[Kaboodle]

Just curious from anyone that is getting help from a medical professional...did you go to your family doctor first? Did you tell a trusted friend of family member that you had anxiety problems? Did you jump right into therapy w/o going to a doctor first?

[JadeAmethyst]

I have known about anxiety long before diagnosis. The body tells us to listen. When and if we do not listen, our bodies speak up...

I went to my family doctor when I knew I needed help with medication.

Jade

[healingme4me]

My road to an official anxiety dx, is long, but condensed version, family doctor, therapy, long break, primary care, neurologist, therapy, neurologist, psychiatrist...

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[moralfe]

I went to primary care who told me to just find a way to not be stressed or anxious. Well before my pcp I was in the hospital 2 times thinking I was dying. Well after some time of research online I found that CBT was the best way to go. I procrastinated for a few months. After my vacation this summer to Puerto Rico with the family I realized that my issue was in my head. I got back to the states and contacted the employee assistance program that my employer provides and they referred me to a therapist. Best thing I have ever done.

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[RoseInterrupted]

A family doctor to start with, who gave me some pills that were next to useless. Tossed the pills and struggled on for a few years by continuing to self medicate (as I had since age 12-13) using various types of alcohol.

Next was another family doctor (GP) who sent me to a therapist. He tried all sorts of calming techniques. They kind of worked for a short time, then they didn't, so back to the bottle. Not flat out and continuous drinking, just enough to take the edge off. I continued to function reasonably well this way for many years. I also took to altering my life around all the time. I had to be doing something different continuously to keep my anxiety at bay. I spent a fortune and caused a lot of financial grief to me and my then partner.

Then came a brief period in my life when I stopped drinking for a year. My anxiety stayed at a very manageable level, but one day something happened to trigger it again and I went back to the drink followed by yet another family doctor. He sent me to a specialised psychologist. It worked with him for some months and it cost me a fortune I just didn't have. Back to the same doctor who sent me to a psychiatrist, paid for by the public purse. Much the same as the therapist, talking helped for a day or so, but the effect didn't last long. Eventually PDoc gave me some Alprazolam (Xnax) and although it helped to get me to sleep (always had a terrible sleep pattern) it left me feeling groggy the next morning and I struggled with motivation. Stopped the Alprazolam and stopped seeing the Psych doc. Back to small quantities of alcohol in the evenings.

Recently saw yet another family doctor who prescribed Efexor. Currently at day 16, haven't been drinking since starting on it and feeling ok. Still some anxiety present, but I feel sure he'll up the dose from 37.5mg to 75mg when I see him next week. Not impressed with having to resort to meds again, but figured it was worth a try. My thoughts are that I'll eventually go off them and go back to alcohol again, not that I'm missing it in the slightest. I don't have an addictive nature and am not an alcoholic despite using it for a very long time to help overcome my anxiety.

[wiretwister]

was pulled into involuntary inpatient by my works eap program...treated for bipolar and now stress with cbt a t and meds..

[Hope-Full]

Went to my primary care doctor - whom I adore, and who has been my doctor for upwards of 10 years. She started by prescribing some meds, which only helped a little, so she then sent me to therapy, which has helped a lot. My therapist sent me to a psychiatrist for meds, and my psychiatrist communicates with both my T and primary care dr regularly on my behalf.

[Bluenosette]

Doctors cause me a lot of anxiety. I found a therapist first, and it was her who recommended a doctor to me. That was in the Spring of this year. I am now on meds, and have to go regularly for refills, and adjustments, and what not. I still hate going, and this is the first time I have had a family doctor since I was a kid.

[BlessedRhiannon]

Therapist first, then psychiatrist. Doctors cause me a ton of anxiety, and I needed to work through that with my therapist before I could even consider going to someone to talk about medication. Once I was to that point, I wanted to talk to a p-doc, not a GP, because GP's don't have as indepth of an understanding of anxiety and the pharmaceutical options for treating it. My current GP knows I am dealing with anxiety and also that I don't want her assistance with it as I am working with my therapist and psychiatrist.

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by Kaboodle

Just curious from anyone that is getting help from a medical professional...did you go to your family doctor first? Did you tell a trusted friend of family member that you had anxiety problems? Did you jump right into therapy w/o going to a doctor first?

Just went to my family care doc. But he didn't do much, so now I will only go to a psychiatrist, since my anxiety is pretty unmanagable without meds! I didn't find counselling much helpful or effective since my pdoc thinks my GAD is linked more to my chemical imbalance of bipolar disorder. Best of luck!

My serious anxiety started when I began chemotherapy, so I guess I was seeking help from my Oncology team first. They were pretty helpful and understanding. Now I'm seeing a Psychiatrist who is helping me with it.

[kimical]

I went to a family doctor and from there a psychiatrist.

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I went to my community mental health clinic, as I had been told many time just turn up, and someone will see you!
my gp surgery refuses to deal with any mental health issues, they just refuse to book you an appointment!