New here! Is it time to see a doctor about my anxiety?

Dumb question I'm sure but who exactly should I try to go to...Psychologist?...Psychiatrist?...Professional Counselor?  This is all new to me so I have no clue what I'm doing.  Not saying that I'm going to go but I'm seriously considering it.  Should I go talk to my primary care physician about this first and see what he says?

Why does everything have to be so difficult for me?!  I know everyone is dealing with their own issues as well and I wish I could quit feeling sorry for myself.  How did I let things get to this point though?  I've wasted so many years of my life and have nothing to show for it!

Step One: Get an evaluation done. It is generally done by someone with a PhD in Psychology. You can get a referal to someone from your primary care.
Research studies show that usually the most successful treatment path is using a combo of meds and talk therapy, so I combining them into step two, because just doing one is kinda inadquate.
Step Two A: meds (so that means seeing an MD, some Psychiatrist do therapy and meds, and some just do meds, but your primary care might be able to take care of meds).
Step Two B: find someone who you feel comfortable with to do talk therapy (as long as they are liscenced I really do not care what their qualifications are) it is just about finding someone you are comfortable with and it might take several to find one you really feel comfortable with.
Do not get discouraged.

MMMMNAVY - Well, going to doctors and making appointments make me extremely nervous.  I've always been overly concerned by what other people think about me.  It's taken years to get to the point I'm at now so I'm not sure I can just change overnight.  I'm scared, okay.  While I don't like the place I'm at now it may be more comfortable than having to spill out my life story to someone and have them possibly judging me.  How many other people do you know my age that can't even go on a date?   One day I'd like to possibly get married and have children.  Will that ever happen if I don't start doing things differently, no.  I know I'm absolutely contradicting myself.  Am I happy with where I'm at now?...No!  I know I need to make changes and get help.  It's just taking that first step into something that's completely unknown to me that is terrifying.

Dear NeedingAnswers,


Navy was only trying to help you as we often have members that are resistent to change for many different reasons and I suspect she wanted you to exam your own feelings on why you appeared to be holding back.



Everyone that comes here has a story of heartbreak and hardship and no one person is worse off then the next. We all suffer from this dang disorder - Anxiety. It can paralyze and cripple us but we can never give up the battle even if all we take is one step at a time.


When your fears have the best of you, it is easy to feel that things will not get any better. This is not true. There is much help available in today’s society and the best way to deal with your fears is to find effective ways to overcome them. Instead of focusing on doom, stay in the moment. Give yourself breathing space. Consider what matters to you. Establish a few manageable goals, then take small steps toward achieving them. Don’t try to stop everything at once as you may be setting yourself up for failure.

Please remember not to worry about what others think of you as that does not define who you are, it is what you think of you that counts.

If you are experiencing anxiety now, it's very likely that you are not content with your present external circumstances. You might be holding back in doing some things in your life that you know need to be done, making some changes you know need to be made, or moving forward with your life in one way or another. The reason I say this is that anxiety usually starts to dissolve once we begin to take action and prove to ourselves that we are capable of achieving the circumstances we desire.

As for me when I am stuck, I make a list of goals each morning and if I only manage to do one thing on my list that day then I have made a step forward.

Approximately 40 million American adults ages 18 and older have an anxiety disorder. You are among many good people with the same issues and problems as yourself.

Try this for a mantra, "I know I can achieve any goal I set my mind to."

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Going to the general surgeon today to find out the results of the upper endoscopy.  I'm scared he found something wrong and also scared that he found nothing.  My appointment is in just over an hour and I'm starting to freak myself out a bit.  I've been nervous about it all day and ended up getting in an argument with my manager at work earlier.  The last thing I need to do is lose my job but I'm stressed out.  I'm in such a bad mood all the time anymore.  I'm thinking about going to my primary care physician about the anxiety.  Afraid if I mention it to the general surgeon he will think all my symptoms are being caused by anxiety and not take me seriously.

What if he didn't really find anything on the upper endoscopy that could be causing my symptoms?  Do I try to get him to order more tests?  Do I go to a gastroenterologist?...Or should I first try to get anxiety meds to see if that will make some of the symptoms subside? I'm on here asking complete strangers to advise me because I clearly don't have the ability to decide these things for myself...Pathetic!

