Anxiety Diagnosis/Treatment
 

I am in need of some advice from any of those with knowledge or experience with anxiety. For as long as I can remember I have been a real shy person and the more I have thought and read about it over the years the more I am pretty convinced I have social anxiety disorder. But I was just curious as to how the diagnosis and treatment process works.

I am generally not one who resorts to medications for things, but at this point I really think its my best bet. I tried a bit of counseling at my university center at one point, but all that did was make me even more uncomfortable. So I am curious as to how the diagnostic process from a doctor would go. I recently moved to a new state and don't have a doctor here yet, so I'd be seeing a new doctor for the first time who doesn't really know me. Would I just share with him/her some of my symptoms and say I think I have an anxiety disorder and they'd evaluate me and decide or is the actual diagnosis procedure a big process in which they'd send me to a psychologist for a more thorough evaluation??

And also has anybody has had success with any specific meds for social or general anxiety?

Thanks for the input

I have anxiety and a panic disorder (among other things). First I would find a new general doctor. You should have one anyway. What I would look for is a specialist. A psychologist or psychiatrist. You could ask the counseling center at your college for a referral or call a few area hospitals. They specialize in things like anxiety so would be more versed in how to diagnose and treat.

Take some time and write down why you think you have social and/or generalized anxiety. I'm not saying you don't, just have it written down to help keep your thoughts straight when you talk to your doc. I would keep this for the psych also. The psych will ask you a million or so questions. This is their thing, so feel free to ask how they diagnose this.

As far as meds, everyone is different and reacts differently to meds. That is the one thing that stinks about the meds that treat anxiety (anti-depressants). There are benzo's that you take "as needed" which some people prefer to only use those. Really your best bet once you are diagnosed is to simply discuss with your doctor what the best course of treatment would be.

I have social phobias and general anxiety. Currently I am taking Xanax .5 mg. 3 times a day but usually only take it when I feel anxious, have a panic attack or know I am heading for a stressful situation.

Right now I am going through a divorce and my psychiatrist told me I need to take it now as prescribed instead of as needed. I also was on Lexapro for three years. It helps with the phobias and anxiety. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in November and starting taking other meds. I stopped taking the Lexapro about a month ago.

best thing I did was see a psychiatrist for my panic disorder back in 94. In 91 I started therapy which helped alot, but I resisted medication for years, till 94 I felt I couldn't drive with my young children because of my dizziness and out of body feeling (depersonalizion) I started xananx twice a day with zoloft 50mg and in three months I was feeling wonderful. I weaned off xananx and continuted with zoloft until I switched to lexapro three years ago. These medications allowed me to finish my nursing degree, travel, went on cruises to remote places and allowed me to work in a very stressful work enviroment. If not for these med, I truly know that I would have been hospitalized.

If you had a physical aliment you would be on a med, so a mental illness can't be seen but truly can make one very ill.

Go see a doctor and at least try the medications, give your self six months to get your brain in working order.
I know that I have a inbalance of chemicals in my brain and now I feel perfect