One of the most ironic things about suffering from anxiety, is that going to the doctor to speak about this subject can be almost too anxiety-inducing to bear.
Chances are that if this is something you’re considering doing, that you have a mass of swirling thoughts streaming through your head. Perhaps one of the most painstaking thoughts is, will they even take me seriously?
After all, you’re bearing your heart on your sleeve in order to seek out the help you deserve. If you’ve been struggling with these thoughts, then please let us reassure you that you’re not alone.
Going to the doctor’s office can be scary enough as it is, let alone for something that’s only recently been destigmatized.
In this article below, we’re going to be outlining what happens when you go to the doctor’s office when you’re suffering from anxiety.
Hopefully, this will help you to feel a little bit more in control once you’re familiar with the process.
To find out everything you need to know about the subject, simply keep reading, as we take a closer look below.
Before The Appointment
Chances are that if you’re going to the doctor about anxiety, you’ll be speaking to your family doctor first.
Later down the line, they may direct you to someone more specialised to deal with your needs, but until then, this will be your first port of call.
As we mentioned earlier, going to the doctor’s office can be incredibly stressful and anxiety-inducing in and of itself, so it’s important to make sure that you’re adequately prepared beforehand.
In order to do this, it might be a good idea to grab a pen and a piece of paper, and write down all of your thoughts regarding the subject.
Oftentimes, when we’re in a pressurised situation such as sitting in the doctor’s office, we can forget important details, or things which might be significant in terms of diagnosis.
As a result, it’s a good idea that you write these things down beforehand, so you’re able to give them a clear picture of the situation.
Some of the key things to write down might include when you first started experiencing these symptoms, what you actually ‘mean’, when you say you feel anxious.
As well as this, write down any physical symptoms associated with your anxiety, including nausea, dizziness, or feeling lightheaded.
You’re also going to want to take into consideration whether there are certain stressful life situations that have been causing your anxiety, (see also: Can Hormones Cause Anxiety?)or if it’s merely a typical response that you’re prone to getting. If so, what kinds of things tend to trigger you?
Your doctor will also need to know about any other conditions that you may be suffering from, or any medications that you’re taking, in order to rule these out as the cause.
In addition to writing down all of this information, it might also be good to write down any questions that you might want to ask the doctor. Again, it can be easy to forget things such as these when you’re in the moment.
What Will Happen Next?
In terms of your appointment, the first thing your doctor will want to do is conduct a physical examination.
By conducting a physical examination, and possibly taking some blood samples, they’ll then be able to rule out that it’s a physical ailment that’s causing your anxiety, (see also: Can Anxiety Cause Ear Ringing?)rather than something psychological.
They will then ask you a series of questions in order to determine the nature of your anxiety, and whether or not you experience any physical symptoms, and if there are any triggers for you.
Most of these answers you’ll already have written down previous to coming to the appointment.
In addition to all of this, they might ask you if there’s a history of mental health issues in your family, in order to make a better assessment.
What Is The Outcome?
After they’ve finished conducting their assessment of you, they will then organise a treatment plan.
They will give you some help and guidance on how to manage your anxiety on a daily basis, as well as potentially recommending you to a psychiatrist, who will be more qualified and equipped to deal with your needs.
Some patients will be prescribed tablets in order to help manage their anxiety, so be sure to research this if it’s something that you might consider.
Will Everything I Tell My Doctor Be Confidential?
This is a big worry for many people, and some of you may be wondering whether everything you tell your doctor will, in fact, be confidential. Thankfully, everything that you tell your doctor will be completely confidential.
The only instance where it may not be confidential, is if they feel you need to see a therapist or psychiatrist. As a result, they would pass the information on to them, in order to get you the help you need.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, although going to the doctor about anxiety might seem scary, it’s really not all that bad.
We’d recommend making a list of all your thoughts and symptoms beforehand, so that you can make sure you haven’t missed anything upon your visit. We hope you found this article helpful today.
I'm Clare, the owner and operator of Off The Couch, where I serve as a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach.
Based in Dublin, Ireland, I offer coaching services both locally and globally, providing personalized strategies in nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and fitness.
My journey into this field began as I navigated my own chronic illnesses, including early menopause, Interstitial Cystitis, Lyme Disease, and hydrocephalus.
