by HIPAA . Meaning, a health professional must keep your information classified and private at all times.

Tip #: Do A Little Homework

Just by visiting this site, youve taken a big step toward preparing yourself for what lies ahead. Here, you can read about the most common symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance abuse, and about the established treatment approaches for each. You can sample some of the diagnostic tools healthcare providers use to diagnose these conditions. And youll even find a worksheet that, along with this article, can help you to organize your thoughts and anticipate questions that might arise during your conversation.

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The Healing Power Of Yoga

Antidepressants take some time to reach their full potential, which is usually about 4 to 6 weeks. A patient needs to give informed, verbal consent that they understand this type of medication wont operate like an antibiotic, Dr. Garbely states. Fortunately, the benefits of therapy are more immediate.

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What Are Some Ways To Help Overcome A Fear Of Doctors

• If you are often afraid of going to the doctor, begin by asking yourself: Are you worried about a particular procedure or a diagnosis? Are you intimidated by doctors offices or hospital rooms? Would you be more comfortable with a different doctor?
• Find support. A therapist may be able to help you understand if your fear of doctors is rational. They can help you find the true source of your anxiety and educate you on how to best manage your fear.
• Bring a friend who can support you through doctors appointments. Perhaps a close friend or family member to provide moral support can help you get through the fear of a doctor appointment.
• Get a new doctor or try another type of primary care provider. You may get along better with a new doctor, even a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Consider finding a provider whose personality or outlook you prefer.
• In advance of an appointment, ask the doctor or health professional how many tests or procedures there will be so you know what to expect.

Managing any fear begins with understanding its source. If youre not sure why you have a phobia of doctors, consider talking to a therapist for objective insight. The above tips on overcoming a fear of doctors may offer you some practical solutions.

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Finding The Right Resources To Answer Your Questions And Meet Your Complex Needs

Just as anxiety and depression tend to be worse when occurring together, treatment of these disorders is most effective when both conditions are addressed at the same time.1

Hartgrove Behavioral Health System provides integrated care that treats these and other mental health issues simultaneously. As part of our comprehensive care, medical specialists and therapists work together to help bring healing and balance in our patients lives a feeling of being in charge of their inner self again.

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National Movement To Talk About Your Mental Health

Unless youve been living under a rock, by now youve seen the interview between Harry, Meghan, and Oprah discussing their feelings about why they split from royalty.

Theres been a stigma associated with mental health and theyve created a movement to start talking openly about it which is backed by Harry, William, and Lady Gaga.

Now, as a result of their interview its created a ten part film series called Heads Together which is a mental health campaign. The series will have several people talking about a myriad of topics that include:

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How To Talk To A Doctor About Anxiety And Depression

You have decided its time to gather your courage and let your doctor know you are struggling lately. But how to talk to your doctor about anxiety and depression in a way that is productive? Or if you feel scared to?

And what if you worry its something more serious, like a disorder?

Try A Book Or Online Course

When you are diagnosed with GAD, your GP may recommend trying self-help treatments before having more intensive psychological therapy or medication.

This will usually involve working from a book or computer programme for around six weeks or longer. In some cases, you may be closely supported by a trained therapist who you will speak to every week or two, although some treatments only involve minimal or occasional contact with a therapist who will monitor your progress.

There are a number of different books and courses available that can help you learn to cope with your anxiety, but the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence only recommends trying treatments based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy .

CBT is a type of psychological treatment that can help you understand your condition better and how your problems, thoughts, feelings and behaviour affect each other. The aim of CBT-based treatments is to help you learn ways to manage your anxiety by modifying negative or unhelpful behaviour and thoughts.

Find out more about Living Life – a service which offers appointment-based telephone support based upon cognitive behavioural therapy.

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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.

