Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Anxiety Specialist

mystie
mystie
Has anyone here been to an anxiety specialist?
If so what do they do or say?
My pdoc seems to be at a loss what to do with my anxiety. As some of you know I had severe anxiety for many months and really wasn't functioning ontop of my severe depression. Finally after many different med changes and increases I seemed to be doing slightly better, well now the anxiety is severe again. I'm completely worn out and back to just wanting to give up. I'm tired of this struggle.
THe buspirone seemed to help for a bit and we've increased it a few times but the severe anxiety is back. I don't feel as depressed as often, but I am also chronically sick now. I have been sick for over a month and the last is a sinus/ear infection I can't seem to shake.
This sucks!
deleted_user
deleted_user
There is no such thing as an anxiety specialist. A phychiatrist treats people with all types of mental and psycological problems; anxiety is one of them. There are therapists who focus on clients with anxiety and depression, but therapists cannot prescribe meds, psychiatrists can. Often they work together - you will see a therapist who will evaluate you and determine what you need and refer you to a psychiatrist who will treat you with medication.
OrphanAnnie
OrphanAnnie
Is your "pdoc" your personal doc or psychiatrist? I treated for years with a neuropsychiatrist who specialized in depression and anxiety and he was a great help, not just with drugs but with advice on how to live with the conditions. Counselors always seemed to want to delve into psychological causes, but my shrink understood these were illnesses that had to be treated and which I had to learn to live with. Btw, the stress from the anxiety and the depression can make you more prone to infections. I'm not a health-food or holistic person but taking vitamins helped me stop having chronic, constant infections so you might want to try those; the effect for me was gradual but noticeable. If you don't have a good psychiatrist and can afford it, try to find one. I favor neuropsychiatrists because they seem to be more in tune with the medical side of things; you can find plenty of people to sympathize (as here on DS) but finding people who really understand the medical side of the illnesses can be hard.

My own family doc is also somewhat at a loss for how to treat the psychiatric problems so I understand where you're coming from there. If you have a chance to try a specialist, I would, since you seem to be doing so badly with the anxiety. Hugs and good luck.
OrphanAnnie
OrphanAnnie
Just one more note to lmfclcls -- I know things vary differently according to area, but in this area psychiatrists tend to specialize in specific illnesses. Some will treat depression but not anxiety, some specialize in schizophrenia, some in ADD/ADHD, and you have to ask to see if they will treat your particular problem. Perhaps that's what mystic meant by anxiety specialist? The one I had for years treated anxiety and depression but confessed himself an amateur in treating ADD/ADHD (which I also have). We both had a learning experience on that one.
mystie
mystie
Imfclcls there is such as thing as an "anxiety specialist" because I'm going to see him on Tuesday. He works with my pdoc and specializes in anxiety and OCD.
thanks for the input though.
mystie
mystie
Hi orphanannie.
My pdoc is a psychiatrist and the anxiety specialist is also a pdoc who may take over my care, or be an add on. The hospital I go to the ward works as a team. The pdocs, nurses, social workers, physical therapists.
After my consult on Tuesday with the anxiety specialist it will be decided then it I keep both pdocs or stay with him. He specializes in anxiety in OCD disorders.
We have also discussed how stress is also causing me to be sick more often. They are really stressing that I go on disability and quit working, but I keep refusing.
I am also in weekly group therapy as well, one on one therapy as part of my treatment. They feel that my working is hindering my therapy to working towards getting well.
I was starting to take vitamins on a regular basis but then stopped for some unknown stupid reason?
I'm in Ontario, Canada so coverage for care is not an issue here.
Thank you so much for your advice!