Who should I see about treatment/diagnosis of anxiety disorder?
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A psychologist, rather than a psychiatrist, is able to help you. (Cheaper, too.) They'll discuss what situations make you anxious and teach you coping strategies. You may be offered medication options, with the cooperation of your doctor, but their use would be short-term, to help you learn how to manage anxiety-causing situations. Once you've learned, you no longer need the meds.
There are Social Anxiety workbooks and such. Consider buying one and doing the exercises in it. Most seem easy to people who don't have SAD, but are hard for you, but you can do them, starting easy and working up to the most difficult.

3 Comments
October 30th, 2007 at 6:33 am
A psychologist, rather than a psychiatrist, is able to help you. (Cheaper, too.) They'll discuss what situations make you anxious and teach you coping strategies. You may be offered medication options, with the cooperation of your doctor, but their use would be short-term, to help you learn how to manage anxiety-causing situations. Once you've learned, you no longer need the meds.
There are Social Anxiety workbooks and such. Consider buying one and doing the exercises in it. Most seem easy to people who don't have SAD, but are hard for you, but you can do them, starting easy and working up to the most difficult.
References :
October 30th, 2007 at 6:34 am
A psychologist and if he/she thinks it's necessary, they'll refer you to a psychiatrist.
Feel good!
References :
October 30th, 2007 at 6:39 am
A psychiatrist. A psychologist or a therapist is not permitted to prescribe.
References :