Should you see a psychiatrist for anxiety?

Deciding if and when to see a psychiatrist for anxiety depends on your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. Everyone feels anxious sometimes — like before an important presentation or a first date — but if your anxiety is often overwhelming or unbearable, you may want to meet with a psychiatric provider.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who’s trained to diagnose, manage, and prevent mental health conditions like anxiety disorders. They can create personalized treatment plans, prescribe medications, and collaborate with other medical providers to best address your mental health needs.

Anxiety disorders are typically treated with talk therapy, psychiatric medication, or a combination of both. Whether you’re already in therapy for your anxiety or seeking professional help for the first time, meeting with a psychiatrist can help you understand your diagnosis and how to reach your treatment goals. 

Some reasons to see a psychiatrist for anxiety include: 

1. Your symptoms impact daily functioning

Anxiety symptoms can include restlessness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. It can also lead to physical symptoms, like rapid heart rate, shakiness, and unexplained aches and pains. 

If you’re finding it hard to cope with these symptoms or your anxiety has become severe enough to affect daily functioning, you may want to speak with a psychiatrist. Psychiatric providers can prescribe medication to help control your symptoms so that you can focus on what matters most, like your relationships, passions, and performance at work and school. 

Prior to your appointment, you may want to reflect on the role anxiety plays in your life: 

• Which anxiety symptoms are bothering you the most?
• How do these symptoms impact your daily decisions? 
• Have your symptoms worsened over time?

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2. You’re in therapy, but you need more support 

Talk therapy can make a meaningful difference for many people with anxiety. Therapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can help you identify anxiety triggers, manage symptoms, and improve emotional regulation. 

But if you’re still struggling to cope with symptoms or think you’d benefit from extra support, speak with a psychiatrist about adding medication to your treatment plan. Psychiatric medication can reduce symptoms so it’s easier to engage in therapy and commit to healthy lifestyle changes.

3. You’re interested in trying psychiatric medication

Psychiatrists are trained to help people find the right medication and dosage to effectively manage their symptoms. If you think medication might help your anxiety, make an appointment with a psychiatrist who has experience treating anxiety disorders. They’ll review your symptoms, health history, and any current medications to find a medication that could be a good fit.

Psychiatric providers can also answer any questions about side effects, adjusting your dosage, and how to safely stop taking your medication. For example, they can tell you that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered first-line therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and should be taken for at least six months to one year. This allows time for therapy, lifestyle changes, and coping skills to take place as well. 

4. You have more than one mental health condition 

Having more than one mental health condition at once can complicate your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. If you’re showing signs of other mental health concerns beyond anxiety, it might be helpful to review your symptoms and challenges with a psychiatrist. 

Anxiety disorders can co-occur with mental health conditions like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eating disorders, and substance use disorders. 

5. You’re engaging in self-harm or suicidal thoughts

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are another reason to consider seeing a psychiatrist. Having an anxiety disorder, like social anxiety disorder, may increase your suicide risk.* Research also shows that anxiety is associated with deliberate self-harming behaviors, like cutting or burning skin. 

If you have a history of self-harm or have thought about taking your life, a psychiatric provider can help you access the care you need. In addition to prescribing medication to manage anxiety disorders and any co-occurring conditions, they can also connect you with a partial hospitalization program or intensive outpatient program for additional support.

*If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming themself or others, please call or text 988 on any phone for the Suicide & Crisis lifeline, contact a local crisis line, or head to the emergency room immediately. Any of these resources will ensure that the person in crisis receives support right away. For more information on getting help, go to 988lifeline.org

If experiencing a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate help, please call 911. 

6. You want to know what’s causing your anxiety 

Many people don’t realize there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders, but working with a psychiatrist can help you learn what’s causing your anxiety and how to manage it. For example, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder share several overlapping symptoms but may benefit from different treatment approaches and strategies. 

Having this knowledge can help people feel more empowered to make informed decisions about their health and improve their daily functioning.

Find care with Rula

Living with an unmanaged anxiety disorder can be emotionally and physically overwhelming, but you don’t need to navigate that experience alone. A psychiatrist will listen to your symptoms and challenges so they can create a personalized treatment plan that works for you. 

At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best. 

Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we’re here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.

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