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.
Ask Your Support System For A Helping Hand
It can be embarrassing or humbling to admit to people in your life that youre anxious in social situations and might need help. However, letting a friend or loved one know you might need some extra support can be a major boost. Many times, people are going to feel more comfortable if theyre in a social situation with somebody that theyre close to, Dr. Potter says. Especially if somebody has been fairly isolated in recent times, it can be helpful at first to have a buddy when you go back into a social situation.
The key to this support is helping an anxious person become more independent over time. Eventually, people with more generalized social anxiety will find it uncomfortable to go shopping or order food by themselves, Dr. Potter explains. You want to balance supporting a person and encouraging them to do it themselves.
If youre a friend or family member of somebody anxious in social situations, one way to offer support is to bring them into the conversation. You might be like, Oh, I think Sara has something she would probably like to say on that subject. Shes really interested in that, Dr. Potter says. You can support them by bringing them out of their shells. Before doing that, however, be sure to ask the person if thats OK. If youre a person with social anxiety, you may not like being put on the spot to say something. Talk to that person in advance about how they want to handle certain things.
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If You Dont Have A Great Relationship With Your Doctor Where Else Can You Get Help
A lot of people find it difficult to get an appointment with their GP, and not everyone has a great relationship with their GP. Its very difficult to see someone else once youre assigned to a GP in your practice. And some people dont have the time, or dont want to be stigmatised. But there are loads of organisations you can contact. If you go on the NHS website there are links to organisations like Mind .
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You Worry That People Are Looking At You Or Talking About You
Theyre generally not but that feeling that everyone is judging how you look, what youre saying or how youre coming across is part and parcel of a night out social anxiety style. Am I too quiet? Did I just make a tit of myself? Do I seem rude? Why did I just say that? Where do I put my hands? Are those two talking about me? Am I even wanted here?
These are just some of the questions that regularly spin through your brain.
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 isn’t 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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Getting Help For Anxiety From Home
A lot of people avoid going to the doctor for anxiety because its too much work or they dont have a primary care physician nearby. This prevents a lot of people from getting the help that they need. Thats why Brightside is reinventing the way you think about mental health treatment. We offer a personalized plan with medication delivered to your door and therapy on your phone.
Brightside was designed to deliver the best psychiatric care available. Our data-driven prescribing analyzes over 100 unique data points and decades of clinical research to pinpoint your match.
You can start by filling out a free mental health assessment to help us understand your symptoms. From there, we can recommend the best treatment plan for you, whether it be medication, therapy, or both.
You can stay in touch with us with unlimited messaging and two monthly sessions with your Therapist. You can even measure your progress with check-ins to make adjustments to your plan. We specialize in treating the full spectrum of anxiety-related conditions, whether it be PTSD, phobias, or OCD.
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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You’re Having Thoughts Of Suicide
People with anxiety may also suffer from depression. When depression is severe, some people think about suicide. If you have any thoughts of harming yourself, getting immediate medical help is essential. Go to an emergency room. A mental health professional will evaluate you to determine the level of risk. Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
What A Mental Health Professional Looks For
Your mental health professional can diagnose you by evaluating your symptoms on specific criteria in the DSM-5, including whether:
- Youve experienced significant life changes recently
- Youve had anxiety and worry for at least six months
- Youve had trouble control your worries
- Your anxiety involves at least three of the most common symptoms of anxiety
- Your symptoms cause significant impairment in your everyday life
- Your symptoms are better explained by a different mental condition
Your mental health professional will work with you to uncover the root of your anxiety, make a diagnosis whether its generalized anxiety disorder or another anxiety disorder and find the best treatment for your unique symptoms.
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Have The Confidence To Be Honest And Open
Sadly, still many areas of society, having a mental health discussion is still branded with stigma, shame, and misunderstanding. These reasons can make you extremely uncomfortable to see your doctor and start a conversation. If you are struggling to take the first step and begin a conversation with your Doctor here is a tip, read other peoples stories, their journeys on how they reached out for help, and how many people were able to overcome their negative emotions, become positive and how talking increased their clarity and well-being. Reading about other peoples stories will help you build up your self-confidence to talk bravely and openly.
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.
- 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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Ensure Your Mental Health Providers Are Talking With One Another
Just like you might have to take important steps in coordinating the follow-up, youll have to take the lead to keep everybody participating in the care connected. Its quite common for a PCP in order to prescribe the medications whilst depression and anxiety therapy is given by the social worker, psychologist, or some other specialist.
For helping to facilitate the communication between the mental health providers, first of all, make sure youve signed the release form hence the therapist and physician might exchange information when protecting the privacy.
When To See A Doctor For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks can interfere with your daily life. If that’s the case, its time to talk about it with your doctor. A doctor can help you find the right treatments so you can cope with your emotions. You can learn to overcome your fears and move through your life with more ease.
You might wonder whether your symptoms are bad enough that you need help. Think about how often you deal with and panic attacks. Think about how much they affect your life.
Here are signs to look for:
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Do Not Expect That Your Physician Can Read Your Mind
Even a physician who has already seen similar patients for several years might skip the signs of your mental illness, mainly if she or he is focused on some other concerns and conditions. That does not mean that the doctors do not sense an issue & ask about this instead, they usually do. But do not assume this would come up you need to prepare to bring this up.
How To Talk To Your Doctor About Depression And Anxiety
Talking with some physicians about depression and anxiety therapy is a direct way to determine what is not right and then taking action to cure your problem.
However, for some patients, the prospect of talking about their mental health issues with a physician is as horrible as the issue itself. LaShawnLewis gives thirteen tips for helping you to prepare for your conversation with a doctor, and also for what does come next.
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Tips For Talking To Your Doctor About Anxiety
Mental wellness and recovery from addiction go hand in hand. Coping with depression, trauma, or anxiety can be a challenge. You may have even used drugs or alcohol to cope with these concerns. Once you have started the journey of recovery, you will be better able to have emotional and mental wellness.
Anxiety can feel debilitating, but it doesnt have to be. You will find it important to treat anxiety and dependency issues at the same time. Treating one and not the other is counter productive. You can start by talking with a medical professional about the anxiety you experience. Your doctor may recommend that you talk with a psychiatrist and/or a therapist.
Getting Plenty Of Sleep
Getting at least eight hours of sleep per night is recommended. Lack of sleep can increase anxiety and worsen symptoms of social phobia.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications that treat anxiety and depression if your condition doesnt improve with therapy and lifestyle changes. These medications do not cure social anxiety disorder. However, they can improve your symptoms and help you function in your daily life. It can take up to three months for medication to improve your symptoms.
Medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat social anxiety disorder include Paxil, Zoloft, and Effexor XR. Your healthcare provider may start you with a low dose of medication and gradually increase your prescription to avoid side effects.
Common side effects of these medications include:
- insomnia
- upset stomach
- lack of sexual desire
Talk to your health care provider about the benefits and risks to decide which treatment is right for you.
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Some Methods Which Work As Self Help Measures During Anxiety
In spite of taking up all these measures, if you are unable to cope up with your panic and anxiety, it would be advisable to seek professional help.
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.