I will however challenge you to call you primary to make an appointment  to talk about your mental health issues. I will be seriously super impressed if you do it before Friday at five p.m.

Okay, so I'm updating how my appointment went today.  I've been going back to the general surgeon that removed my gallbladder and he performed the upper endoscopy last week.  He did say that there was irritation in my esophagus and did say Barrett's.  He said that I've clearly been having reflux for a while but didn't seem to concerned by anything the endoscopy showed.  I, of course, failed to absorb what he was saying, and didn't ask questions that I should've, beause I was nervous.  The only times I've gotten heartburn in my life was after the gallbladder removal.   Since the medications I've been taking (Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid) aren't helping, he's thinking maybe it's not acid reflux but bile reflux.  He prescribed Ursodiol which he wants me to take for a month and then come back to him.  He said that it's a medication used to dissolve gallstones but something about maybe helping if it is bile reflux.  If this doesn't help he is going to refer me to a gastroenterologist.

As for the anxiety issues, I still don't know what to do.  In a way I want to wait and see if this medication helps, with the GI issues, because I don't want to be on a bunch of different meds at once.  Ironically, one of the possible side effects of the Ursodiol, that he prescribed, is anxiety.  Isn't that just wonderful?...Not!  I know you all are trying to help me, and I greatly appreciate it, but I'm still dragging my feet on what to do.  Hope you all don't get frustrated and give up on me.  I need someone to talk to and being on here is at least one small step, maybe?  Don't rush me.

Yeah, so was I.  He did say Barrett's though which freaks me out.  Wish I would've asked questions but like I said, I was too nervous.  He showed me pictures of my esophagus and I could see the redish color patch he was talking about.  He said I've obviously been having reflux for awhile, whatever that means.  I've got a feeling I'm going to end up going to a gastroenterologist anyway unless by some miracle this medication does help relieve my symptoms.  For some reason taking PPIs didn't help but seemed at some points to make things worse.

I'm good at talking myself in to things but my follow through is poor.  Now I've been going back and forth on this all day.  Yes, I know what I NEED to do.  I want to feel better physically and mentally.  So you all don't think it would be wise to wait and see if the medication he prescribed helps alleviate my symptoms before getting on anxiety meds?  I know the anxiety is something I'm going to have to deal with regardless.  In reality the longer I put it off probably the less likely I am to go.  I think I talk in circles all the time.  If I go, are you all sure that they won't chalk my other symptoms up as just being anxiety and not help me?  Obviously I'm having issues caused by reflux so they won't think it's all me being a hypochondriac, would they?  I will completely understand if you all quit posting on this thread becaue you find me totally annoying.  Trust me, I'm completely annoyed with myself.

No, I do not think it is wise to wait. Would you wait on getting a major fracture looked at and set? This just as much effects your life. Why not treat both your "broken leg" and your reflux?

I'm going to the doctor first thing Monday morning. Made up my mind that I can't keep living this way. My throat has been bothering me the last few days and I'm totally obsessing over it. For some reason I was so paranoid today that every person that I saw had some illness and I was going to catch it. It's so ridiculous. I've argued with 2 of my co-workers this week because I'm in such a bad mood all the time. This is driving me crazy and I'm not going to put it off any longer. Thank you all for your support. I'll let you know how it goes.

Well that brief moment of courage I had, when making my last post, has left me. I'm getting so nervous right now. As tomorrow is approaching I'm wanting to back out. I'm probably not even going to be able to sleep tonight cause I'll be thinking about this. Why does everything have to be so difficult for me?

It doesn't feel like a single step though. It's like I'm trying to jump over the Grand Canyon or something. What if my doctor doesn't listen to me and just thinks I'm being ridiculous? I'm going to someone, who is a stranger to me, and confiding in him. The thought of him not taking me seriously or not helping me, when it will be so difficult for me to actually go, is what has me panicking right now. It's unfamiliar territory for me. I hate going to doctors and I hate talking about what I'm going through or how it's making me feel.