“When should you see a doctor for anxiety?”
I am a 33 year old male. I want to know when should you see a doctor for anxiety?
5 Answers
The fact that you are asking this question means that this symptom is bothering you a great deal. A consultation with a psychiatrist will allow you to explore the possible causes of having this anxiety and of course, develop a treatment plan with possible psychotherapy and medication.
That can be a complicated question. Anxiety can be a transient adjustment to a stressor that gets better with time. Sometimes therapy to acquire tools will help manage anxiety. If despite therapy, anxiety is consuming and taxing and gets in the way of daily living, seeing a psychiatrist would be appropriate. Also, rule out other underlying medical conditions that may precipitate anxiety.
When you cannot sleep.
When anxiety interferes with activities of daily life, you should see a doctor, ideally a psychiatrist. Very important: as some doctors are less aware of the range of treatments, do NOT get started on daily doses of tranquilizers like Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), or Xanax (alprazolam). That leads to greater depression and worse anxiety if you skip a dose. Tranquilizers are good for occasional use, but not daily use.
Great question! Anxiety is an experience that may represent both medical issues as well as other situations in one’s body. Would always suggest looking at nutrition, medication, exercise, sleep, and other aspect of one’s life to determine if they may be factors. If it is hard to determine which factors are critical, or hard to treat the specific issues, would discuss with a physician without hesitation.
Lance Steinberg MD, Inc.
Lance Steinberg MD, Inc.
