What type of doctor deals with anxiety
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Psychiatry is a blend of art and science. Treating depression is not quite as simple as giving someone a prescription for Zoloft or Prozac and sending them on their way. Some people will need several trials of different medications to find one that best relieves their symptoms with the least amount of side effects.
Some people will need more than one medication to counteract side effects or to boost positive effects. Most will likely benefit from adding psychotherapy to the mix. Besides the medication specifics, you may have a completely different disorder and not have depression at all. Bipolar disorder is one such disorder that may be initially misdiagnosed as depression but requires a very different course of treatment.
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A mental health professional is used to seeing a variety of mental health diagnoses and has far more experience than a family doctor in teasing out what's behind your symptoms. There's a tendency for some new patients to visit a counselor or psychologist for their initial mental health evaluation rather than a psychiatrist. This can be beneficial for many people, especially if your case is pretty simple, but for others, it's not enough. Only a psychiatrist is also a medical doctor, which means he or she is able to prescribe medications.
If your depression stems from a chemical imbalance , talk therapy will not be sufficient to treat you. It's best to make your initial visit to a psychiatrist, who can both prescribe medications and offer you psychotherapy if it's needed. This two-pronged approach of medication and talk therapy is often the most beneficial to patients. Although your psychiatrist is qualified to offer you psychotherapy services, don't be surprised if he refers you to a second, non-medical professional for your therapy while he concentrates on fine-tuning your medications.
There is some debate within the psychiatric community as to whether the role of the psychiatrist as a talk therapist has become outdated as we learn more about the biological basis of depression and mental illness. Some argue that therapy can be left to the psychologists while the psychiatrist concentrates on the complexities of the patient's medical care.
About anxiety disorders
However, psychotherapy is a part of psychiatrists' training and they are fully qualified to offer it to patients if they choose. The most important thing to remember about seeking depression treatment is simply to speak up and ask for help. Depression is not a sign of weakness or laziness, it's a sign that something is out of balance. Thankfully, with proper treatment, you can feel well again.
Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. Major Depression. National Institutes of Health. A consultation with your physician is a must if you suspect you have panic attacks or generalized anxiety. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of physiological disorders, and you should rule them out as part of the diagnostic process.
You should certainly have one complete physical after the onset of these symptoms. The other anxiety disorders don't generally require a physical, because there isn't any reason to think that they are caused by another physical ailment. However, you might still want to consult your physician, especially if you have a long history with that person.
Be aware, however, that most physicians, because they specialize in various aspects of physical health, have very little training in the area of anxiety disorders. What training they do have, with respect to overcoming anxiety, is usually limited to medications. They may often be surprisingly unaware of cognitive behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders, even though it is generally regarded as the treatment of choice.
When it comes time to seek professional help for overcoming anxiety disorders, you will probably need to go elsewhere. If you don't have panic attacks or generalized anxiety, and have no other reason to consult your physician about overcoming anxiety, then skip ahead to Step Three. Before you call for an appointment, make some written notes of what you want to discuss with your physician. The doctor's staff will probably ask you why you want an appointment; tell them that you've been having some problems and summarize them, briefly.
Many people have a fear of doctors, and have trouble making an appointment. This is a phobia, and will generally respond to the same CBT approach, once you decide that a visit to the doctor, however anxiety provoking, is in your best interest.
Your physician should listen to your symptoms, review your history, ask questions, and offer feedback and recommendations for overcoming anxiety. However, your physician should take your complaints seriously, evaluate them, and offer suggestions for finding additional help. If you are having panic attacks and have never been tested for thyroid malfunction, for instance, you should receive such a test, because thyroid problems can sometimes cause a person to have panic-like symptoms.
If your symptoms resemble those associated with mitral valve prolapse, you should probably have an echocardiogram to evaluate that possibility.
There are numerous physical conditions which can produce panic symptoms, and your physician should evaluate you for those possibilities if that has never been done before. However, if you have had those tests before, and your doctor assured you that you were in good health, do not push for continual retesting! Many people do this because they hate the idea that they may have an anxiety disorder, and instead hope to find a physical problem. You can waste lots of time and money this way. One set of tests is generally enough.
If you need a second opinion for a particular reason, then get one.
My view is that most people with anxiety disorders are best served by trying a cognitive behavioral treatment first, and seeing what kind of results you get from that. They can also: Keep using your strengths as you move forward. Learning when you need anxiety help will help you feel more confident and less anxious about your decision. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America website includes an overview of medications used to treat anxiety disorders.
If you get more than two sets of tests, seriously consider the possibility that you are getting diverted from your task of overcoming anxiety! Let's suppose that you've had a good consultation with your physician, the appropriate tests have ruled out any physical ailments which could be causing your symptoms, and you want to get professional help with overcoming anxiety. Now you're ready for step three.
There are basically two kinds of treatment which clinical research has shown to be effective in overcoming anxiety disorders: Other forms of psychotherapy are often helpful in resolving some of the issues associated with anxiety disorders, but are generally not regarded as capable of resolving the primary problem. Which form of treatment should you choose? My view is that most people with anxiety disorders are best served by trying a cognitive behavioral treatment first, and seeing what kind of results you get from that.
You can always try medication later, if the CBT doesn't provide all the results you seek. There are three principal reasons to try CBT first. First, unlike medication, CBT has no side effects. Second, the use of medications tends to lead a person to believe that he or she is now "protected" from anxiety disorders, and the sense of being protected often leads an anxiety sufferer to feel more vulnerable in the long run.
Third, the results you get from CBT treatment will generally be much more long lasting than those you get from medications. Results from medication treatments tend to fade after the medications are withdrawn. Some patients will need medication in addition to CBT, and some will not, depending on the severity of their condition and their particular diagnosis. Medication is nothing to be avoided if it seems necessary.
However, I do believe it's true that in our culture, medications are overprescribed for these problems.
Doctors Who Treat Anxiety
This can be avoided if you start with CBT first. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America website includes an overview of medications used to treat anxiety disorders. To read about CBT and some of its various forms, click here. You may be wondering if you really need to see a professional, or if you can't just solve this problem on your own.
In general, the more difficulty you are having, the more you may need professional help, but only you can decide how urgent your need is. Certainly there are many good sources of self help information you can use in overcoming anxiety disorders. If you choose to try anxiety self help, I suggest you follow a few guidelines. They don't have to be an expert. A major benefit is that, by telling someone of your efforts, you will find it easier to monitor your progress and hold yourself accountable.
It's easy to forget about all your good intentions when you keep them to yourself. Find a good self help book which pertains to your problem, and make that the basis of your work. If you have panic attacks and like the approach you find on this website, then try my Panic Attacks Workbook. If your problem is more about chronic worry, take a look at my book for chronic worriers, The Worry Trick.
After six months, re-evaluate your progress.
Anxiety disorders | Your Health in Mind
If you're satisfied you're making reasonable progress toward overcoming anxiety, continue on course. If you're not, consider seeking professional help at that time.
Among the advantages of group treatment for overcoming anxiety are lower cost and the opportunity to share experiences with others who can relate to your situation. This can be particularly important for people who feel especially ashamed and imagine that they are one of a very few who suffer in this way.