How Do I Know If I Have A Phobia Of Doctors

Its not uncommon to be nervous or a little anxious before a doctor visitmany people are. But a phobia is much more than that. Here are a few signs and symptoms that your fear may be more like a phobia:

• You cancel doctor appointments or keep rescheduling them to avoid dealing with the fear you dont even get the preventive care and important vaccinations you may need to help stay healthy.
• Instead of seeing a doctor when youre sick, you try and self-treat.
• In advance of a doctor appointment, you are unable to concentrate on anything else, lose sleep, may not eat, or cry at the thought of the upcoming appointment.
• Do you have a fear of dentists, hospitals, and even sickness or illnesses? Some or all of these other types of fears are commonly combined with a fear of doctors.

If you experience any of the above you should talk to a therapist about your fear. They will be able to tell you if your anxiety and nerves about visiting the doctor are actually a phobia.

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Take The First Step In Reducing Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in the United States. There are many different types of anxiety disorders, and they can be treated through therapy, medication, and self-treatment. With proper treatment, most people with an anxiety disorder see improvement in their symptoms within weeks to months.

If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, visiting your primary care doctor is a significant first step in effectively managing your symptoms and anxiety disorder.

Our doctors and specialists at PACT are dedicated to providing high-quality patient-centered care. If you want to locate a primary care doctor in Connecticut, visit here to look through our list of board-certified physicians based in your area.

How To Start The Conversation

• Take time to understand your triggers and tell them where your anxiety comes from
• Consider writing your thoughts in a journal if speaking about it is too hard
• Show loved ones videos or blog posts that explain how you feel if its difficult to find the words.
• Consider timing ensure you and your loved one are feeling relaxed and that there will be no interruptions.

Have examples to help them understand

• Tell them ways that they can help
• Give them time to reflect
• If a talking to a loved one feels too close to home/difficult consider a therapist/helpline or social media peer support group such as Home Time to Talk Mental Health UK

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How Your Doctor Can Help You Manage Anxiety

There are several approaches that can help you cope with anxiety, and you can guide your own treatment plan. One size does not fit all. It is important to remain honest with your provider about how you would like to manage your symptoms.

Medication. Many people fear that they will be advised only to start medications. This may be suggested, as medication can be helpful in some cases. But you can say that you prefer conservative or alternative measures. After all, this is your health were talking about. Before stopping any medication, discuss this with your providerstopping abruptly can worsen symptoms.

Lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise and eating healthy can improve your symptoms. We can also incorporate integrative medicine into your plan, which consists of meditation, yoga, emotional support animals, acupuncture and massage therapy to help manage stress.

Overall health. Well also evaluate your overall physical health by ruling out thyroid conditions, sleeping disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea, and autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that can cause anxiety. Managing vitamin D and iron levels can also help improve your symptoms. By just checking your vitals, we can help get to the root cause of your anxiety.

If you are concerned about your anxiety, reach out to your doctor for guidance. Dont have a primary care physician? Find one near you.

Avoid Smoking And Drinking

Smoking and alcohol have been shown to make feelings of anxiety worse. Only drinking alcohol in moderation or stopping smoking if you smoke may help reduce your anxiety.

The Department of Health recommends that men should not drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day and women no more than two to three units.

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What Is The Process Of Getting Diagnosed With Depression

What Does the Doctor Look for to Make a Depression Diagnosis? A doctor can rule out other conditions that may cause depression with a physical examination, a personal interview, and lab tests. The doctor will also do a complete diagnostic evaluation, discussing any family history of depression or other mental illness.

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.

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What Should I Say To My Gp

It’s not always easy to start a conversation about your personal feelings with your GP someone you may hardly know. And it can be especially hard when you’re not feeling well. But it’s usually the first step towards working out what kind of treatment and support might help you.

Here are some things to consider:

• Be honest and open.
• Focus on how you feel, rather than what diagnosis you might meet.
• Try to explain how you’ve been feeling over the past few months or weeks, and anything that has changed.
• Use words and descriptions that feel natural to you you don’t have to say specific things to get help.
• Try not to worry that your problem is too small or unimportant everyone deserves help and your doctor is there to support you.

Under 18? We have resources for you on how to get help and support

“Being as open and honest as possible, even though extremely difficult, is what has assisted me.”