A GP can help you with your physical, mental and emotional health. GPs can help you stay healthy through check-ups, health screening, and early treatment. You may feel more comfortable talking to a GP you already know and can relate to easily.
A GP is one of several professionals that people can talk to if they're worried about their mental or emotional health. If appropriate, the doctor will refer the person for counselling. Young people can also speak to school counsellors, university counsellors, or look online for support.
Your GP should be your first point of contact for health issues that you can't treat yourself with the help of your local pharmacy or information on NHS.uk. GPs work in a practice as part of a team that includes nurses, healthcare assistants and other staff.
In a consultation, a GP will normally first talk to the patient about why they've come in. This is the GP taking a history.
The first step to bringing up feelings of anxiety is by saying to your primary care physician something like, “I want to discuss what I have been feeling lately.” Many people suffer from anxiety but do not seek treatment. Cultural stigmas can play an enormous role in how people view anxiety.
Under the NHS regulations your GP must prescribe for you any drugs that he or she feels are needed for your medical care. A patient is entitled to drugs that the GP believes are necessary, not those which the patient feels should be prescribed.
online, either through an app to book an appointment or using a form on your GP surgery's website to request help or advice – find out more about how to start using online services. by phone. in person, by going into the surgery and talking to the receptionist.
You should see your GP if anxiety is affecting your daily life or causing you distress. They can diagnose your condition based on your symptoms, which may include: feeling restless or on edge.
For common problems such as depression and anxiety, your GP may be able to give you a diagnosis after one or two appointments. For less common problems you'll need to be referred to a mental health specialist (such as a psychiatrist), and they may want to see you over a longer period of time before making a diagnosis.
A GP may use a questionnaire to assess your symptoms. Try to be as open and honest as you can be with your answers. Describing your symptoms and how they're affecting you will help the GP determine whether you have depression and how severe it is. Any discussion you have with a GP will be confidential.
Summary: Researchers have successfully developed a blood test for anxiety. The test examines biomarkers that can help them objectively determine someone's risk for developing anxiety, the severity of their current anxiety and which therapies would likely treat their anxiety the best.
Focus on how you feel, rather than what diagnosis you might meet. Try to explain how you've been feeling over the past few months or weeks, and anything that has changed. Use words and descriptions that feel natural to you – you don't have to say specific things to get help.
Speaking to your GP or practice nurse is the first step to getting help. If you're struggling with your mental health, you might be offered various types of treatment, or signposted on to other services. Typically, you could be offered, or given information about: Medication such as antidepressants.
Whether it's specific symptoms, fears you're holding, doubts about a treatment or diagnosis (or lack thereof), or another concern, repeat it however many times it takes to make them hear you. Be specific and don't be shy in correcting your doctor if what they're saying isn't in line with what you're telling them.
Prescribing restrictions
Most medicines can be prescribed by your GP, or non-medical prescribers in their practice, and these are described as “Green” in the traffic light list. Some medicines must be started by a specialist and the GP practice will then prescribe once everything has settled down.
Who do I turn to about general advice for my health and wellbeing? You can visit your pharmacist instead of your GP about how best to keep you and your family well.
The data the report was based on is something known as QOF (Quality and Outcomes Framework) which was a system set up in 2004 that started paying GPs for checking such biomarkers as blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol and then prescribing drugs to bring them down if they were over the official healthy level.
If the psychological treatments above haven't helped or you'd prefer not to try them, you'll usually be offered medication. Your GP can prescribe a variety of different types of medication to treat GAD.
Doctors, including general practitioners (GPs) and psychiatrists (specialists in mental health) can prescribe antidepressant medicines. Psychologists specialise in psychological treatments and do not prescribe medication, but they can talk to your doctor if they believe a trial of medicine would be of benefit.
Talking to your GP about anxiety
Your GP may ask you questions about your worries, fears and emotions. They may also ask about your personal life. Tell your GP about all your symptoms – physical and psychological – and explain how long you have had them for.
Getting an appointment with a psychiatrist
You can also see a psychiatrist privately, although most private psychiatrists prefer a referral from your GP. Your GP may be able to recommend psychiatrists in your area. You can also try contacting a psychiatric clinic directly or using online psychiatry services.
Your Anxiety Is Harming Your Physical Well-Being
However, if you have an anxiety disorder, you will likely experience physical symptoms that sap your energy and interfere with your daily functioning. These signs could include sleeping troubles, unexplained muscle aches and digestive issues.
There are several types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, specific phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder and selective mutism.
Emotional symptoms of test anxiety can include depression, low self-esteem, anger, and a feeling of hopelessness.